YUKOS chief says Russia should upgrade its business ratings

Russia's major task is improving its ratings to their investment level by 2004, head of the international activities committee of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs Mikhail Khodorkovsky, YUKOS CEO, said. Khodorkovsky was quoted as saying the union commissioned the committee with contributing to the improvement of Russia's business ratings. "Investment ratings will allow Russia to have access to cheap investment resources", the YUKOS CEO said.

Among other tasks listed by international activities committee chief were lobbying changes in Russian legislation aimed at Russia's integration into the world community. Among such tasks were also the support of Russia's participation in bilateral and multilateral agreements and the protection of Russia's business positions.

The Board of the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs made a decision in early 2002 to create a union committee for international activities owing to an increased number of international contracts.

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