A.Merkel: "We need Russian beacon projects in Germany"

"Russia would like to enter into modernization alliances with Germany, France, Italy, other European countries and the USA. Germany is number one in this list", emphasized Dmitry Medvedev by resuming the results of the two-day summit in Ekaterinburg.

"Germany is the most highly developed country in Europe, and it has always been comfortable for us to cooperate with this country. We would really like to take a more active part in the German economy. We have the wish for it and the money, which is even more important".

 

In her turn, the German Chancellor Angela Merkel said: "We say ‘welcome' to the Russian investments. We need Russian beacon projects in Germany".

Russian & German Businesses Have a Jump-Start

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and German Chancellor Angela Merkel visited Ekaterinburg on July 14, 2010 for a two-day summit that devoted special attention to strengthening the business relationship between the two countries.

The Siemens corporation was one of the key players in the process. Siemens is going to partner with the Rostekhnologiya corporation in a joint venture to produce hydroelectric power plants and also plans to supply the public corporation Rossiiskie Zheleznye Dorogi (Russian Railways) with over 200 commuter trains worth 2.2 billion euros. In addition, Siemens is ready to help build Skolkovo, the Russian science town.

Representatives of Volkswagen, Airbus, E-On, BASF, and Metro were a part of the German delegation. The last two companies are well known in Ekaterinburg - BASF is an active participant in the Energy-Efficient City and Metro operates two stores in town. 

In January - April  2010 total trade between Russian and Germany increased by 50%, amounting to $15.2 million, and the total German investment in the Russian economy has been calculated to be more than $20.2 billion.

Russian Silicon Valley

Plans to build in Russia the Center for Research and Development Medvedev announced in February this year.

Then he explained that the new innovation center will become Russia's equivalent of the American Silicon Valley, a kind of prototype of the futuristic city to be a major testing ground for new economic policy.

It was agreed that the ultra-scientific-technological complex for the development and commercialization of new technologies will be built in Skolkovo in Moscow region.

President Dmitry Medvedev instructed the Government of Russia to resolve the issue with a special legal regime of Russia's "Silicon Valley" in the near future .

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