MOSCOW, September 24 (Itar-Tass) — Common trade rules as a factor in stabilizing markets in the light of an economic downturn are to be discussed here on Monday at the 43rd General Assembly of the World Trade Centers Association (WTCA).
An organizing committee official has pointed out that the 43rd General Assembly of the WTCA opens here for the first time in Russia's recent history under the motto "Innovations: WTCA Strategy of Success". More than 150 business executives from various countries will take part in the WTCA General Assembly. They are interested in the conduct of business meetings with Russian partners to discuss possible cooperation in various fields. These are delegations from Brazil, India, Italy, Canada, China, Nigeria, the Philippines, and other countries.
A joint session of the participants in the WTCA General Assembly and Members of the Board of Russia's Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) will be the main event of the 43rd General Assembly.
Organizers say participants in the proceedings will also share experience in the PRC economy's sectoral adaptation to the WTO norms and standards, and discuss prospects for CIS countries' integration within the context of Russia's accession to the WTO. They will also touch upon such themes of no small importance as the need for effective Russian-export support and development programmes that correspond to the WTO rules, organizers emphasize.
The joint session will be attended by Sergei Katyrin, CCI President and Chairman of the Board of the OAO (public joint-stock company) WTC (Moscow), WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy, Abu Nal, Chairman of the Board of the WTCA, Vladimir Salamatov, General Director of the WTC (Moscow), as well as Alessandro Barberis, president of the Torino Chamber of Commerce (Italy), Ling Ji, Minister Plenipotentiary, Minister-Counsellor at the Embassy of the PRC to Russia, and Andrew Sommers. president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Russia.
The WTCA General Assembly has been organized by the World Trade Center of Moscow. It gained the right to play host to the Assembly in summer last year. At that time, the WTCA Board of Directors decided it was precisely Moscow that had prepared for the Assembly best of all and that therefore the WTCA General Assembly would take place in the Russian capital.
The WTCA is an international non-governmental public organization which brings together WTCs of various countries. This is a widely representative and influential entity that has encompassed about 750,000 entrepreneurs. During General Assemblies, the WTCA discusses matters aimed at raising the effectiveness of WTCs activities, analyze their development experience and ways to get adapted to the changing world economic situation.
A WTCA General Assembly already took place in Russia once but that was way back in Soviet times -- in 1981. The Assembly is held in the Russian Federation for the first time.