9th Annual Russian Economic Forum
The Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, London, 23-25 April 2006
This year’s Russian Economic Forum once again hit a new high in delegate figures. More than 2300 participants came together in London to explore the growing impact of Russian business on the world economy, including leading captains of industry, investors, journalists, politicians and other key opinion formers from Russia, the UK, Continental Europe and the Americas.
Dominant themes for 2006 proved to be Russia’s influence as an international energy supplier, and the emergence of a new generation of entrepreneurs who are driving innovation and growth in a number of new sectors.
The Forum has always served as a unique barometer of Russia’s economic fortunes and this year it proved to be especially timely, coming at a time of unprecedented international activity by Russian companies. Russia has one of the world’s fastest growing economies, and a remarkable run of international IPOs and major foreign acquisitions have helped to give Russian business a global profile that would have been unheard of just a few short years ago. This year’s event also coincided with Russia’s first ever term at the head of the G8.
An exhaustive programme of over 20 sessions and more than 150 speakers included many leading CEOs from Russian and international business, including Stephen Green of HSBC, Vladimir Yakunin of Russian Railways, Sergei Bogdanchikov of Rosneft and Anatoly Chubais of RAO UES. Other important names included UK Trade and Industry Minister Alan Johnson, Gazprom Deputy Chief Alexander Medvedev, Victor Vekselberg of TNK-BP and Simon Vainshtock of Transneft. Igor Shuvalov, Russia’s G8 Sherpa, also took part.
Mr. Medvedev was interviewed by Stephen Sackur in a special edition of BBC HARDtalk, the first time that the programme had ever been filmed in front of an audience. Their encounter was recorded on Tuesday 25 April, the second day of the Forum, and aired on BBC World and BBC 24 on Monday 1 May.
The Forum was attended by over 300 Russian and international journalists, a number of whom appeared as panel moderators, including well known Russian TV presenter Vladimir Pozner, Stefan Wagstyl of the FT and Lisa Osetinskaia of Vedomosti.
For more information about the 2006 Forum, or details on participating in 2007, please email sk@eventica.co.uk.
