OREANDA-NEWS. June 21, 2011. TNK-BP became an active participant and partner of the XV Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF 2011) held last week.

Some two thousand people took part in the forum, including 69 heads of major foreign companies and 336 heads of Russian companies. TNK-BP was represented in Saint Petersburg by Maxim Barskiy, Deputy Chairman of the Management Board; Mikhail Slobodin, Executive Vice President, Gas and Power; and Amir Feizulin, First Deputy Executive Vice President, Downstream.

Russian Davos, as this economic forum is frequently called, was held this year under the slogan “Leaders for the New Era.” Major companies, including TNK-BP, used new formats in addition to traditional meetings and round tables. In particular, Maxim Barskiy gave a briefing for Russian and foreign journalists, where he confirmed the intention of the company to become a leader of the Russian oil and gas market and expand its international presence and ties.

TNK-BP’s head mentioned that two major contracts will be signed by the end of this month for acquisition of production assets in Venezuela and gas assets in Vietnam. “Extension of TNK-BP’s portfolio of such projects turns TNK-BP into an international player, strengthens the positions of the Russian fuel and energy sector, and enhances its role in the world economy,” stressed he.

This key economic summit of Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States is being held since 1997 and became annual in 1998. In 2001, SPIEF was officially acknowledged the main economic forum of the Commonwealth of Independent States.

Summing up the results of SPIEF 2011 in an interview to the TV channel Vesti-24 and TV company Reuters TV, Mr. Barskiy reminded that TNK-BP is a regular participant and partner of the forum. “For me personally, SPIEF is an excellent opportunity to take part in substantive and valuable discussions and converse with the management of major international energy companies represented here almost in its entirety,” summarized he.