SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY IN RUSSIAN BUSINESS — A GOOD WILL OF THE MANAGEMENT OR A MUST OF A MARKET ECONOMY?

On November 25, in Moscow, the International Council of Trustees of the Russian-British "Program "Window into Russia"" is holding an international round-table meeting "Social Responsibility in Business".

The round table objective is to draw the public attention to the problem of social responsibility of business in Russia. The meeting is aimed at overcoming the current "cooling" in relations between western and Russian business, which is one of the tasks of the "Program "Window into Russia"".

It is supposed to discuss the following problems: "Social Responsibility in Business — a good will of the Management or a must of a market economy?", "Forms and Practices of Realising Social Responsibility in Business".

The "Round Table" will be opened by Vice-Premier Valentina Matvienko and the Minister of Labour and Social Policies Alexander Pochinok. Among the participants are: Michael Carter (World Bank), Alexander Zhukov (State Duma Budget Committee), Michael Khodorkovski ("Yukos"), Vladimir Potanin ("Interros"), Simeon Kukes ("TNC"), Matthew Robin (Business School, Kingston University), TheodoreShanin (Rector, Moscow Higher School of Social and Economic Sciences), Vyacheslav Shtyrov ("Diamonds of Russia — Sakha"), Igor Yurgens ("Union of Insurers") Yuri Maslukov (Duma Industry Committee), Valentin Pivnenko (Duma North Territories Committee). The event will also be attended by top managers of 50 largest enterprises of different forms of ownership from Russia, Great Britain, and Holland.

As the "Round Table" is a closed event, contacts with the press will be possible at the opening stage from 12:00 to 14:00 and at a press conference at 17:00.

Venue: "Marfinski" Room, Marriott Grand Hotel, Moscow, November 25, 2000, beginning at 12:00.