Agro Perspectiva

Russia-ASEAN cooperation is bringing fruit

14.07.2011 12:44 "Agro Perspectiva" (Kyiv) — During the 2010 summit of the leaders of Russia and ASEAN countries in Hanoi, where Russian president Dmitry Medvedev met the leaders of ASEAN countries, it was decided to work out a «roadmap» for developing closer cooperation in the trade, economic and cultural spheres. A number of meetings, exhibitions, seminars and other events have taken place since, and on the 12th the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian federation gathered ambassadors of 10 ASEAN countries to express Russia’s preparedness to extend cooperation in all the above spheres. They also met the new president of the RF CCI Sergei Katyrin, who took the chair after the resignation of his long-time superior Evgeni Primakov. According to Katyrin, the potential of Russia’s cooperation whose larger part belongs to the Asian continent is tremendous, given the potential trade and economic relations at the vast and fast developing ASEAN market with its population of 550 million. Russia and these countries have vast stock of natural resources, including Russia’s oil and natural gas in its Asian territory. The Pacific Ocean enables both sides to have exchange routes: «We are interested that Russia’s exports in trade with ASEAN countries would not be only natural resources but goods and services with a high proportion of VAT, which provide conditions for a faster economic development of the regions of the Russian Federation both territorially close to the area and those in its European part, representing virtually all the regions of the Russian Federation. Our businesses are eager to do business with the ASEAN countries,» said Sergei Katyrin. Mutual trade turnover that in 2006 amounted to 4.4 billion dollars, grew to 12.5 billion dollars in 2010. As for the role of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Indsutry, its president Sergei Katyrin said it has good contacts with virtually each ASEAN countries, which need to be extended to achieve greater profits for both sides. After a series of events both sides participated in, new ones are also planned, like the ASEAN-Russia Economic Forum in Siberia’s Irkutsk in mid September, and the visit of our minister for economic development and trade Elvira Nabiullina to Indonesia in August, where the roadmap for further cooperation is expected to be signed. Bilateral Business Councils are also doing good job in expanding bilateral cooperation, Sergei Katyrin said. Fore example last March Laos presented its investment potential here at the premises of our Chamber, then it was Thailand in April. We need more of this sort of events, as we do more business information about ASEAN countries and that about Russian businesses abroad. In an answering speech, chairman of the Moscow ASEAN Club Ambassador of Malysia Zainor Abiddin Omar said: «The AEAN countries view Russia as one of its major trade partners, and we are grateful for the opportunity to discuss today ways of enhancing out cooperation and dialogue in the economic and social spheres, given the vast potential for this. Our chambers of commerce and industry are eager to make their contribution to attracting more investments into the region. Despite the growth of the mutual trade turnover, it can be much bigger. Russian exports to ASEAN countries amount to only 1.8% and its imports to only 2.2%. The road map that is being prepared will allow us to work out easier trade standards. This meeting today is a good opportunity for us to discuss with the Chamber, to have ongoing cooperation and other mechanisms that would help us to enhance our relationships,» said Zainol Abiddin Omar, chairman of the Moscow ASEAN club at the meeting with the managers of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation on the 12th.