International Investors Forum Convenes in Khanty-Mansiisk

Today, in the city of Khanty-Mansiisk, the Ruissia: Oil, Energy, Progress international forum of investors began. It is being attended by over 400 entrepreneurs from Russia, the CIS, the U.S., Canada, Great Britain, Germany, Italy, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Switzerland. According to the press service of the Governor of the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous District, the participants include Anatoly Chubais, the Chairman of the Board of the RAO United Energy Systems of Russia; Vladimir Basargin, a Deputy Plenipotentiary of the President of Russia in theUrals Federal District; Sergei Sobyanin, the Governor of the Tyumen Region; Yuri Neyelov, the Governor of the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous District; Vgit Alekperov, the President of the LUKoil petroleum company; Vladimir Bogdanov of the Surgutneftegaz oil and gas company; Artyom Bikov of the Tyumenenergo electricity producer and a number of the heads of other Russian and Western financial and industrial companies.

Discussed at the forum will be the conditions of investing in Russian economy, including those existing in the Hanty-Mansi Autonomous District which, at this time, is among the most attractive to investors areas. Discussed at special sessions will be the prospects of the development of various branches of economy, such as oil production and refining, wood pulp and paper, timber and lumber, telecommunications, etc.

In his greeting word to the participants, Governor Alexander Filipenko said the principal condition of bringing investments into the region was the minimisation of risks through the optimisation of legislation and the reforming of the court system in Russia. The administration of the districts is developing suggestions as to insuring the risks of investors.

The forum will last through tomorrow, March 15.