RusPrix Award. News

The RusPrix Award took place on Friday, 16 June, in the Netherlands. The prizes - presented by Adviser to the President of Chamber of Commerce of the Russian Federation (RF CCI) Georgi Petrov and Russian Ambassador to the Netherlands Alexander Shulgin - were awarded to organizations and individuals that have made significant contributions to the development of Russian-Dutch relations.

"We have a relationship with many countries, however, this ceremony takes place only in the Netherlands", said Petrov. In his opinion, this unique bilateral project exists because "The Netherlands is a great trading nation and one of the most important economic partners of Russia." "I am confident that the award will be a success for many years to come", - said the adviser to the President of the RF CCI.

This year, the prize was awarded in five categories:

Award for the outstanding contribution to the development of Russian-Dutch economic relations

ING Group’s Wholesale Banking business unit is today one of the leading foreign financial institutions in Russia, providing services to over thousand foreign and local corporate clients. ING Wholesale Banking has been operating in Russia since 1993 (legal name - ING BANK (EURASIA) JSC).
It aims to deliver the financial products and services in the way the customers want them delivered: with exemplary service, convenience and at competitive prices. The mission statement is to set the standard in helping our customers manage their financial future.
ING wants to build its future on sustainable profit, based on sound business ethics and respect for its stakeholders. Business Principles prescribe the corporate values and the responsibilities ING Bank Eurasia has towards society and the environment: to act with integrity, to be open and clear, to respect each other.
ING in Russia has been supporting the Novo-Nikolskiy boarding school for 3 years, where children, deprived of parental care, live and study. ING Bank organizes a number of events in house to raise money, assists this orphanage in their building`s renovation and in educational programs as well as programs for the kids` social adaptation.
The Bank holds the annual ING Lion’s Cup football tournament, in which teams from the orphanages they support, as well as the ones supported by ING clients and partners, take part.
The bank has been supporting The Moscow Symphony Orchestra for 4 years, thus making some of their concerts possible!

Award for his personal contribution to the development of Russian Dutch relations

When one says that "the Dutch are always the first in business", they mean people like Mr. Joep Athmer.During his almost thirty-year long career, Mr. Athmer has been responsible for worldwide offshore activities. Paying attention to more than 10 years of successful business of Van Oord in Russia, Mr. Athmer is playing a most important part in the implementation of strategically important projects between Russia and the Netherlands – in St. Petersburg, Sakhalin, in the Yamal peninsula and the Caspian region.
The great contribution Mr. Athmer has made to the development of bilateral relations as Chairman of Project Delta Group, whose mission is "Developing a long-term strategic partnership that stimulates technological innovation and project cooperation in the energy sector and supporting business sectors between Dutch and Russian business partners".

Award for the outstanding contribution to the development of Russian-Dutch cooperation in the area of Finance and Agriculture

Financial company De Lage Landen Leasing is one of the largest players in the global financial market, carrying out operational activities in 35 countries. The motto "See what counts" clearly reflects the essence of the company.
In Russia, DLL Leasing has been represented since 2006 and today it is recognized as one of the most active representatives of Western leasing companies in the agrarian sector of the Russian Federation, in the field of financing agricultural machinery of foreign production.
The general client portfolio of DLL Leasing includes over 2500 contracts and 1000 clients, most of which are Russian agricultural enterprises.
Rostselmash is a group of companies, which includes 13 enterprises located on 10 production sites in 4 countries, producing equipment under the brands ROSTSELMASH and VERSATILE.
Rostselmash has been operating on the agricultural machinery market for over 87 years, having produced over 3 million machines during this time.
The enterprise owns all necessary technologies, carrying out a full production cycle.
Rostselmash presents a wide range of its machinery to agrarians: tractors, combine harvesters and forage harvesters, sprayers, cultivators and harrows. The Rostselmash agro-machines proved to be highly productive, cost-effective and reliable. To date, the company`s product line includes more than 150 models and modifications in 24 different types of equipment. Realization of Rostselmash machinery, its pre-sale preparation and service is carried out through the dealer network of the company, operating on 4 continents.
Nowadays Rostselmash agro-machines are in demand in more than 50 countries of the world.

The joint program of RSM Finance in Russia, implemented within the framework of the cooperation agreement between DLL Leasing and the Rostselmash plant, which was signed on April 21, 2016, has already demonstrated its effectiveness. In less than a year, more than 100 customers were financed, who purchased 220 units of equipment produced by the Rostselmash plant, for a total amount of about 15 million Euros. This program already involves 25 authorized dealers of the plant, located throughout Russia, and this is only half of the dealer network of the plant. At present, RSM Finance has 4 branches in the south of Russia and the central region of the country. According to the most conservative estimates, the volume of new business in 2017 should double in comparison with 2016.

Award for the outstanding Contribution to the Development of Russian-Dutch Cooperation in the Field of Education

The Dutch Institute in St. Petersburg is an academic center, whose activities are aimed at providing services to Dutch students and scholars, as well as on the development of scientific ties between Russia and the Netherlands. The Institute is one of the Dutch Scientific Institutes Abroad.
The NIP is part of the University of Amsterdam and is partnered with the University of Groningen, Leiden University, Utrecht University, the Free University and the Radboud University of Nijmegen.
NIP seeks to exchange information and ideas, to create an accessible space for interaction between the academic and cultural communities of the Netherlands and Russia.
The institute organizes courses at all levels and fields of study and offers internships and scholarships to students and researchers. NIP programs are designed for Dutch students and are held in St. Petersburg and other Russian cities. Some of them are open for participation of foreign and Russian students.
NIP conducts Seminars on Literary Translation, Training for Interpreters, provides information on higher education, training programs and scholarships in the Netherlands.
NIP and the Society of Friends of the Dutch Institute have established an award for the best degree project about the Netherlands. The subject of the thesis can represent most diverse fields of science: culture, linguistics, history, geography, economics, politics, law, international relations, sociology and others.
In 2017, the Dutch Institute is celebrating its 20th anniversary! Throughout the year, the NIP will organize numerous scientific and festive anniversary events in both Russia and the Netherlands.

Award for his outstanding contribution to development of Russian-Dutch cultural relations

Alexander Taratynov studied in Moscow at the Artlyceum (1967-1974) and the Art Academy of Soerikov, sculpture department (1975-1981). In the 90-s he went to the Netherlands for a scholarship and lived in Amsterdam, later in Maastricht.
In 2015, he joined Strijthagen Castle, where he opened ArtLand, together with his spouse Katja.
Surely, you know some of his creations very well.

Among them are:

- The Silver ten-gulden coin with portraits of Queen Beatrix;
- The portrait sculpture of Anna Paulowna in Zaandam;
- Sculpture of a sitting Anna Paulowna in The Hague and Anna Paulowna on horse;
- sculptures of Flora, Mercury, Daniel of Dopff and Tsar Peter the Great for the gardens of Neercanne Castle, Maastricht;
- Statue of D`Artagnan in Maastricht;
- The Nelson Mandela bust, also located in The Hague;
- A three-dimensional version of the famous NightWatch painting by Rembrandt, located at the Rembrandt Plain in Amsterdam

The works of Alexander Taratynov are very well known in Russia and in Europe - his beautiful bronze sculptures adorn parks and museums of Holland, Germany, Latvia, Russia, France, Austria, Switzerland.

"This is the second time I take part in the ceremony, and it was such a great experience, - Russian Ambassador to The Netherlands Shulgin stated in an interview. Unfortunately, our relations are going through a difficult time, in which trade relations are reduced, but we still consider the Netherlands as our key partner." The country, he recalled, takes "the third place in terms of turnover after China and Germany and is the second largest investment partner, with more than $60 billion of accumulated investments in Russia."

"It is noteworthy that, despite the difficult times, none of the Dutch companies working in the Russian market left the country", - the diplomat said. They continue to plan and together with its Russian partners are preparing the prerequisites for the resumption of full cooperation.

The RusPrix Award has been held annually since 2004. The event is organized by the Public Diplomatic Corps Foundation. Of course, with support of their sponsors, which this year were:

• Lukoil Oil Company
• AkzoNobel
• Voerman International
• Van Oord
• Gasterra
• ING
• Linx Datacenter
• Port of Rotterdam