29 January 2004 02:54
Potanin proposes merging big, small business associations
In a letter to the RUIE's President Arkady Volsky, obtained by
Interfax, he spoke of "the need to reform existing business
MOSCOW. Jan 29 (Interfax) - Vladimir Potanin, Russian tycoon and key member of the Russian Union of Industrialists
and Entrepreneurs (RUIE) representing big business, has suggested merging his union with organizations of small and
medium business.
organizations."
The letter suggests that the union's leadership discuss the
initiative in February and then send a corresponding offer to two
"Their efforts, if closely coordinated within one organization, will help more energetically promote the
interests of the entire business community," he said.
"The similarity of the approaches of all three business associations and the practice of their effective
interaction are prerequisites of this step," he said.
organizations - Delovaya Rossia and Opora Rossii.
Volsky's response to the initiative has been positive.
"Together we must help the Russian business community defend its common interests in promoting a civilized
business environment in Russia, stimulate initiative, improve the image of businessmen and strengthen business in the
provinces. In my opinion, it is more effective to do this together," the RUIE's press department quotes him as
saying.
"We intend to consider the entire spectrum of these questions, first at the Union Bureau on February 11, and
then at the board meeting on February 19," the release says. The leaders of the two organizations - Sergei Borisov,
Boris Titov, Sergei Generalov and Yevgeny Yuryev - are also RUIE board members.
Titov, cochairman of Delovaya Rossia, supports the initiative.
we should do a lot to settle contradictions between big and small
business at the negotiating table alone, with due account for the
He told Interfax that if the initiative is discussed in earnest, his organization may suggest merging the three into
an organization with interests of small and medium business as its priority, but feared that interests of RUIE members
would predominate.
Borisov, president of Opora Rossii, did not rule out the possibility of a merger, but said "the prospect can be
considered only if the interests of small business are not trampled on as a result."
"In Japan, there also used to be three major organizations of businessmen, which later merged into one. But
Russia is not Japan, and
opinions of small companies," he said. [RU EUROPE EEU EMRG POL] ml tl <>
[Interfax] |
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