OREANDA-NEWS. October 2, 2012. The 43rd General Assembly of the World Trade Centers Association (WTCA) opened at the World Trade Center Moscow on Krasnopresnenskaya Embankment on September 24. The General Assembly events took place in Moscow and St. Petersburg until September 26. Representatives of 69 world trade centers, 212 delegates from 45 countries, attended the forum.

This year’s General Assembly theme is “Innovations: Strategy of WTC Success”.

CCI of Russia President Sergey Katyrin greeted the General Assembly delegates at the opening ceremony. The World Trade Center Moscow (WTCM), an affiliated entity of the CCI of Russia, is one of the main floors in Moscow assisting the dialog between business and the authorities, he said. More than 170 territorial chambers of Russia closely interact with the WTCM. The fact that the General Assembly is taking place on Krasnopresnenskaya Embankment is another proof to the active and fruitful work and the authority of the WTCM.

Moscow Vice-Mayor Andrey Sharonov, who also spoke at the opening ceremony, expressed the assuredness that Moscow’s hosting of the General Assembly would contribute to the improvement of the business climate in Russia.

Members of the international crew of the International Space Station (ISS) greeted the General Assembly delegates and wished them successful work in a live communication session.

WTCM General Director Vladimir Salamatov emphasized that the World Trade Center Moscow had two important competitive advantages. Firstly, we are a part of the CCI system, which links us to 174 territorial chambers, he said. Secondly, the WTCM is a member of the World Trade Centers Association, which opens up broad opportunities on international market, assists the borrowing of advanced practices and promotes contacts between Russian and foreign business communities. Vladimir Salamatov briefly presented plans of the WTCM development and said that world trade centers had been actively opening in Russia.

WTCA Board of Directors Chairman Ghazi Abu Nahl spoke about the present day of the World Trade Centers Association and its development vectors. The organization aims to broaden the range of business opportunities for Association members and to improve the quality of their services, he stressed.

After the opening ceremony, the General Assembly delegates started to implement their working program. There was a discussion, “Network Market. Associations of World Trade Centers.”

A cooperation agreement between the International Trade Center (ITC, a trade-related technical assistance subsidiary of the WTO and the UNTAD) and the World Trade Center Moscow was signed on the General Assembly sidelines.

The main event of the day of the 43rd General Assembly of the WTCA was a forum, “Russia in the WTO. The Start”, attended by General Assembly delegates and members of the CCI of Russia Board. CCI of Russia President Sergey Katyrin chaired the forum.

Russian Presidential Aide Yury Ushakov read out greetings from President Vladimir Putin to delegates of the 43rd General Assembly of the WTCA.

Greetings from Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev were also read out.

WTCA Board of Directors Chairman Ghazi Abu Nahl said in his brief speech about the work of the Association and noted that Russia’s admission to the WTO lifted years-long barriers in Russian trade with WTO member countries, which would accelerate commercial exchange and foster mutual understanding and cooperation of business communities.

Academician, member of the Russian Academy of Sciences Presidium, Mercury Club President Yevgeny Primakov said it would be wrong to ask the question whether Russia should have joined the WTO. Certainly, it should because that made Russia a part of the global world, and the WTO is a global world institution. The organization is an umbrella to the entire world trade and it sets the rules for global markets. In the opinion of Yevgeny Primakov, the conditions of Russian membership in the WTO were much better than the terms offered to it at the start. True, not all the terms are advantageous for us. So, the academician noted, it was necessary to use at maximum the transitional period and to enhance the protection of domestic business. That is realistic if we do not waste time, Yevgeny Primakov stressed.

WTCM General Director Vladimir Salamatov read out the letter of WTO Director General Pascal Lamy, who greeted Russia’s entry into the WTO and expressed the hope that Russia would fully use the opportunities offered by membership in the organization.

We still have to learn how to operate within the WTO framework, Vladimir Salamatov said in development of the subject raised in the letter. The Russian business community is not unanimous about the WTO membership. Some, even big, companies have not started to prepare for operation under new conditions and have no relevant units. Practically a third of businessmen express serious fears about the future of their business. Businessmen lack information; therefore the CCI of Russia and the WTCM have opened the international business center “Russia in the WTO” at the WTCM. Businessmen are welcome to consultations and recommendations. Besides, necessary legislative amendments are being planned, exports of domestic commodities are being promoted, and investments are being drawn. WTCM head Vladimir Salamatov believes that membership in the World Trade Centers Association can contribute to this work. The WTCM expects the Association’s support to the holding of EXPO 2020 in Yekaterinburg. Vladimir Salamatov also touched upon such a sensitive subject as the several dozens of restrictive measures with regard to Russian commodities in other countries. If Russia undertakes obligations to the WTO, other WTO members should drop the discriminative measures.

Other speakers dwelt on the restrictive measures against Russian exports. CCI of Russia Board member, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the JSC Pipe Metallurgical Company Dmitry Pumpyansky said the problem should be solved urgently within the WTO or in bilateral negotiations. Production localization is also very important. Measures should be taken to encourage localization: this is a way to survive competition with foreign manufacturers on the domestic market.

The virtual economy, in which every dollar of a manufactured commodity was accompanied with several dollars worth of securities, has actually tumbled down, Ukrainian Government Representative for Cooperation with Russia, the CIS and the EurAsEC Valery Muntian said. It is necessary to strengthen the real sector based on circulation of commodities, either resources or finished products, rather than securities. In this context, Russia and its opportunities become a world center of attraction, Muntian said. Resources plus the economy based on highly processed commodities is the path which could lead Russia to complete economic success, prosperity and the ruble’s transformation into a regional currency, and, eventually, a world currency. Muntian believes that the WTO membership will contribute to that, if the WTO tools are used correctly, and called for active economic integration on the post-Soviet territory. Ukraine and Russia have joined the free trade zone, which is beneficial for both countries. But that is just the initial level of integration. It would be right to move on, the speaker stressed.

The discussion involved Turin (Italy) Chamber of Commerce President Alessandro Barberis, American Chamber of Commerce in Russia President Andrew Sommers, CCI of Russia Board member, Chairman of the Board of the Association of Agencies for Support of Small and Medium Business Viktor Yermakov, Chinese Embassy in Russia Minister Counselor Ling Ji, CCI of Russia Board member, St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce President Vladimir Katenev, Russian Economic Development Ministry Trade Negotiations Department Director Maxim Medvedkov and some others. The participants discussed uniform trade rules as a factor of market stabilization amid the economic turmoil, the role of business associations in the elaboration of the trade policy of EU member countries, the need for efficient and compliant with WTO rules programs of support and development of Russian exports and so on.

The WTCM also hosted a meeting of the CCI of Russia Board. The agenda included the participation of chambers of commerce and industry in integration processes and global trade in the context of Russia’s WTO membership.