On April 24, 2014 the Forum on trade and economic cooperation of Moscow and Leipzig was held in Moscow. The event was co-organized by the Moscow Chamber of Commerce.
Mr Sergei Cheremin, Minister of Moscow Government, Head of the Department for External Economic and International Relations of Moscow noted in his address to the forum participants that Moscow receives today more than 55 per cent of the total foreign investment in Russia.
"This figure approached to 100 billion U.S. dollars last year. The increased volume of direct foreign investments amounted to about 10 billion dollars. Volume of investment from Germany kept also growing - Moscow economy received $ 4.2 billion as investment from Germany last year. It is basically direct investment, which indicates growing confidence in Moscow of our German partners. We are also interested in cooperation with German partners in the field of humanitarian cooperation, cultural exchanges» - Mr Cheremin said.
Mayor of Leipzig, Mr Burkhard Jung stated: "Our city is rather small in comparison with Moscow. Nevertheless it does not prevent our long mutually beneficial cooperation. A good platform for it is the Leipzig Trade Fair. Moscow regularly participates in various activities on its territory, representing a variety of sectors of the economy. This is a great opportunity to be presented on the German market. Close cooperation has been established in the fields of education - between two Universities of Leipzig and Moscow. A student exchange programme allows to get double diplomas. But most important for us is promotion of new bridges between people - and we invite Muscovites to visit our city, explore its many attractions".
As the vice-president of the Moscow Chamber of Suren Vardanyan stated, "Moscow Chamber of Commerce has always paid great attention to cooperation with Germany. On the basis of MCCI a special Commission works actively with partners in Germany. We work very closely with Russian-German Chamber of Commerce and try to promote development of increasing number of joint projects - not only in the economic sphere, but also in the fields of culture, science, education, youth policy".
As the president of Leipzig Chamber of Commerce Wolfgang Topf stated "Russia has been always important for Germany. We are here to introduce our companies to help them find new partners and make new steps towards convergence of our cities".
Entrepreneurs of Leipzig and Moscow discussed issues of mutual cooperation in the field of logistics, professional education, congress and exhibition activities, science and health.
Within the Forum negotiations between Mr Suren Vardanyan, Vice President of MCCI, and Mr Wolfgang Topf, president of Leipzig Chamber of Commerce took place – the parties discussed issues of cooperation and joint prospects of both Chambers.
On April 23, Mr Sergei Sobyanin, Mayor of Moscow, met Mr Burkhard Jung, Mayor of Leipzig, and they signed a protocol of cooperation between Moscow and Leipzig. Moscow Mayor noted that the protocol is a continuation of close contacts that have been established between two cities. He also thanked the Mayor of Leipzig for his active participation in the protection of cultural monuments. The Mayor also thanked the Moscow authorities for their active participation in the restoration of the Russian Orthodox Holy Alexievsky church in Leipzig.