The Annual International Investment Summit of the Donetsk Region has opened in Donetsk

The Annual International Investment Summit of the Donetsk Region has opened in Donetsk at the Expo-Donbas exhibition centre. During the opening ceremonies, the Summit’s guests were addressed by the President of Poland Lech Kaczynski and the President of Ukraine Viktor Yushchenko, the Head of the Donetsk Regional State Council Anatoliy Blyznyuk, SCM shareholder Renat Akhmetov, and representatives from Deloitte – Volodymyr Vakhta, Ernst & Young – Alexei Kredisov, and Altera Finance – Mykhailo Zhernov.

            29 October 2008, Donetsk – during the formal opening ceremony of the Annual International Investment Summit of the Donetsk Region, high state officials and representatives of national big businesses invited Summit guests from 20 countries to participate in productive cooperation and improvement of Ukraine’s investment climate based on global processes in the world economy.  The President of Poland Lech Kaczynski and the President of Ukraine Viktor Yushchenko presented a formal open exhibit, representing over 250 of the Donetsk Region’s investment projects of national and regional scales, amounting to a total of close to 44 billion UAH.

Head of the Donetsk Regional State Council Anatoliy Blyznyuk: “By holding the Annual International Investment Summit of the Donetsk Region we are demonstrating our openness, partnership and cooperation.  The Summit – this is a place for businesses to interact with businesses in a language of figures and concrete projects.  I know that attracting financial resources to the Donetsk Region is not a task for one day or one year.  Donbas’ strategy for the future – changing from an old industrial region to an up to date, modernized and innovative region.”
           

            “Today, the entire world is worrying about the great financial crisis.  Unfortunately, it did not pass Ukraine by – stated SCM shareholder Renat Akhmetov. It is very important for the state to increase investment in the extensive infrastructural projects: they are – construction of airports, roads, bridges, overpasses.  This is important for our entire economy.  And even more important – is to create a favourable investment climate.  We need to have equal rules of the game for all.  The rules should be simple, transparent and comprehensive for the investor. Our main task – to make it so that Ukraine becomes a better European country in which to perform business.”

            During the Summit, taking place from 29-31 October, more than 500 Western guests, in other words foreign investors, will be acquainting themselves with the investment and innovative potential of the Donetsk Region.