17 October 2002 00:00
ON THE SEVENTH PETERSBURG INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC FORUM
The Seventh Petersburg International Economic Forum in accordance with the decisions of the Federation Council of the Russian Federal Assembly and the Interparliamentary Assembly of the CIS Member States will be held in the Tavrichesky Palace of St. Petersburg from June 18-20, 2003. The motto of the event is "An Efficient Economy - A Worthy Life."
The Forum is annually held under the auspices of the President of the Russian Federation with the cooperation of the Government of Russia. The regular participation of heads of state and government, presiding officers of parliaments, leaders of international organizations, and representatives of the economic and political elites of many states of the world attests to its high effectiveness and recognized prestige. It is rightfully considered the main economic summit of Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States.
A major feature of PIEF 2003 is that it will be held on the days of celebration of the 300th anniversary of St. Petersburg, when our city will become the site for meetings of world caliber. Along with the heads of the power structures of the Russian Federation the attendance of Ukrainian Prime Minister Anatoliy Kinakh and Polish Prime Minister Leszek Miller is expected at the Forum. A relevant information letter has been prepared for dispatch to the participants. The information letter is posted on the sites:
www.iacis.ru in the rubric "Petersburg International Economic Forum"
www.economforum.iacis.ru
Great interest in the Seventh Forum has been evoked also by the decision of the President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Jean Lemierre, on more active participation in its work. In accordance with the document The text of the Protocol of Intentions between the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the Interparliamentary Assembly of the Member States of the Commonwealth of Independent States and the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation is posted on the sites:
www.iacis.ru in the rubric "Petersburg International Economic Forum"
www.economforum.iacis.ru
, signed by him and Sergei Mironov during the forum of 2002 at the Tavrichesky Palace, the EBRD is becoming a partner of the Petersburg International Economic Forum. Observers think that this decision will attract an even more representative contingent of world business.
As reported by the Secretariat of the Council of the CIS IPA, in the course of the Forum there will be continued the practice of holding special events dedicated to one of the countries which are part of the CIS, as well as to one of the federal districts of Russia.
Traditional plenary sections and roundtables on various subjects, including visiting ones, will also take place. It is already known that the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development intends to hold at the Forum one of the leading roundtables, which will be devoted to the model laws being worked out by the CIS IPA, in the preparation of which the EBRD is rendering technical assistance. This year, in particular, with the cooperation of the European Bank the Standing Commission of the CIS IPA on Economics and Finance has worked out a model law on the securities market. In the future, with the participation of the EBRD, which highly assesses the model lawmaking by the Interparliamentary Assembly, it is planned to prepare the draft laws on the bankruptcy of banks and on the protection of investors' rights.
The specialization of the Petersburg International Economic Forum is considerably widening. Now aside from economic questions it orients itself toward solving global problems of the new millennium, and the study of philosophical questions associated with conflicts and the interaction of civilizations. In this connection the Forum expects the participation of eminent political figures of today, who will hold a debate on humanitarian-strategic and geopolitical issues.
The organizers' plans include an enlarged dialogue of representatives of the European Union and the Commonwealth of Independent States, aimed at the search of ways for mutually beneficial cooperation and the attraction of investment in Russia and the CIS; the formation of a common economic space in Europe; the entry of new countries into the World Trade Organization; and the development of present-day information technologies.
In the Mikhailovsky Manege there will be deployed a traditional exhibition of investment projects, and an interesting cultural program is being planned for Forum participants, including visits to, among other things, the Amber Room in the Catherine's Palace of Pushkin Town and the outdoor premiere of a new production of the Mariinsky Theater.
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© Publication of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation.
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