PricewaterhouseCoopers: Knowledge Partner of St Petersburg International Economic Forum 2010

PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) is this year the Knowledge Partner of the St Petersburg International Economic Forum 2010 (SPIEF). Specifically for this year’s forum PwC has developed the Deep Dive website (deepdive.forumspb.com), which provides participants with prompt access to analytical information. For all forum participants, PwC has also opened the doors of its Knowledge & Internet cafes where one can access materials on key forum topics.

Specifically timed to arrive before the start of St Petersburg’s 2010 International Economic Forum, the New Economic School and PricewaterhouseCoopers Russia, in cooperation with the Russian Venture Company and the ROSNANO Corporation, completed a survey entitled “Innovation activity of large business in Russia: Mechanisms, drivers, perspectives”. According to the survey, most of the companies polled believe that the Russian economy will be more innovative by 2020. The results of the survey were presented at a press-conference by Dennis Nally, Chairman of the PricewaterhouseCoopers International Network; Bo Parker, Managing Director, PwC Center for Technology and Innovation; Ekaterina Shapochka, Director, PricewaterhouseCoopers in Russia; Sergey Guriev, Rector, New Economic School; and Igor Agamirzyan, General Director, Russian Venture Company.

Dennis Nally also took part in a business round table ‘Russia – US Business Dialogue’, where panellists discussed what is needed for a decisive acceleration of trade and economic cooperation and how the implementation of joint “break-through” projects can be promoted, the importance of updating contract law as it pertains to bilateral commercial relations, and the potential role of development institutions in spurring investment cooperation.

Dennis Nally also participated in a meeting with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and several representatives of major banks, on the development of an International Financial Center in Russia. In addition, Dennis met with the leaders of “Big 4” companies during an industry breakfast and discussed financial reporting and market risks.