70 years of Russia's Trade Mission to Denmark: the outlook for Russo-Danish cooperation
Around 50 Danish companies interested in developing their business in Russia took part in the Forum. During the event they were able to obtain information from fellow Danes with extensive experience of doing business in Russia. These included Rockwool A/S, which has four factories in Russia manufacturing insulation materials, and NovoNordisk A/S (insulin production), both of whom shared their knowledge of siting production in the Russian Federation. Silvatec recounted the benefits of working with a Russian partner. Mikhail Vanin, the Russian Ambassador to Denmark, Thomas Winkler, the Danish Ambassador to Russia, and Artem Markaryan, head of the Russian Center for Learning and the Arts in Denmark, were all present at the event, along with representatives of leading Danish companies and business associations.
The Danish participants’ presentations, which generated a lot of interest, demonstrated the cultural and legal differences between doing business in the Russian Federation and in Denmark.
Participants in the Forum noted that despite the current difficulties in relations between the two countries, economic cooperation was the most important link between the states and developing it would help to provide a quicker route to a common understanding in political matters.
An analysis of trade relations between Russia and Denmark over the past 70 years showed the significance of economic cooperation at various points in time. Mikhail Vanin, the Russian Ambassador to Denmark, noted at the Business Forum that the Russian authorities’ efforts to improve the business climate in Russia were evident and appreciable, and this was confirmed by representatives from the Danish business community. Mr. Vanin also commented that an improvement in relations between the two countries would have a beneficial effect on the implementation of investment projects, and support is therefore required from Danish business circles at all levels.
Thomas Winkler, the Danish Ambassador to Russia, emphasized in his presentation that if he were to ask himself whether to work in Russia or not the answer would definitely be yes, because Russia has an enormous potential market for high-tech, new factories and "smart solutions".
Tatiana Volozhinskaya, the Russian Trade Representative to Denmark, and her colleagues from the Trade Mission highlighted in their presentations the efforts being made by Russia’s leadership to improve transparency at all levels. The Trade Mission staff had also prepared a presentation based on historic documents obtained in advance from the archives of the Danish statistical department. Information about Russo-Danish trade and economic relations from 1946 to the present day was shared. The examples of trade and economic cooperation between Danish companies and the USSR attracted particular interest. Representatives from the Danish business community who were present were also interested in information about the supply of Lada vehicles to Denmark in the 1970s and 80s (up to 5,000 units a year), mills and lathes, Minsk brand tractors and other high-tech Russian products in large quantities.
In addition to the review of the 70-year history of the work of the Trade Mission, participants were given information on the opportunities and advantages offered by special economic zones, the safeguarding of foreign investors' rights, and the provision of state guarantees by the Russian Federation when foreign projects are carried out in Russia. The Business Forum participants were also shown a video presentation about the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum and the Eastern Economic Forum scheduled to take place in 2016.
