U.S.-Russia Business Council 19th Annual Meeting: "Russia on the Cusp"

October 4-5, 2011, Swissotel, 323 East Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL 60601

CHICAGO, Sept. 27, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On October 4-5, 2011 the U.S.-Russia Business Council will hold its 19th Annual Meeting at the Swissotel in Chicago, IL.

Media representatives must pre-register to attend this event: registration

The annual meeting of global business and political leaders takes place at an important moment in U.S.-Russia relations, as negotiations on Russia's bid to join the WTO have entered their final phases and as both countries head into an election year. The meeting will feature panels exploring Russia's investment climate and competitiveness, with a specific focus on: energy, privatization of state-owned enterprises, reform of the financial sector, industrial policy and workforce issues. 

"We are at an inflection point in U.S.-Russia relations where we have an opportunity to cement bilateral commercial ties through Russia's WTO accession," said USRBC Chairman and Alcoa Chairman & CEO Klaus Kleinfeld.  "I am delighted that First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov and Deputy Secretary of State Bill Burns will join U.S. and Russian business leaders at this event."

As Moscow's sister city, Chicago serves as a powerful example for how a commodity based economy can transform into a world-class financial services and technology hub. The USRBC program will also examine the significant efforts occurring at Russia's sub-national level to create an innovative economy, where new opportunities exist for American companies.

"We are very pleased to have among our speakers the representatives of regional governments who have made attracting foreign investment a priority in their administrations, including Governor of the Chelyabinsk Region Mikhail Yurievich and Governor of the Irkutsk Region Dmitry Mezentsev," said Ed Verona, president and CEO of the U.S.-Russia Business Council.

Among the Annual Meeting speakers are top-level Russian and U.S. government officials, industry and academic experts, including:  

Igor I. Shuvalov, First Deputy Prime Minister, Russian Federation
William J. Burns, Deputy Secretary, U.S. Department of State
Klaus Kleinfeld, Chairman and CEO, Alcoa
Ian Read, President and CEO, Pfizer
Nikolai Kosov, First Deputy Chairman, Vnesheconombank
Christopher Wilson, Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for WTO and Multilateral Affairs, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative
Oleg Fomichev, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Economic Development of the RF
Sean Mulvaney, Member, Board of Directors, Export-Import Bank of the United States

The following sessions will be open for press: Agenda for PRESS

Full list of speakers and additional details can be found at USRBC Annual Meeting 2011 (English) or Ежегодное Заседание АРДС 2011 (на русском).  

When: October 4-5, 2011

Where: Swissotel
323 East Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL 60601

RSVP: Media representatives must pre-register to attend this event.    
Please register by Friday, September 30 at PRESS registration 

The USRBC (www.usrbc.org) is a Washington-based association representing approximately 250 companies, among them some of the leading firms in the U.S., Russia and Europe.  Founded in 1993, its primary mission is to promote trade and investment between the United States and Russia. 

Questions:  Svetlana Minjack, [email protected], tel: 202-277-7838

SOURCE U.S.-Russia Business Council