On February 6, 2008 RSPP held the constituent meeting of its newly established advisory body, International Cooperation and Investment Council, at the President Hotel.

The meeting was attended by the Economic Development and Trade Minister Elvira Nabiullina and First Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Andrey Denisov, President of the American Chamber of Commerce in Russia Andrew Somers, Chairman of the Association of European Business Executive Board Reiner Hartmann, Managing Partner of Ernst&Young CIS Karl Johansson, and representatives of 50 major foreign companies operating in Russia.

The foundation of the Council was supported by the Deputy Prime Minister S. Naryshkin during the February 5, 2008 RSPP meeting. ‘I strongly support the RSPP initiative to create a new tool … here we can undoubtedly count on RSPP’s experience, knowledge and potential’, the Deputy Prime Minister is quoted as saying. The foundation of the Council was also endorsed by the Russian Federation Presidential Aide Sergey Prikhodko and the Economic Development and Trade Minister Elvira Nabiullina.

The next ICCI meeting will take place on April 25, 2008 and will be addressed by the RSPP Vice-President, Head of the RSPP International Cooperation Committee Viktor Vekselberg, President of the American Chamber of Commerce in Russia Andrew Somers and Managing Partner of Ernst&Young CIS Karl Johansson.