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Borders should not be barriers
The idea of holding an economic forum in our city whose main topic will be investments is very attractive but it is also very difficult for realisation. The Davos forum where I was a participant has established its traditions and some discussion forms, as well as workshops and “round-tables” thus making it very effective and interesting. I have strong hopes, that St.Petersburg forum will be attended by businessmen with serious intentions and capitals, both from far and near foreign countries. Unfortunately our contacts as well as the contacts of other city enterprises with those in former republics and regions of Russia are still very weak. One of the reasons is the absence of money. Our company, as is known, engages in creation of radio-electronic equipment for aviation. In some countries of CIS active attempts at modernising home-produced planes of various modifications are taking place. Formerly, the planes were built on the basis of many-sided cooperation between plants and industries.The cooperation can be and is to be revived,but it is hampered by the economic disunity of former Soviet Union and by the absence of finances for payment of orders. At present designers and analysts are forced to finance the process of creating new equipment themselves, having no guarantees for its purchase by the republics that have become sovereign states. State borders should not be barriers on the way of investments and financial currents, the fact well appreciated by Western businessmen. It would be good if the St.Petersburg forum found a solution for this problem.
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