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Russia eager to open new possibilities for foreign businesses, says minister

According to top diplomat Sergey Lavrov, the format of advisory council on foreign investment under Russian Prime Minister "has had a good track record"

MOSCOW, February 21. /TASS/. Russia favors opening new positive development possibilities for foreign businessmen, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said addressing representatives of the Association of European Businesses (AEB) on Thursday.

"We want new positive possibilities to be opened for foreign businessmen. Europeans are also becoming aware of that, which is proved by the recently released document of the German Eastern Business Association urging a revision of the EU strategy regarding Russia and implementation of a full-fledged economic cooperation," he said.

"The attempts (of western countries) to hinder Russia’s economic and technological development have failed and will fail. Our economy is coping, being flexible in responses to fluctuations of the international economic environment, and we assume measures to enhance investment attractiveness, including within special economic zones on priority development areas," Russia’s top diplomat stressed.

According to Lavrov, the format of advisory council on foreign investment under Russian Prime Minister "has had a good track record." "It is revealing that more than half of its members are representatives of biggest European companies," he said, adding that "as a result, the country’s international investment positions have improved, which is proved by the fact that Russia has risen a few spots in the World Bank’s rating."

The latest poll of AEB members suggests that Russia has gained 21 points taking the 145th spot out of 200 in terms of attractiveness for investors.

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