The President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation, Mr. Sergey Katyrin, delivered a welcoming speech. He said that cooperation in such areas as engineering, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, tourism and vocational education is a solid foundation that connects the businesses of the two countries. More than 1200 Austrian companies work in Russia, more than 40 subjects of the Russian Federation have business contacts with partners in Austria.
Austrian business circles negatively regard sanction restrictions against Russia, considering them unjustified and harmful to the economies of the European countries. Mr. Sergei Katyrin, the President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation, fully sharing this viewpoint, supports the end of any restrictions on trade. The President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation noted that the Austrian side purposefully demonstrates a partnership approach, interest and trust in relations with Russia. He is convinced that the recent elections to the Austrian National Council and the good results of the Austrian People's Party, headed by Mr. Sebastian Kurz, provide grounds for hope that the new Cabinet of Ministers will fully support the Russian-Austrian cooperation.
The Vice President of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Richard Schön, noting that business does not share the idea of a "sanctions war", said that trade turnover between the two countries is growing, and although it is still less than a record 6.6 billion euros in 2013, but the trend is clear. The Austrian business is actively involved in Russia's structural reforms, and this meeting is a good evidence of that.
In his speech, Mr. Platonov, the President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said that for Moscow, which attaches great importance to the development of international relations, Austria is a traditional and stable partner, and developing and enhancing mutual relations is a priority. There are 145 companies with Austrian capital registered in the Moscow (they hold the 13th place among foreign countries). As of the end of last year, Austrian investments in the Moscow economy exceeded $3 billion. The Austrian economy has accumulated more than $3 billion (10th place among foreign countries). Most Austrian companies operating in Russia operate in Moscow.
Moscow is particularly active in developing its relations with Austrian partners in the field of health care. Mr. Platonov described a pilot project to create a dialysis center, initiated by the Fresenius Group of Companies, using their own financial resources. The center's capacity is 30 "artificial kidney" devices. The center began receiving its first patients on March 15, 2019. All further activities will be carried out exclusively by a foreign investor, without relying on budgetary funds. The company plans to open up to 20 dialysis centers in Moscow, with investments of up to 3 billion rubles.
The Moscow Chamber of Commerce and Industry has good business relations with the Austrian and Vienna Chambers of Commerce and Industry, and a number of joint events are being held. For example, last year, the result of the meeting of the Russian-Austrian Intergovernmental Commission within the framework of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, was the signing of a tripartite agreement - a Memorandum of Intent between the Austrian Association of Winemakers, the Group of Companies "Golutvinskaya Sloboda" and the Union "MCCI" on cooperation in the preparation and development of the project the "Ambassador of Austrian wines" in Moscow and Konakovo district of the Tver region.
Specifically, Mr. Platonov mentioned the joining of the Vienna Chamber of Commerce and Industry the activities of the Council of Heads of the six largest cities in the world (formerly Moscow, Berlin, Paris, London, Beijing and Sao Paulo).
As an effective tool for economic cooperation between the Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Platonov proposed the use of the online platform for business proposals, the "Business Market", developed by the Moscow Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which received strategic support from the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation and reached the finals of the World Congress of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry and has already been adopted by more than 40 Chambers from 9 countries.
"All the wars, even the Hundred Years' War, do end, - reminded the President of the MCCI, mentioning the situation regarding the anti-Russian sanctions of the European Union. And after that, the opposing sides calculate the losses and begin to create, develop and build. The tasks of business are to minimize the damage, maintain and develop relations that will allow continuing cooperation after the end of the sanctions," he added.
Based on the materials of the Press Service of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation.