UN development program to work more closely with RUIE

President of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RUIE) Arkady Volsky and UN Development Program (UNDP) Administrator Mark Malloch-Brown have agreed that the two organizations should collaborate more closely in developing UNDP programs in Russia. This was announced today by the press office of the RUIE. There are plans for Russian private companies to take part in stimulating small and medium-sized business and helping to resolve social problems.

They also discussed issues relating to social corporate responsibility and cooperation between business and government. Mr Malloch-Brown welcomed the efforts of the RUIE and Russian corporations taking part in the UN global agreement to attract entrepreneurs to projects in Russia with the assistance of the United Nations.

There are currently 28 UNDP projects underway in Russia to improve public administration, to protect the environment and provide steady socio-economic growth. These include projects to find employment for highly-qualified people currently out of work, to raise the competitiveness of small and medium-sized businesses and to improve the Russian housing sector by creating more cost-effective ways of providing heating and electricity. The UNDP is also active in over 30 regions of the Russian Federation.

The UNDP was founded in 1965 and is the leading UN-affiliated organization in providing technical assistance to developing countries in order to establish steady socio-economic growth. There are currently over 6500 UNDP projects in more than 150 countries, which cost at least USD 800 million every year.