In all, 77 applications were submitted within a week of the agency's announcement of a competition to fill managerial positions. The government expects at least 10,000 applicants to take part.
The first applications were received May 25, and all resumes and proposals are to be submitted by June 13. By Wednesday evening, 6,879 users had clicked on the agency website, with 827 of them registering and receiving their own E-mail addresses. They can now take part in the competition by writing essays on their vision for the agency and that of the entire Russian business community. A total of 77 people have done this and have completed the application process.
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin is to head the agency's supervisory council. His Press Service said 17 applications for the post of Director General have been submitted. Fourteen people want to supervise the Young Professionals department, another 27 applicants are interested in overseeing the New Business department, and another 19 applicants – Social Projects department. A government official previously noted that about 10,000 applications are to be submitted by June 13. This means that over 800 applicants will register on the website every day.
Vladimir Putin has conceived the Strategic Initiatives Agency as a vehicle for medium-sized businesses to present their projects and ideas and to implement the most interesting ones.
"Information about the Strategic Initiatives Agency is only being studied and assessed," Sergei Borisov, the leader of the Opora Rossii (Russia's Pillar) national public organisation of small and medium-sized businesses, told the paper.
"We need to understand how this will work. There are still more questions than answers. Certainly, Opora Rossii will not overlook this initiative. But we have not made any official nominations so far," Borisov noted.
The Association of Young Entrepreneurs of Russia also continues to "work in this direction" so far and promises to select its candidates in the next seven days.
The Business Russia organisation has reacted more promptly. Its central office and regional divisions have already started submitting their applications.
"We strive to act as a team," Business Russia Chairman Boris Titov told the paper. "We have many young and efficient managers. But efficiency does not always depend on managers alone. The foundation is important. Business Russia can become such a foundation. True, the competition regulations do not allow for collective applications," Titov stressed.
He promises that his colleagues will submit individual applications. They will subsequently form a team and will unveil Business Russia's programme.
Boris Titov's deputy Yelena Nikolayeva, Chairperson of the Public Chamber's Commission on Social Issues and Demographic Policy, will also apply for a director's job with the Strategic Initiatives Agency.
"They asked me to take a very close look at the potential of the Strategic Initiatives Agency and to join the competition. I got the impression that my experience meets the agency's objectives. I will submit my application as stipulated by the procedure to select top agency managers. Hopefully, it will be duly appreciated," Nikolayeva said.
When asked what aspect of the agency's activity she considered most interesting, Nikolayeva replied that she had worked in different areas, including human resources, business expansion and social projects.
"I can tell you that I'm competent in all three spheres of the agency's activity. I'm therefore prepared to head the agency or any of its departments. At any rate, I'm ready to join the expert council in any capacity," Nikolayeva noted.
Anastasia Savinykh
