Russia–Switzerland: Diversifying Economic Relations and the Role of Localization
In order to reduce the dependence on commodities, the diversification of Russia’s export structure has been a key topic for some years now. New local content regulations have been established with the goal of enhancing local production in Russia. For foreign companies however, production in Russia and successful exports from there cannot ignore economic rationales. To what extent is production localization in Russia economically reasonable for Swiss companies? How should the regulatory framework take into account the limited local supply of components and primary products? How do Swiss companies view the export potential of goods produced in their Russian subsidiaries? How can they contribute to the diversification of Russia’s export structure and boost its economy?
Moderator:
Guy Mettan ,
President, Chamber of Commerce Switzerland-CIS
Panellists
Mikhail Akim ,
Vice President for Strategic Development, ABB Ltd
Anatoly Artamonov ,
Governor of Kaluga Region
Bertrand Bonvin ,
President, Russia and Belarus, Philip Morris International (PMI)
Paul Bulcke ,
Chairman of the Board, Nestle S.A.
Vadim Vlasov ,
Country President, Novartis Group Russia
Boris Dubrovsky ,
Governor of Chelyabinsk Region
Livia Leu ,
Ambassador; Delegate, Swiss Government for Trade Agreements; Member of the Board, State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO)
Harald Pfaller ,
Chief Executive Officer, Region Greater South & East, Omya International
Erik Fyrwald ,
Chief Executive Officer, Syngenta