Помощник Президента Российской Федерации Аркадий Дворкович возглавил Попечительский совет Национального делового центра АТЭС

The Russian presidential aide, Arkady Dvorkovich, has been appointed to head the supervisory board of APEC’s National Business Center (NBC). Established earlier this year, APEC’s National Business Center is en route to become the leading organization for representing Russian business in the Asia-Pacific region. In 2012, Russia will chair the APEC.

“The NBC’s goal is to determine the shared interests of the Russian business community in the Asia-Pacific region and to ensure that those interests are reflected in APEC’s work and decisions. This is no simple task, but Russia has no choice. We need to strengthen our positions in the major global markets and take part in regional integration. As you know, APEC represents more than half of the world’s GDP,” Mr. Dvorkovich emphasized.

Ziyavudin Magomedov, Chairman of the Board at Summa Group and the 2012 Chairman of the APEC Business Advisory Council, noted that “the Asia-Pacific countries are at the heart of global growth and Russia has much to offer in many areas. Looking at transportation and logistics, for example, less than 1% of freight between Europe and Asia passes through Russia. More goods could be shipped through our country. As one of the largest food exporters, Russia can and must take a leading position in the markets of the region. Together with our business partners we are also going to study and adopt the best practices in sustainable development, especially over the use of ‘green’ technologies and the creation of eco-cities.”

According to the NBC’s Chairman, Vladimir Androsik, “The Center will include the leading Russian companies that are already working in the region or that are planning to enter these markets. Russian business has long sought to increase cooperation with its business partners in the Asia-Pacific region, and the NBC will work on removing the obstacles to this.” It is expected that between 50 and 100 companies will join the NBC.

ABAC is the forum’s primary policy making body which liaises with APEC’s business community. ABAC’s main objectives are to develop proposals for creating a favorable environment for trade and investment in APEC, as well as preparing policy recommendations from the business community for the political leaders of APEC’s member economies. Ziyavudin Magomedov will head ABAC during Russia’s chairmanship year of APEC.

Twenty-one economies in the Asia-Pacific region are members of APEC, including the US and Russia, along with Chinese Taipei and Hong Kong. APEC works to improve economic growth and develop cooperation in the region. Members account for approximately 40% of the world’s population and about 54% of the world’s GDP. Russia has been a member of APEC since 1998. The APEC 2012 Summit will be held in Vladivostok.