Connecting Russia/CIS and Asia
The Russia-Singapore Business Forum continues to gather momentum each year. From a simple objective to “demystify” Russia in 2006, the RSBF has developed into a more complex and sustainable platform from which to (a) forge B-to-B linkages business connections; (b) launch business projects and tie-ups; and (c) bridge pan-regional and global business across Russia/CIS, Singapore/Asia and beyond.
RSBF 2010 began with a breathtaking Opening Party, with over 800 people perched on a roof cantilever 200 meters high, overlooking the final race of the Formula One. It was the mother of all Russian parties. To cap the evening, we had a surprise visit from Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew who had decided to leave the race tracks for the company of the top businessmen who came to Singapore for the RSBF.
Close to 90 media representatives from Russia, Singapore and the region attended RSBF. To date, more than 250 pieces of coverage have been tracked and coverage extends to as far as China and Africa. Prominent international media include BBC, Dow Jones, Reuters, CCTV; in Russia, we had extensive coverage – ranging from Rossia-24 (a prominent news channel in Russia) to top business daily Vedomosti and largest national newspaper Kommersant and even the Russia Today which has global outreach.
Beyond the media buzz, RSBF 2010 was also known for the calibre of the speakers and participants. Participants numbered more than 800, spanning all the regions of the globe, including CIS/Eastern Europe (such as Moldova, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Armenia, Slovakia, Lithuania, Hungary) and Asian countries (Japan, Vietnam, Mongolia, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Thailand, Brunei and Turkey etc) and developed economies (US, UK, Switzerland, Netherlands and New Zealand) and across a broad spectrum of industries. Russia’s show of political support manifested in the participation of Russian DPM Sergey Sobyanin, Tatarstan President Minnikhanov and the regional leaders from the Far East. Two major Russian institutions, Troika Dialog and Sberbank, continued their key role as Strategic Partners. Top Russian businessmen included: Chubais (Rusnano), Vekselberg (Skolkovo Innograd, Renova Group), Gref (Sberbank), Vardanian (Troika Dialog), Kaspersky (Kaspersky Labs), Deripaska (Basic Element), Kostin (VTB), Tariko (Russian Standard), Gens (LANIT), Beloussov (Parallels). On the Singapore side was Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong and Minister Mentor Lee, who continued his involvement in the much anticipated “In Conversation” session.
More importantly, several deals were struck, including a joint US$120 million fund launched by Rusnano, the Economic Development Board and 360ip (a US venture capital firm), and a few port development projects. Discussions are ongoing on other fronts – real estate and technology.