Russia has long discussed visa-free travel with Europe, albeit with little results. As EU authorities keep stalling, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin decided to try another approach. He asked foreign business leaders – (members of the Foreign Investment Advisory Council, FIAC) – directly, to lobby for this policy in their countries.
"We want to develop relations with our partners, including in Europe, as equals. Ultimately, visa-free travel is the simplest and the most radical solution," Putin said.
He asked the businessmen present, if possible, to promote these ideas at major forums, adding that politics should not hinder economic development.
The West does agree that Russia is ready for a visa-free regime with Europe, Putin said, albeit with a proviso: a visa-free regime with Russia would be possible, but granting it to Russia would also imply doing the same for several other post-Soviet countries; not all of them, of course, but at least those that are working to develop relations with NATO.
"First of all, I think that politics should not hinder economic development, and second, that there is nothing unusual or discriminatory in introducing a visa-free regime gradually to those post-Soviet countries that are ready for it," Putin said.
Economic relations should be based on reciprocity, he insisted. The Russian government has done a lot to bring major global companies to Russia; Putin patiently explained to his audience how the government has been making consistent efforts day after day to improve the investment climate. Some red tape has in fact been removed (fewer formalities are required to start an investment project now), immigration laws have become friendlier (to qualified professionals at least) and a package of tax incentives for high-tech investors will be adopted soon.
Putin told the heads of the 42 companies, members of the FIAC, that he had discussed the idea of ranking Russian regions by their attractiveness as investment destinations at a recent meeting with Russian business leaders. "The quality of their work with investors will be one of the basic criteria of a regional government's operation, as well as a major criterion to evaluate regional leaders' sustainability and their career prospects," he added.
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Igor Shuvalov appointed investment ombudsman
Russia now has yet another ombudsman, Putin said. The position of investment ombudsman was established in Russia last August, and First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov has been appointed to it. "Foreign investors can address him directly, and tell him about their needs, proposals and ideas," Putin said.
The new position was introduced on the FIAC's initiative. Russia has three other ombudsmen – Vladimir Lukin, human rights ombudsman since 2004; Pavel Astakhov, lawyer and TV host, appointed children's rights ombudsman earlier this year; and Pavel Medvedev, Russia's new financial ombudsman.
By Anastasia Savinykh