The fourth Russia-Singapore Business Forum 2009 was held from 27th to 29th September 2009. This year's forum focused on a major theme, "Emerging from Turbulence: New Economic Opportunities".
The annual event is jointly-organised by the RSBF Organising Council, International Enterprise (IE) Singapore, a Singapore government agency which promotes the overseas growth of Singapore-based companies and international trade; and supported by strategic partners Troika Dialog, Russia's top investment bank and Sberbank, the largest bank in Eastern Europe.
Poised as a high-level conference and with past forums, the fourth edition attracted more than 600 delegates from a diverse mix of industries ranging from automotive, hospitality, information communication technology, retail and offshore marine industries among others.
Preceding the event was an opening party held atop the Helipad at Swissotel The Stamford set against a spectacular backdrop of the Formula One Singapore Grand Prix on 27th September 2009.
Participants visited Fusionpolis and Biopolis, truly state-of-the-art in design, fusing software with hardware, and creating zones integrating the whole chain of R&D to lifestyle to techno-entrepreneurship on 28th September 2009 organised by Agency for Science, Technology & Research, Singapore (A-STAR). A Technology Roundtable, involving the best minds of Nobel stature and dynamic entrepreneurs was concurrently held at the Shangri-la Hotel; also organised by A-STAR.
Other site inspections organised by Economic Development Board, Singapore included a visit to Jurong Island, an island dedicated to the petro-chemical, oil and gas industry cluster showcasing how government-led strategic investment programmes provide the platform and infrastructure for the development and enhancement of key industries while the Singapore Tourism Board organised a site visit entitled "Transforming Singapore's Leisure & Lifestyle Landscape" to the Urban Redevelopment Authority's Marina Barrage showcasing the developments in the heart of Singapore's business district – Marina Bay Sands and the resort island of Sentosa – Resorts World Sentosa.
The business match services organised by IE Singapore was held for participating companies to enable enterprising and dynamic Russian businessmen to speak directly to Singapore/Asian companies and MNCs.
During a welcome remark on 29th September 2009, Mr Sunny Verghese, Chairman of International Enterprise Singapore and Group Managing Director & CEO of Olam International, stressed that this year's forum was launched at the right time in view of the economic climate.
In his opening address, Singapore Senior Minister, Mr Goh Chok Tong provided a complementary viewpoint on "The Current Economic Crisis: Singapore's Experience". The keynote speeches were then delivered by Russia's First Deputy Prime Minister, Mr Igor Shuvalov and CEO & Chairman of the Board of Sberbank, Mr Herman Gref on Russia's business growth in the current economy.Thereafter, Dr Mark Mobius, Managing Director of Franklin Templeton led a panel discussion on Reforming Global Finance that explored new paradigms in global finance and shared insights on the impact on the real economy and global business.
Joining him were Singapore Finance Minister Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam; Mr Kotaro Tamura, Senator and Chairman from the Upper House Committee Japan; Mr Herman Gref, Chairman & CEO of Sberbank and Mr Ruben Vardanian, Chairman of Troika Dialog Group.
Acknowledging that China and India are key nations that are only beginning to awaken to their true economic and financial potential, discussants pondered and explored these shifts in the global investment outlook with Dr Tony Tan Deputy Chairman and Executive Director, Government of Singapore Investment Corporation (GIC) as panel moderator together with Mr Ketan Patel, Founder and CEO of Greater Pacific Capital; Mr Manu Bhaskaran, Partner of the Centennial Group Inc and Dr Simon Ogus, Founder and CEO of DSGAsia Limited.
As the current crisis appears to be a watershed; with market-led globalisation, financial capitalism, and western domination of global economics and finance likely to wane in its aftermath, the discussion evaluated the key drivers of the global economic and financial environment.
Presenting a case study during a luncheon, Dr Beh Swan Gin, Managing Director of Economic Development Board described Singapore as a springboard where it serves as a bridge for the rest of Asia with other countries to conduct business.
Mr Erik Peyrer, Vice-President of Cameron International Corporation; Mr Freddie Low, CEO and President of Baker Furniture and Mr Gerald Chan, Managing Director for UBS Singapore also shared their insights and past experiences during this segment.
In an engaging dialogue between Mr Vladimir Yakunin, President of Russian Railways and Mr Philip Yeo, Chairman of Spring Singapore with Mr Rajinder Sethi, Honorary Business Representative for International Enterprise Singapore (Moscow office) who moderated the discussion, the panelists pointed out new vistas opening in sectors like infrastructure and technology highlighting the likely significant in public investments in the Russian Far East, in preparation for the APEC Summit in 2012 while the public-private sector partnerships look set to become the norm for development.
The discussants also contended that while private sector investment remained cautious, opportunities are being created through government-driven stimulus measures.
Invited panellists, Mr Sergey Darkin, Governor of Primorsly Krai, Mr Rustam Minnikhanov, Prime Minister of the Republic of Tartarstan and Mr Anton Konnov, Partner with Allen & Overy LLP joined in the discussion and shared their views on existing in the new economies of growth and opportunity in the public-private sector.
Defining the art of doing business in Russia/CIS market and how to manage businesses were also discussed by Mr Andrey Goltsblat, Manager Partner of Goltsblat BLP who led the dialogue with participants Mr Reiner Hartmann, Chairman of E.ON Ruhrgas AG Moscow; Mr Chris Good, Senior Vice-President of Estee Lauder Companies and Mr Robert Obologiani, General Manager of Aviareps AG.
The conference ended with "In Conversation" with Singapore Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, undoubtedly one of the most influential political leaders in Asia, Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew was Singapore's Prime Minister from 1959 to 1990.
Together with Russian First Deputy Prime Minister, Mr Igor Shuvalov and moderated by Ambassador Michael Tay, Executive Director of the Russia-Singapore Business Forum Organising Council, they discussed projects between Singapore and Russia businesses and the importance of a solid educational system.
A closing gala dinner hosted by Troika Dialog Group was held at Capella Singapore on Sentosa island. Renowned Russian violinist, Tatiana Grindenko and fire-twirling performers amazed guests with their stunning performances.
This year's forum marked yet another successful series that has provided a platform for high-level professionals to come together to understand the various business perspectives through robust intellectual discussions by key political leaders and high-profile businessmen in Russia and Singapore.