We firmly believe that Russia represents a huge growth opportunity for businesses, and whilst it has not yet commanded the inward interest that China and India have enjoyed in recent years, there are many benefits of concentrating on this market.

Apart from having huge natural resources, a higher literacy rate than in Europe or the USA, and of course its geographical location, Russia is increasingly demonstrating that it welcomes trade and investment in a way that was not previously the case.

Its population of 147 million represents a market for all of us, and is a good source of qualified personnel for companies considering outsourcing or setting up local manufacturing facilities.

Russia has a high potential for substantial long-term growth. With the election of a new President there are high expectations for the introduction of a range of institutional and economic reforms necessary to complete the transition towards economic and political stability. Russia therefore remains a long-term market of great potential for worldwide exporters and investors.