The Embassy of the Russian Federation

Embassy of the Russian Federation is the state body of external relations of the Russian Federation, carrying out representation of the Russian Federation in the Netherlands.

The embassy is established under the decision of the Government of the Russian Federation in connection with establishment of diplomatic relations with the Netherlands at the level of embassies on the basis of the decree of the President of the Russian Federation.

The embassy carries out its activity according to the Constitution of the Russian Federation, federal laws, decrees and orders of the President of the Russian Federation, decisions and orders of the Government of the Russian Federation, Regulation on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Regulation on the Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Russian Federation in the foreign state, the present Regulation, statutory acts and instructions of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia, and also the Viennese convention on the diplomatic relations and other applicable norms of international law.

The embassy provides realization of uniform political line of the Russian Federation in relations with the Netherlands and in these purposes carries out coordination of activity and control of work taking place in the Netherlands of representations of federal enforcement authorities, the Russian official bodies, the organizations and enterprises, their delegations and groups of experts, and also representations of subjects of the Russian Federation.

The embassy is headed by the Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Russian Federation in the Netherlands, H.E. Mr. Roman A. Kolodkin.

Chamber of Commerce and Industry of The Russian Federation

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RF CCI) is a unique public institution. Vertically, it represents the interests of all tiers of business - small, medium-sized and large business. Horizontally, its activities embrace all areas of entrepreneurship: industry, domestic and foreign trade, agriculture, financial system, services (from the report delivered by President of the RF CCI Y.M. Primakov at the 4th Convention of the RF CCI held on June 19, 2002).

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation contributes to the development of the national economy on the basis on long-standing national traditions and the world`s entrepreneurial experience.

The major tasks of the RF CCI are:
• Representing the interests of Russian entrepreneurs in their relations with authorities;
• Creating conditions required for the establishment of socially-oriented infrastructure of entrepreneurship;
• Providing assistance in the establishment of legislative environment and entrepreneurial infrastructure.

Another top-priority activity of the RF CCI is providing practical aid to Russian businessmen in their establishing business contacts with foreign partners. The Chamber thus substantially contributes to the development of Russia`s exports, the attraction of foreign investments into the Russian economy.

The RF CCI unites the entire range of Russian businesses from small businesses to broad-based concerns, industrial and financial groups.

Territorial chambers of commerce and industry and associations of entrepreneurs are members of the RF CCI and contribute to the across-the-board implementation of economic interests of tens of thousand business participants all across Russia.

Uniting 20,000 companies and public institutions, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation contributes to the establishment of a favorable climate for entrepreneurship in Russia.

The Chamber includes 156 regional chambers of commerce and industry, around 100 federal associations of entrepreneurs, 450 companies and firms founded with the participation of chambers of commerce and industry and forming the infrastructure of serving entrepreneurship in the regions of Russia, 16 foreign representative offices, 6 mixed chambers established in cooperation with other countries.

The Netherlands-Russia Council for Trade Promotion (NRCH)

The Netherlands-Russia Council for Trade Promotion (NRCH) is one of the largest and most important bilateral councils for trade promotion that are part of the organizational structure of the Netherlands Council for Trade Promotion (NCH). Thanks to its board that consists of members with extensive experience in doing business in Russia and a wide network both on Russian and Dutch sides, the NRCH is able to promote the interests of Dutch companies that are commercially active in Russia or are planning to start such activities. The Chairman of the Board of the NRCH is Mr. Bernard, Global Co-Head of the Commodity Group of ING International Trade and Export Finance.

The NRCH maintains good relationships with government bodies in Russia and The Netherlands and is therefore able to lobby for a favourable trade and investment climate between the two countries. The network meetings, information sessions, seminars and trade missions that the NRCH organises, offer members of the NRCH a possibility to collect valuable information, exchange experiences and build up a network which helps them to be successful in business.

The Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (Employers) (RSPP)

The Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (Employers) (RSPP) is an all-Russian, independent, public organization that represents the national business community. The RSPP is aimed at consolidating the efforts of industrialists and businessmen in Russia in order to improve business environment and elevate the status of business both within the country and abroad.

RSPP members
The RSPP unites prominent managers, researches and public figures. To date, more than 328 000 representatives of industrial, financial, research and consultative organizations from all parts of the country, that in total count for more than 80 percent of national GDP, have been granted RSPP membership.

RSPP top priorities
• Elaborating a uniform stance for the business community on key trends of the reforms and urgent issues of the economic and industrial policy of the government and promoting structural reforms, whose goal is the well-being of the country and its population
• Support and promotion of the RSPP members, collaboration with governmental bodies and trade unions, and development of the system of social partnership.
• Coordination of activity among owners of different forms of property; creating conditions for constructive relations among businessmen; assistance in expanding possibilities for the development of business. Promoting the positive image of business and businessmen, enhancing the legal and social status of owners and managers.
• Reinforcing contacts between business partners in Russia and outside the country, seeking opportunities to increase exports and remove discriminatory restrictions, attracting investments to Russia, studying opportunities for Russian investments abroad, and improving Russia’s business image.

RSPP committees and groups
One of the major RSPP activities is the development of legislative proposals aimed at securing market economic changes. 17 groups and committees have been focused on some particular issues: administrative reform, taxation and state budget, WTO accession, customs policy, international cooperation, corporative governance, natural monopolies reform and industrial policy, banking, pension system, judicial system reform, ecology and social partnership.

The committees research the situation and put forward the proposals which make the base for socially important RSPP initiatives.

RSPP projects
RSPP favors the idea of self-regulating business organizations. In 2001-2003 RSPP representatives were very active in development of adequate regulatory mechanisms in economics and social policy that would reduce state interference in economic matters. The following organization have been recently established:
• National Foundation for Accounting and Financial Reporting Standards – aimed at implementation of international accounting standards
• National Council on Corporate Governance – public advisory agency aimed at image improvement and investment attraction through implementation of international corporate governance standards.
• United Commission on Corporative Ethics under RSPP
• Trade System Administrator
• All-region Self-regulating Organization of Professional Arbitration Managers
• Gas Market Coordinator

RSPP president and members of the bureau
Alexander N. Shokhin – President of RSPP.
Arcady I. Volsky – Honorary president of RSPP.

Public Diplomacy Corps

The Public Diplomacy Corps (PDC) is the official and actual organising body of the RusPrix Award. Apart from RusPrix, their main yearly event, PDC conducts a number of well-known conferences and arranges business activities at the highest level for various clients from the business- and political elite. The PDC team regularly uses their event-organising experience to raise funds for the benefit of charitable projects. In recent years the PDC has expanded its range of activities and now, in addition to business activities, the PDC also acts as organizer of various political events as well as colourful festivals that are open for wide public.
http://www.spdc.nl/