5th Annual Russian Economic Forum

This April, for the 5th consecutive year, the Russian Economic Forum will bring hundreds of political and business leaders to London from all around the world to discuss Russia's place in the global economy. In 2001, the Forum saw a new high in attendance figures, with over 900 delegates and 65 speakers.

Confirmed speakers for this year's event include HRH Prince Andrew, the Duke of York; Alexei Kudrin, Russian Minister of Finance; Chris Patten, Commissioner for External Relations for the European Commission; Peter Aven, President, Alfa Bank; Mikhail Khodorkovsky, Chairman, Yukos Oil Company; Roger Munnings, Chairman, CIS Region, KPMG; Andrei Kostin, Chairman, Vnesheconombank; Digby Jones, Director General, CBI; Andrei Melnichenko, Chairman, MDM Bank.

The Forum received an official endorsement from Russian President Putin during his visit to London last December, when he referred to it as "the culminating event in Russian-British trade and economic relations".

This year's programme will include 2 intensive plenary sessions and 16 workshops and panel discussions devoted to a variety of carefully identified themes, including Russia's influence on international energy policy, Russia's relationship with both the EU and North America, and Russia's bid for WTO membership, as well as sessions on specially selected industrial sectors, including oil and gas, telecoms, mining and metals, and much more.

Once again this year, the Forum has the official support of a long list of corporate sponsors and partner organisations, including the Russian Ministry for Economic Development and Trade, the Russian Ministry of Finance, KPMG, British Airways, CBI, Yukos, MDM Bank, the FT, Moscow Times, Vnesheconombank, Alfa Bank, Aton Capital, UFG, RosBusinessConsulting, the American Chamber of Commerce, the European Business Club, Oil and Capital Magazine, Business in Russia, Jaguar, Hecho A Mano and the Intercontinental Hotel.

Register by 15 February and qualify for a 15% discount on the participation fee of GBP 840.

For more details, please refer to the official Forum website at http://www.ru2uk.com, or contact the organisers' office in London on +44 20 7510 2560 or at info@ru2uk.com.