Seminar on Recent developments in Russia's investment environment and policy

Helsinki, Finland, 21-22 May 2007

The next Investment Policy Review of the Russian Federation has been launchedand is scheduled for completion by end-2008, based on a cooperative process with the Russian authorities and peer examination by the Investment Committee. To initiate this project, a seminar on Russia’s investment policy was hosted by the Finnish Government in Helsinki on 21-22 May 2007.

The purpose of the seminar was to discuss the latest developments in Russia’s investment environment, focusing on three areas:

• Follow-up to the 2006 Investment Policy Review: recent developments in Russia’s business climate and investment policy, in particular the forthcoming law on strategic sectors
• Russia both as destination and source of international investment in the energy sector
• Russia’s public policy to promote responsible business conduct and the role of the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises

Workshop material

• Agenda
• Issues for discussion
• Summary of discussions
• List of participants
• Corporate responsibility in the Russian Federation: Recent trends
• New investment opportunities in Russia, Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of the Russian Federation
• RF Law on Concessions and prospects for private-public partnership infrastructure projects in Russia, Glenn S. Kolleeny, Senior Partner, Salans
• Role of FDI in Russia’s economic diversification, Libor Krkoska, EBRD
• Policy Framework for Investment – What is there for Russia investment policy in the energy sector?, Blanka Kalinova, OECD
• Corporate Compliance and Responsibility in Russia: The Way Forward, Arthur L. George, Baker & McKenzie, Chicago
• Responsible business - Practical Experience, Mr. Martin Granholm, Executive Board Member, ICC
• Public policies for promoting responsible business conduct: An OECD perspective, Manfred Schekulin, Chair of the OECD Investment Committee
• Kari Liuhto, Pan-European Institute in Finland: A future role of foreign firms in Russia's strategic industries www.tukkk.fi/pei/verkkojulkaisut/Liuhto_42007.pdf
• Peeter Vahtra, Pan-European Institute in Finland : Expansion or Exodus? Trends and Developments in Foreign Investment of Russia's Largest International Enterprises www.tukkk.fi/pei/verkkojulkaisut/Vahtra_12006.pdf

Further reading

• OECD-Russia co-operation in the field of international investment
• OECD Investment Policy Reviews: Russian Federation: Enhancing policy transparency, OECD, 2006
• Investment Policy Review of the Russian Federation, OECD, 2004
• The Investment Environment in the Russian Federation: Laws, Policies and Institutions, OECD, 2001
• OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises

Workshop organisers

For substantive matters:
Ms. Blanka Kalinova, OECD Investment Division, Paris
Tel: 00 33-1 45 24 89 23; blanka.kalinova@oecd.org 

For workshop organisation and logistics:
Mrs. Marjut Granholm
Tel: 358-9-160 55417; marjut.granholm@formin.fi