Russia takes major steps forward to open up global business and trade

New Russian economic ties In mid-December Russia acceded to the World Trade Organisation after eighteen years of intensive negotiations.

So the world’s sixth largest economy has finally entered the principal global structure which encourages the rationalisation, simplification and acceleration of international trade and commerce. After this historic step Russia anticipates the growth of its economy to become the fourth largest in future years.

 

In the words of First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov “Our partners expect to benefit from easier access to the Russian market, a more stable and predictable business climate ….and our industry will be encouraged to increase innovation, to modernise and diversify.”

 

In separate developments Russia has concluded new free-trade agreements with the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States

and plans are well advanced to create a single economic union between Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus.

 

Greater freedom of trade will be encouraged by discussions to practically improve conditions for more open business with the European Free Trade Association. Russia looks for fundamental improvements in business opportunities with Asia and the Pacific Rim when hosting the APEC Summit this year.

 

It is fully acknowledged that these developments rely significantly on the upgrading and modernisation of Russia’s transport systems and in particular of the country’s Sea Shipping, Sea Ports and Inland Waterways. These central pillars of the transport systems require state-of-the-art modern infrastructure and technologies. In many cases these facilities can currently be found only outside Russia.

 

So Russian administrations, institutes, design bureaux and commercial industries are actively seeking new partners to boost the implementation of

urgently required investment and technical improvements.

 

These issues will be addressed on a business-to-business basis during the TRANSTEC 2012 Conference and Exhibition Programme during October in St. Petersburg.

 

The Deputy Minister for Transport Mr V. A. Olersky summarises the importance of the aims of this Event “ to promote the national and international cooperation in the industrial sectors of the development of the infrastructure of sea, river and estuary ports, waterborne transport, shipbuilding for the State and Port Fleet, civil engineering for ports and maritime capital infrastructure, ports cooperation with ports users including shipping companies, cargo owners, land-based transport companies, cruise, passenger and ferry transportation.” There have been many significant developments for the TRANSTEC Programme and Profile compared with the last Event in 2010.

 

The current list of leading Russian Administrations and Organisations which officially support and actively participate in TRANSTEC 2012 reflects its growing importance:-

The Maritime Collegium of the Russian Federation

The Ministry of Transport of Russia

Association of Sea Commercial Ports

Union of Russian Ship Owners

Central Research Institute for the Sea Fleet (CNiiMF)

State University for Water Communications

Association of Shipping Companies

Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs RSPP

Coordination Council for TransSiberian Transportation

Krylov Shipbuilding Research Institute

Institute of Transport Issues, Russian Academy of Science

Soyuzmor Institute, Moscow

Maritime Council of the Government of St. Petersburg

 

The enlargement and expansion of the above participants reflects the increased opportunities for foreign companies to gear up their business development in Russia particularly in the following industry sectors:-

 

Sea ports operation and the development of the Inland Waterways / Ports New Focus on the development of the ports and waterways in partnership with Port Users (Shipping companies, Cargo owners etc) 

 

The Arctic Fleet operations Shipbuilding for the State Service and Port Fleet Future design and civil engineering for ports and inland waterways

Integration of Russian Sea Ports, Inland Waterways and Short-Sea Shipping with the European Union and Western Europe 

 

Also specifically interesting can be:-

Greater cooperation between foreign ports with RF ports and railways, ship owners and short-sea shipping giving direct access to the Euro Siberian transport systems and the unified economic coordination between Russia, Belorussia and Kazakhstan 

Development of the Saimaa Channel operations

Construction of the State Service and Port Fleet ships

 

A final word from First Deputy Prime Minister Shuvalov:- “Accession (to the World Trade Organisation) should stimulate Russia’s further economic integration in to the world economy. However, our key trading partner remains the European Union.”

 

Full information regarding the TRANSTEC 2012 Programme can be found on the website: www.transtec-neva.com

 

Subscribe to our newsletter

Don't miss new updates on your email
Scroll to Top