Business Watch
John Bonar
Russia wants British investment in Special Economic Zone
By John Bonar
Against a backdrop of the Thames, Alexander Temkin, deputy CEO of Russia’s Special Economic Zones (SEZ), outlined the tax breaks, preferential customs treatment and discounted property deals available for qualifying investors in Russia’s Special Economic Zones at a presentation on Thursday.
Russia asked to mediate cease-fire in Libya
Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, in a telephone call Friday was asked by Libya’s foreign minister Al-Baghdadi Al-Mahmoudi to arrange an immediate ceasefire in his country and the start of settlement talks with the Western coalition without any preconditions.
Lavrov, for his part, said he believed in a diplomatic solution to the crisis.
UK Premier Cameron to visit Russia in September
UK Prime Minister David Cameron will visit Moscow early September, a senior Russian diplomat said on Wednesday.
Alexander Sternik, charge d'affaires or No. 2 in the Russian embassy in London, said Cameron would travel to Moscow in "early September". "We hope it will be a very significant step forward in improving our relationship," Sternik told reporters at the end of a briefing on Russia’s approaches to the G8 Summit, adding that he expected Cameron to be accompanied by a high-powered business delegation
Deauville Bluster … and US GDP Update
Chief Strategist, UralsibBy Chris Weafer
First visa-free travel, then customs union sought between EU and Russia
"We want to go as far as possible without being a member of the European Union", Russia’s Deputy Minister for Economic Development Oleg Fomichev has said, adding that the introduction of visa-free travelling is an important first step.
Participating in a panel in yesterday’s European Business Summit in Brussels, Fomichev underlined that “Moscow shares the EU's values and has no problem whatsoever in deepening its relations, including at a political level”.
Domodedovo seeks safety in numbers through London IPO
The operator of Domodedovo airport is seeking an initial public offering in London next month. Like the owners of other Russian companies, the Moscow airport’s shareholders want cash but also political and corporate stability.
“It is very obvious that the authorities do not want private shareholders in the airport business,” said Elena Sakhnova, transport analyst at VTB Capital.
The airport, Russia’s largest, plans to sell 20-25 percent of its stock for $1 billion in a private offering.
Ukraine estimates $720 million loss from the Nord Stream
As Nord Stream prepares to launch commercial operations in October this year transporting gas from the Russian port of Vyborg through the Baltic Sea to the German port of Lubmin, near Greiswald , Ukrtransgaz which operates the pipelines across Ukraine which have been used to transit Russian gas claimed the switch would wipe $700 to $720 million off its annual revenues in 2012.
Moscow home to more billionaires than any other city
The Russian capital boasts 79 billionaires, a stunning increase of 21 in just one year, a news release from Forbes magazine reports. That more than edges out No. 2 New York, with 59 billionaires, and No.3 London with 41, the wealth-watching magazine says. Other cities in the top 15 include such rising stars as Mumbai, Taipei, Sao Paolo and Istanbul. Los Angeles manages a tie for No. 8.
Avolus eyes expansion in Russia
Leading private aviation and executive transport company, the UK-headquartered Avolus, saw a 32% increase of business in 2010, which is being replicated in 2011. The business increase is evident across all regions driving the concentration to the USA, Russia & CIS and China. Avolus has undergone various developments in the aim to grow the Avolus Charter division to these territories, extend Aircraft Sales & Acquisitions services across the globe and launch new ventures in Block Hours and Fractional Ownership programmes.
Russia facilitates inspection procedure of imported goods
Russia's automated system, "Argus" gives the possibility to prior notify Russian border control checkpoints on the date and place of planned arrival of the goods imported to Russia and subject to border, phytosanitary, sanitary and veterinary controls, said the press release of the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (Rosselkhoznadzor).