OREANDA-NEWS. October 20, 2008. The Award honors foreign firms that successfully conduct business in Russia, while at the same time contributing to a broader improvement in Russia’s business culture and society as a whole, reported the press-centre of Alfa-Bank.

Chairman of the supervisory board of Alfa Group Consortium, Mikhail Fridman, presented the Award at a gala reception organized by Alfa-Bank and attended by over 150 prominent business, political and media leaders. The ceremony took place at the Reception House of the Ministry Foreign Affairs. The keynote address was delivered by the guest of honor, Rudolf Giuliani, Mayor of New York 1994-2001.

The Award was established in 2001 and is given annually to a foreign investor in Russia that meets the following three criteria:

A significant positive impact on the community, demonstrated by the size of the investment, number of jobs created, stimulation of other business opportunities and direct community involvement.

An excellent record of responsible business practice in Russia, demonstrated by a commitment to transparency in business operations, environmental good practice and investment in the workforce.

An ability and commitment to sustain operations in Russia for the long term, demonstrated by profitability, duration of operations in Russia and future business potential.

Intel has been operating in Russia since 1991 and today employs about 1200 people and provides more than 2000 Russian companies with training services, information, technical support and access to new technology. It has offices, research and development facilities in several Russian cities: Moscow, Nizhny Novgorod, Novosibirsk, St. Petersburg and Sarov. Additionally, Intel Capital invests in Russian companies, allowing them to take advantage of Intel’s technological experience.

Intel offers its Russian employees top-rate compensation and bonus opportunities, full medical and dental benefits, and opportunities to participate in profit-sharing and stock programs. In addition, employees are given several opportunities to receive professional training and development and various Intel locations offer facilities such as sports clubs, workout rooms and modern dining areas.

Intel Russia has made significant investments into the communities where it operates around the country. Since 1997, it has invested more than \\\\$12 mln in science and education programs in Russia. An example of its investments is the Intel Teach Program, which was started in 2002 and has educated more than 500,000 Russian teachers and student-teachers in more than 90 regions on the use of the latest educational technology. Intel also sponsors science completions for young Russian students, in which more than 5500 have participated. The Intel Learn Program, launched in 2005 and supported by the Russian government, provides an innovative methodology for teaching critical thinking and problem solving skills to children aged 10-14. Intel Russia has also created more than ten educational research laboratories at Russian Universities.

In addition to its significant investment in education, Intel supports its local communities in Russia through a large program for NGOs working with children and through a wide range of employee volunteer schemes. The Intel Computer Clubhouse, opened in 2006 in Nizhniy Novgorod provides access to technology and training to young people from unprivileged backgrounds.

The 2008 Selection Committee for the Alfa-Bank Award for Foreign Investment in Russia included: Peter Aven, President of Alfa-Bank; Yegor Gaidar, Economist and Politician; Dana Brown, University Lecturer in International Business at the Said Business School, Oxford; Richard Burt, Senior Advisor for Kissinger McLarty Associates.

“We are pleased to receive this award from Alfa-Bank and Oxford University — said Dmitri Konash, Intel Russia / CIS Regional manager — it symbolizes a high degree of appreciation of what we’ve done in the region since 1991 and encourages us to move even faster, developing our initiatives in education, wireless communications, R&D and SW development.

We believe that the properly run business means setting very high targets in everything we do — from developing innovative products to running CSR programs. We are committed to develop modern information society in every region where Intel operates. While planning our CSR projects we are doing everything possible to make sure they leverage our technology leadership and expertise, energy and enthusiasm of our employees, as well as our in-depth knowledge of the markets where we do our business. Wherever we work, we help the local communities to become stronger providing access to technology to those people who need them most and bridging digital divide. To be successful in business, we are harvesting the soil around us and create favorable climate for the ecosystem to grow and develop. This is especially true in Russia, a country which is famous by its education system and its engineers”.

Past Winners:
2003 — Procter & Gamble;

2004 — Nestle;

2005 — United Technologies;

2006 — Deutsche Bank AG;

2007 — General Motors.

Intel (NASDAQ: INTC), the world leader in silicon innovation, develops technologies, products and initiatives to continually advance how people work and live. Additional information about Intel is available at www.intel.com/pressroom and blogs.intel.com.