On 1 June 2017, Chairman of AEB Board Thomas Staertzel participated in the session “Localisation as a means to create a cluster economy” during St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.

Among other participants of the session were: Yasushi Akahoshi, President, Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO); Pieter Boone, Chairman, General Manager, METRO Cash & Carry International; Oleg Fomichev, State Secretary, Deputy Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation; Jan-Olof Jacke, President, AstraZeneca AB; Igor Marchev, Head, Industrial Park “Aluminium Valley” Project; Igor Orlov, Governor of Arkhangelsk Region; Vasily Osmakov, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation; Felipe Pastrana, Vice President for Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa, AbbVie; Alexander Arnold, General Manager Industries Middle & Eastern Europe (MEE), SAP SE; Vladimir Gorodetsky, Governor of Novosibirsk Region; Maxim Shereykin, General Director, Agency for Technological Development. Andrei Sharonov, Dean, Moscow School of Management SKOLKOVO moderated the event. 

Thomas Staertzel stressed that European companies are still interested in working on the Russian market that is why are ready to localise their production. He noted that stability, transparency and transparency of legislation, protection of the results of intellectual activity, as well as an open dialogue between government and business on key issues are important for localization.

“Every year AEB with cooperation of Gfk Rus makes survey “Strategies and Prospects for European Companies in Russia”. This year the survey showed that the number of European companies that are expecting growth in the Russian economy in the short- to medium-term perspective increased considerably in comparison with last year. The AEB - GfK composite Index grew by 21 points — to 141 points out of 200”, said Thomas Staertzel.