Ladies and
gentlemen!
Dear
friends!
Welcome address by Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation Mikhail Mishustin to the participants in the meeting of the U.S.-Russia Business Council
On behalf
of the Government of the Russian Federation I am happy to welcome the
participants in the annual meeting of the U.S.-Russia Business Council.
Over
decades, the Council has actively contributed to the development of trade,
economic and investment cooperation between Russia and the US. It plays a
positive role in strengthening the constructive dialogue between the business communities of the
two countries.
It is
important that irrespective of the state of the Russia-US political
relations your organization has consistently supported the maintaining of pragmatic
and mutually beneficial cooperation, and the implementation of joint economic
and investment projects.
The
Council renders effective multifaceted assistance to entrepreneurs, including
small and medium enterprises. It helps create new jobs. All this stimulates
economic growth in Russia and the US.
The work
of the U.S.-Russia Business Council acquires particular importance in the
context of unilateral sanctions imposed against Russia and new global economic
challenges. You support the improvement of the business climate, and oppose
barriers in trade and investment.
I would
like to stress that confrontation does not take anyone anywhere. It constrains
business initiative, boomerangs against the interests of a particular business,
and limits business opportunities.
Russia maintains a fundamentally different view. We continue to
improve conditions for activities of foreign, including American, business.
Certainly, we have to respond to discriminatory, non-legal restrictions imposed
against us. It is not our choice and we are not going to pose any obstacles.
On the
contrary, we support active presence of leading US companies in the Russian
market. We note their great practical contribution to the activity of the
Foreign Investment Advisory Council that I chair. Its next meeting will be held
the following week in Moscow.
We welcome
the participation of US entrepreneurs in high-profile international economic
fora held in our country. We expect a similar approach to Russian business from
the US leadership.
It is
important that Russia-US trade and economic ties have a sound foundation. Despite
unfavourable environment, the bilateral trade turnover, which decreased last
year due to the COVID-nineteen pandemic, shows a steady upward trend.
In
January-July 2021, the bilateral trade grew by forty seven percent compared to
the same period last year, and amounted to nineteen billion eight hundred
million dollars.
Besides,
the Russian export rose by sixty percent and reached almost ten billion
dollars. The imports from the United
States increased by a quarter and exceeded sixteen billion dollars. The
statistics is most illustrative.
I am
convinced that there are many promising areas for cooperation between our
countries. For example, Russian and US companies could take part in joint
projects in the Arctic to preserve unique ecosystems and ensure balanced
development of the region.
We can and
should together address global climate change. And tackle the COVID-nineteen
pandemic.
The
Russian Government deems it important to create favourable conditions for the
development of Russia-US trade, economic and investment cooperation, joint
exploration of new business opportunities, and launch of promising projects to promote
practical interaction and increase prosperity of the Russian and US people.
To finish
this intervention, I would like to wish you fruitful discussions, successful
work and implementation of all plans.
Thank you.