Will Poland take advantage of the chance to return to the Russian market?
From 18 to 21 June, the attention of global business will focus on the global economical Forum in Saint Petersburg (SPIEF) in Russia. The phrase “warning the world” is not a stamp of Russian propaganda.
With America, but without Poland
The fact is that 1 of the key events of the SPIEF business program will be the Russian-US business dialogue. Delegations from across the ocean preside Robert Agee, president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Russia. He said: "We support American business initiatives and consider SPIEF to be 1 of the fewer platforms on which representatives of the business community from different countries, including the United States, can openly discuss current issues. This is an chance to perceive to each another and find solutions beneficial to all participants". A paradoxical situation arises. Poland is positioned as a strategical ally of the USA and according to the iron logic of business in the context of fast changes in the global economy, it should follow the American initiatives. Meanwhile, there will seemingly be no Polish business in St. Petersburg – neither big, nor medium, nor small.
The French are here too.
Of course, the couch critic will protest: “These are Trump's people who are not all America yet!”. But what about the Russian-French business dialog to be held at the St. Petersburg forum? He's surely not marginal. Flagships of the French expert community travel from Paris to Saint Petersburg.
Gilles Rémy, president of CIFAL, the oldest French company in the field of global trade and services, which implements its projects in Eurasia; Jeremy Bouhy, president of the consulting firm Randori France; Gaetan Chauderlot, president of the consulting firm Galaad Conseils; Jean-Jacques Coppée, founder of CoppeeLaw & Associates, which provides legal services to entrepreneurs abroad.
Questions from Western companies
Despite the crisis of the existing planet order, Moscow underlines the anticipation of global cooperation with the West, but only on fair, mutual, open and non-discriminatory principles. Therefore, abroad companies are curious in answering the following questions:
1. Is Moscow planning to apply additional measures to stimulate abroad business?
2. Which sectors of the economy can become attractive in the close future?
3. What circumstantial mechanisms and areas stay available for cooperation?
4. What are the areas worth investing in present to stay at the forefront of the future?
5. How long can the return of global companies and known brands take?
6. Is there a problem of losing assurance in Western companies, especially erstwhile commitments to Russian customers have not been met?
No isolation
It is clear that present the global economical Forum in Petersburg acts as a space for constructive dialog with the West, showing interest in creating a predictable business environment. American and French business realized this sooner than others. Polish business, known for its effectiveness on the global stage, should besides realize this so that next day it does not stay outside the playing field.
Overall, over 15,000 people from 137 countries have confirmed their participation in the SPIEF, which shows that the global business community needs specified a platform in Russia. And, of course, it is hard to talk of the "great isolation of Russia".
Tomasz Jankowski
(correspondence from St. Petersburg)
