Holding Of Moscow-invest Forum In Berlin Attests To Increased Interest In Russia Among German Business People

The holding of the 4th Moscow-Invest international investment forum in Berlin attests to an increased interest among German business people in closer cooperation with Russia, the president of the Union of the German Economy in Russia, Otto Wolff von Amerongen, said on Thursday on the first day of the Moscow-Invest 2001 forum. He said German-Russian trade in 2000 grew to 40 billion Deutschmarks. According to preliminary estimates, in 2001 this figure may reach 44 to 45 billion Deutschmarks. At the same time, Otto Wolff von Amerongen pointed to the need to continue the reform of the Russian banking system so that foreign banks and Russians themselves trust it more. The beginning of a return of Russian capital into the country, say, from Cyprus, would be a good sign for all, he said. The Moscow-Invest 2001 forum is held under the patronage of Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov and Berlin Mayor Klaus Wowereit. It was organized by the Moscow International Business Association. The previous Moscow-Invest forums were held in London (1998), Moscow (1999) and Tel Aviv (2000).