Programme

A state’s SME ecosystem plays an important role in the development of its socioeconomic functions. Economic development is driven by small and medium-sized enterprises, which create additional jobs and bring about an increase in tax revenues. The share of SMEs in GDP has been rising steadily throughout the world over the past few years. In Russia, however, it has stayed more or less stable. How can we determine the impact of the SME ecosystem on the economy? Can SMEs become a driver of economic growth in Russia? What could explain such a huge difference in SME development levels? How were high GDP shares for SMEs achieved in the world’s leading economies? Are these mechanisms applicable to Russia? What factors can drive the growth of SMEs? How can Russian small and medium-sized enterprises integrate into the supply chains of foreign businesses?

Moderator:
Marina Kim , Anchor, Channel One Russia

Marina Kim

Anchor, Channel One Russia

She was born on August 11, 1983 in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg). Marina was born in international family: her father is a Russian Korean, and her mother is Russian. Marina has an older brother. As a child Marina worked as a model and starred in music videos. After graduation, she was accepted to St Petersburg State University’s department of International Relations where she studied for 2 years. At the age of 19 Kim moved to Moscow. She graduated from the Moscow State Institute, Department of International Relations with a major in North American Studies. In 2004 Marina worked as a TV presenter of the economy program Markets on RBC channel. From 2007 to 2013 she worked as the host of news program Vesti and made segments for various Vesti outlets as a correspondent. In 2012 she came in second in the 7th season of Dancing with the Stars. In 2014 she joined Channel One as a presenter at Dobroe Utro. Ms. Kim moderated multiple round tables at various events including APEC Summit in Vladivostok in 2012, First International Anti-Counterfeit Forum, St Petersburg International Economic Forum.

Panellists
Yasushi Akahoshi , President, Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO)
Alexander Braverman , Member of the Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer, Chairman of the Management Board, SME Corporation
Oleg Goshchansky , Chairman and Managing Partner, KPMG in Russia and the CIS
Thomas Deluca , Chief Executive Officer, AMP Credit Technologies
Erwan Dupuy , General Director, Saint-Gobain CIS
Alexander Kalinin , President, All-Russian Non-Governmental Organization of Small and Medium-Sized Businesses Opora Russia
Thomas Palmgren , Board Member, Oy Forcit Ab; Head of International Affairs, Federation of Finnish Enterprises; Member of the European Economic and Social Committee
Oleg Fomichev , State Secretary, Deputy Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation
Wang Qinmin , Deputy Chairman, National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference; Chairman, All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce

Yasushi Akahoshi

President, Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO)

Mr. Yasushi Akahoshi became president of JETRO on October 1, 2015. Most recently, he served as Minister of Embassy of Japan in the United States of America for four years (2011-2015), where he was in charge of diplomatic issues related to economy, trade, industry and energy. Mr. Akahoshi began his government service at the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI, later METI after 2001) in 1987. His career spans a wide range of public policy positions focused on international political-economy affairs, including those involving WTO and FTA issues, as well as several principal posts at the Agency for natural Resources and Energy. He was also stationed at JETRO Singapore Centre as Regional Representative of METI for Asia (2004-2007). Mr. Akahoshi is a graduate of the University of Tokyo where he received his LL.B. He also attended the International Career Associate Program at the School of International Relations and Pacific Studies (IR/PS) of the University of California, San Diego. He is married and has two sons.

Alexander Braverman

Member of the Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer, Chairman of the Management Board, SME Corporation

Mr. Braverman was born on May 1, 1954. He graduated from Kharkiv Engineering and Economics Institute and completed graduate studies at Lomonosov Moscow State Institute of Fine Chemical Technologies. He is a Doctor of Economic Sciences and a professor. 1995–1997 – He served as president of the Russian Marketing Association. 1997–1999 – He was Deputy Chairman of the State Property Committee of the Russian Federation and then First Deputy Minister of State Property of the Russian Federation as well as acting Minister of State Property of the Russian Federation. 1999–2000 – He served as president of the Russian Marketing Association. 2000–2004 – He was Deputy Minister of Property Relations of the Russian Federation and a State Secretary. 2006–2008 – He served as Chairman of the Committee for the Development of an Affordable Housing Market under the Russian Presidential Council for the Implementation of Priority National Projects and the Demographic Policy. August 2008 – Under Order No. 1145-r of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, he was appointed Director General of the Russian Housing Development Foundation.On Oct the 2nd 2015 A. Braverman was appointed as General Director of Joint-stock company «Russian Small and Medium Business Corporation» (JSC «RSMB Corporation» ). From October 12, 2015 he is a member of the Board of Directors of JSC «RSMB Corporation» ex officio.

Oleg Goshchansky

Chairman and Managing Partner, KPMG in Russia and the CIS

Chairman and Managing Partner, KPMG in Russia and the CIS, Member of the KPMG Global Board and the Board of KPMG in Europe, the Middle East and Africa Oleg joined KPMG in Moscow in 1997. Since 1 October 2012, Oleg acts as Chairman and Managing Partner of KPMG in Russia and the CIS. Prior to this appointment, Oleg was CIS Head of Audit. Under Oleg KPMG's Audit practice became the biggest in the Russian market. Oleg is as a member of KPMG's Global Board and Global Council, as well as of the Board of KPMG in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Oleg has extensive experience with companies in various sectors of the economy. He has actively assisted in a number of IPOs by large Russian groups on international and Russian stock exchanges, in major mergers and acquisitions, as well as complex restructuring cases. Oleg is a member of the Board of Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP), of the U.S.-Russia Business Council Board and as well as a Supervisory Board Member of The National Coordination Council for Development of Economic Relations with the Asia-Pacific Region.

Thomas Deluca

Chief Executive Officer, AMP Credit Technologies

Tom is Chief Executive Officer and Founder of AMP Credit Technologies (“AMP“), a leading financial technology platform enabling banks and non-bank financial institutions to improve profitability, increase efficiencies, and expand the product scope of their small business lending activities. Prior to starting AMP, he was a cofounder of Planet Payment, Inc. [Nasdaq: PLPM], a payment processor enabling processors, banks, and merchants to process credit card transactions in multiple currencies. Tom previously worked in the legal department of American Express, where he provided legal and strategic advice to the merchant services division. Tom received his B.A., J.D. and M.B.A. from St. John’s University and his LL.M. in international trade and business transactions from Fordham University in New York. He is also currently a member of the Advisory Board of the SME Finance Forum, established by the G20 Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion (GPFI) as a knowledge center for data, research and best practice in promoting SME finance, and managed by the International Finance Corporation (IFC).

Erwan Dupuy

General Director, Saint-Gobain CIS

1997–2000: studied at the Higher Engineering School of Supélec (France) and graduated as an Engineer specialising in Telecommunications and Electric Equipment 1999–2000: studied at Imperial College London (UK) and earned a Master’s degree in Telecommunications and Signal Processing. 2003-2004: completed an MBA programme at the INSEAD Business School (France, Singapore). 2001–2003: worked as consultant at McKinsey & Co. (Johannesburg, South Africa); 2004–2004: representative of the joint-stock company Avansis, crisis manager at Shell Solar and Managing Director for Development of Shell Renewables, Hydrogen & CO2 (Netherlands). 2007–2008: Logistics Director of the Plane Glass Division, Saint-Gobain Glass, France; 2008–2010: Director of the Plane Glass Division at Saint-Gobain Glass in Benelux nations; 2011–2013: Vice-President for Sales and Marketing, Director for International Development of the Plane Glass Division at Saint-Gobain Glass, France; 2013–March 2016: Director of the Dry Mortars Division at Saint-Gobain Group, France; Since March 14: General Director of Saint-Gobain in Russia, Ukraine and CIS.

Alexander Kalinin

President, All-Russian Non-Governmental Organization of Small and Medium-Sized Businesses Opora Russia

Born on November 4, 1966 in the city of Chelyabinsk. In 1989 graduated with honors from the Chelyabinsk Polytechnic Institute, specialization in robototronics, diploma qualification in electrical engineering. From 1989 to 1991 has undertaken postgraduate training program at the Department of Engineering Economics of the Chelyabinsk Polytechnic Institute. In 1991 founded a wholesale and retail company engaged in export and import operations. Fluent in spoken English. In 1995-1998 has graduated from the Ural Academy of Public Administration with a degree in law. In 1998 invested in the creation of a manufacturing company. The company designs and manufactures motor control centers, co-author of an invention patent. In 2002 became a founding member of All-Russian Non-Governmental Organization of Small and Medium Business “OPORA RUSSIA”. In 2005 was elected Chairman of the Chelyabinsk regional office of “OPORA RUSSIA”. In 2007 was elected to the Board of “OPORA RUSSIA”. In 2012 was elected first Vice-President of “OPORA RUSSIA” on energy, infrastructure and cluster policy. Since 2013 – member of the Government Commission on Electric Power Development. In 2013 was elected Co-Chairman of the Staff of the Chelyabinsk regional branch of the All-Russian Public Movement “People's Front” for Russia!” Since 2014 – member of the Board of Directors of JSC “ROSSETI” (June 2014), member of the Board of Directors of RAO “UES” (August 2014). October 29, 2014 was elected President of All-Russian Non-Governmental Organization of Small and Medium Business “OPORA RUSSIA” and Non-Profit Partnership “OPORA” Awarded with certificates of acknowledgement of the Presidential Administration, Government of the Russian Federation, Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation, Governor of the Chelyabinsk Region, Legislative Assembly of the Chelyabinsk region.

Thomas Palmgren

Board Member, Oy Forcit Ab; Head of International Affairs, Federation of Finnish Enterprises; Member of the European Economic and Social Committee

Manager of International Relations, The Federation of Finnish Enterprises The Federation of Finnish Enterprises has the largest number of members of all business-related federations in Finland. Today our membership consists of 116.000 enterprises of all sizes, from all corners of the country. Education: Master of Science (Econ.), Swedish School of Economics and Business Administration, Helsinki Other positions: European Economic and Social Committee (www.eesc.europa.eu) , Member The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) is a consultative body that gives representatives of Europe's socio-occupational interest groups, and others, a formal platform to express their points of views on EU issues. It’s a part of the EU decision process. Oy Forcit Ab (www.forcit.fi) – Member of the Board of Directors. Oy Forcit Ab is a Finnish industrial company which operates in the chemical sector.

Oleg Fomichev

State Secretary, Deputy Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation

Born on February 7, 1977. In 1998 graduated from Nizhny Novgorod State Technical University. Bachelor of Management (diploma with honours). 1998—2000: State University — Higher School of Economics. Master of Economics (diploma with honours). 1999—2000 — Leading Specialist of the General Analytical Division of the Department for Enterprise Reforming of the Ministry of Economy of the Russian Federation. 2000—2003: postgraduate studies, State University — Higher School of Economics. 2000 — Expert of the Centre of Strategic Development (CSD). 2002—2004: Deputy Head of the Department for Programs of Economy Development and Cooperation with International Financial Organizations of the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation. 2004—2006: Research Assistant of the Academy of National Economy under the Government of the Russian Federation. 2004—2006: Director for Development of the Centre of Strategic Development Foundation. 2006—2008: Head of the Department for Economic Policy and Competitive Ability of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs. January—July 2008: Assistant Minister, Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of the Russian Federation. July 2008—November 2010: Director of the Strategic Program Management and Budgeting Department of the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation. November 2010 – July 2012 — Deputy Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation. Since July 2012 – State Secretary, Deputy Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation.

Wang Qinmin

Deputy Chairman, National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference; Chairman, All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce

An ethnic Han, Wang Qinmin was born in Fuqing of Fujian Province in December 1948. With a Bachelor’s Degree in Geology from Fuzhou University in 1977, Wang kicked off a long academic career with teaching in his Alma Mater (1977-1984). He moved on to take up post-graduate and doctoral study at the London Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine (1984-1990). Afterwards, he worked as a senior researcher at the Geoscience Service Company in Japan and a director-level researcher at the geoscience information system department of a satellite imaging and mapping company in Japan (1993-1999), during which period he also served as a director-level researcher at the planning department of the Japan Geoscience Technology Promotion Agency, a guest researcher at the Resources and Environment Information System National Key Lab of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and a visiting professor at the Fuzhou University. Onwards he returned to research and administrative positions back there (till 2003). He became a deputy head of the Zhigong Party’s Fujian chapter in 2002 and later the Executive Vice Chair of Zhigong Party’s Central Committee. He became the Chairman of the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce and the All-China General Chamber of Industry and Commerce in Dec. 2012, a Vice Chairman of the 12th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference in 2013, and a Vice Chairman of the China Council for Promotion of Peaceful Reunification in Sept. 2015.

Konstantin Basmanov , Chairman of the Management Board, Vozrozhdenie Bank
Vladimir Gerasimov , First Deputy General Director, Executive Director, Interfax Information Services Group
Sergei Kelbakh , Chairman of the Board, Russian Highways
Dmitry Sytin , Chief Executive Officer, CJSC "TEK-Torg"
Andrey Sharov , Vice President, Head of GR, Sberbank

Konstantin Basmanov

Chairman of the Management Board, Vozrozhdenie Bank

Mr Basmanov has joined the bank in 2015. His candidacy for the position of the Chairman of the Management Board was consented by the Bank of Russia on October 23, 2015 and on November 6, 2015 he was appointed. On November 27, 2015 he joined the Board of Directors of Vozrozhdenie Bank. He graduated from the Khabarovsk State Economics and Law Academy with a degree in Finance and Credit and qualification Economics in 1996. In 2001 Konstantin Basmanov received postgraduate education in the frame of Corporate finances programme of Mitsubishi Research Institute. Inc. and in 2012 — in the frame of PSB Leadership Development Programme on the base of the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

Vladimir Gerasimov

First Deputy General Director, Executive Director, Interfax Information Services Group

Responsible at Interfax for financial and business information and services for business, and for the operations of the Group's international partnerships. Graduated from Moscow State University's Faculty of Journalism and worked in Foreign Broadcasting before joining Interfax in 1991, where he created the news agency's first business and finance products. Head of business and finance information at Interfax, and, from 1998, became the agency's deputy head, then first deputy head. His projects include SPARK, Russia's leading risk assessment system, and the disclosure site, www.e-disclosure.ru. Oversaw the creation of SPARK Marketing procurement analysis system, and of X-Compliance, Russia's first system for ensuring fulfillment of legislation on the fight against money laundering and the financing of terrorism. Helped set up the United Credit Bureau, a Russian market leader in credit information, and oversees the operations of the joint venture that Interfax set up with Dun & Bradstreet, a market leader for information on foreign companies. Plays an active role in the Open Government, and is a member of the Open Data Council and has served on the public councils of the Federal Tax Service and Federal State Statistics Service in recent years. He is one of the leading media industry managers, according to the Russian Managers Association TOP 1000 ranking.

Sergei Kelbakh

Chairman of the Board, Russian Highways

Sergei Kelbakh, Chairman of the Board of the State Company Russian Highways (Avtodor) Born on April 3, 1959 in the city of Slavgorod, Altai Krai. 1985 – graduated from the Leningrad Civil Engineering Institute. 1994 – graduated from the Russian-German Higher School of Management of the Academy of National Economy under the Government of the Russian Federation. 1996–2007 – General Manager of OOO Agentstvo Neudorf-Strelna. 2007–2008 – Adviser to the Chairman of the Committee, Deputy Chairman of the Committee for Improvement and Road Management of the Government of St. Petersburg. 2008–2009 – General Director of Russian Highways Federal State Agency. 2009–2011 – First Deputy Chairman of the Russian State Highways Company. Since December 27, 2011 – Chairman of the Board of the Russian State Highways Company. Doctor of Economics. First Deputy Head of State-Private Partnership Department, Professor of the University of Finances under the Government of the Russian Federation.

Dmitry Sytin

Chief Executive Officer, CJSC "TEK-Torg"

Andrey Sharov

Vice President, Head of GR, Sberbank

Born November 1, 1971. Graduated from Krasnoyarsk State University in 1994 and the Russian Civil Service Academy under the President of the Russian Federation in 1997. CSc (Law).Career1994: leading specialist, chief specialist of the legal department, Administration of Krasnoyarsk.1995–1996: leading specialist, chief specialist, head of department, Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation.1996–2002: specialist expert, consultant, counsel of the Human Resource Department of the President of the Russian Federation (Presidential Executive Office).2002–2004: head of Civil Service Administration, Ministry of Economic Development of Russia.2004–2009: Director, Department of State Regulation of the Economy, Ministry of Economic Development of Russia.2009–2010: Director, Department for Development of Small and Medium Enterprises and Competition, Ministry of Economic Development of Russia.December 7, 2010: appointed Director, Department of State Governance, Regional Development and Local Government, Government Executive Office.May–November 2012: Vice Governor, Chairman of the Moscow Region Government.Since January 2014: Vice President, Head of Small Business Development Department, Sberbank of Russia.