CRE Events: Business Leaders Forum
CRE provides organizational and analytical support for the RAND Business Leaders Forum—a membership organization that facilitates in-depth discussions among leading corporate executives from Russia, the United States, and Western Europe of strategic opportunities and challenges in the development of economic and business relations. Jeremy R. Azrael is the Forum's Executive Director.
Mission
The RAND Business Leaders Forum was created to help executives understand and influence each others' perceptions of and responses to opportunities for and challenges to economic growth in the 21st century. By fostering free-wheeling but purposeful private-sector dialogue, the Forum seeks to promote mutually beneficial commercial relations; to overcome obstacles to economic cooperation; to strengthen political and security ties; and to prevent conflicts of interest from escalating into major confrontations.
Activities
To fulfill its mission, the Forum holds two plenary meetings per year—one in the United States and one in Russia. The Forum also conducts focused meetings
and workshops and sponsors research projects on issues of special interest.
(Meetings listed in reverse chronological order)
The Forum’s next plenary meeting is scheduled for May 10 - 11, 2008, in New York.
21st Plenary Meeting - Dec. 2007, Moscow
The agenda covered:
- How Shaky is the International Financial System?
- The Nanotechnology Revolution: Organizing Effective Collaboration Between Government, Science, and Business
- The Protectionist Backlash Against Globalization
- The Role of State Corporations in Today’s and Tomorrow’s Russian Economy
- The Political Significance of Today’s Russian Parliamentary Elections
The keynote speaker was Arkady Dvorkovich, Head of Expert Department of the President of the Russian Federation, who spoke on “The Role of State Corporations in Today’s and Tomorrow’s Russian Economy ”.
20th Plenary Meeting - May 2007, New York
The agenda covered:
- Trends in the US economy.
- Trends in the economies of the EU.
- Trends in the Russian economy.
- Current and emergent Russian-EU relations.
- Russia´s relations with its “near abroad”.
- US interests, policies and options in the “Greater Middle East”.
The keynote speaker was Congressman Tom Lantos, Chairman, Commitee on Foreign Affairs, US House of Representatives, who spoke on “US-Russian Relations: Opportunities and Challenges.”
19th Plenary Meeting - Nov. 2006, Moscow
The agenda covered:
- Russia in 2020: Alternative Scenarios
- New Opportunities in U.S.-Russian Relations
- Future World Energy Markets and Russia´s Possible Place in Them
- Will Russia Succeed in Developing a Competitive High-Tech Economy?: Prospects and Requirements
- The Significance of the Democrat Victory in the Recent U.S. Congressional Elections
- Sovereignty Versus Integration: Current and Emergent Trends in “East-West” Economic Relations
The keynote speaker was Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Carl Bildt, who spoke on “Russian-EU Relations”. Before becoming Foreign Minister, Bildt was a regular participant in this Forum in his capacity as businessman.
18th Plenary Meeting - May 2006, New York
The agenda covered:
- Putin’s second term: achievements, problems, and perspectives
- The creeping renationalization of the Russian economy
- Racism and xenophobia in Russia and the West: sources, dynamics, solutions
- National and international energy security
- The chill in U.S.-Russian relations
The keynote speaker was Brian Jenkins, Senior Advisor to the President of the RAND Corporation, who spoke on “Inside the Jihadist Enterprise.”
17th Plenary Meeting - Nov. 2005, Moscow
The agenda covered:
- Current and emergent trends in the Russian economy
- The economic roles(s) of government
- The impact on and response of Russian business to globalization
- Russia’s energy strategy: domestic and international implications
- Current and emergent economic and political development in Ukraine
The keynote speaker was U.S. Ambassador to the Russian Federation, William F. Burns, who spoke on “Next Steps in U.S.-Russian Relations.”
16th Plenary Meeting - May 2005, New York
The agenda covered:
- U.S. economic prospects and their global implications
- Current and emergent trends in the Russian economy
- Russia’s economic policymaking process: who participates? what do they want? who decides?
- China, Russia, and the West: mid-term perspectives
- Western and Russian economic and political interests in "post-Soviet space"
The keynote speaker was U.S. Congressman Curt Weldon, Vice Chairman, House Armed Services Committee, U.S. House of Representatives who spoke on “Challenges and Opportunities in U.S.-Russian relations.”
15th Plenary Meeting - Nov. 2004, Moscow
The agenda covered:
- Russia’s economic prospects
- The sources, consequences, and lessons of Russia’s latest banking ‘crisis’
- The implications of membership in the WTO for the Russian economy
- The value and utilization of Russia’s human capital
- Corporate philanthropy and the social responsibility of business
- U.S.-Russian relations in Bush’s second term
Keynote presentations were made by Arkady Dvorkovich, Head of the Expert Department of the President of the Russian Federation; Andrei Fursenko, Minister of Education and Science of the Russian Federation; and William Owens, Governor of Colorado.
14th Plenary Meeting - May 2004, New York
The agenda covered:
- Putin's second term;
- Russia's relations with its "near abroad";
- The effects of a Kerry presidency on U.S. foreign policy;
- Recent U.S. corporate scandals;
- The social responsibilities of business;
- Iraq
The keynote speaker was Paul A. Volcker, former Chairman of the U.S. Federal Reserve.
13th Plenary Meeting - Oct. 2003, Moscow
The agenda covered:
- Political and business elites in Russia and the West;
- Strategic choices on Russia's economic policy agenda;
- Managing the "new world disorder";
- Russia's social and economic priorities;
- Pension reform in Russia and the West;
- Current and emergent economic and political trends in the U.S.; and
- Challenges and opportunities in U.S. - Russian relations
The keynote speaker was Igor I. Shuvalov, Deputy Chief of the Administration of the President of the Russian Federation.
12th Plenary Meeting - May 2003, New York
The agenda covered:
- The changing investment climate in Russia;
- Governmental reform in the U.S. and Russia;
- Russia's forthcoming elections;
- American, European, and Russian interests and roles in the “Greater Middle East”;
- Changes in transatlantic and East-West relations
The keynote speaker was Dr. Thomas E. Graham, Director for Russian Affairs, U.S. National Security Council.
11th Plenary Meeting - Nov. 2002, Moscow
The agenda covered:
- Business and economic trends in the United States;
- Russia’s economic policy agenda;
- The role of business associations in the enforcement of business ethics;
- Russia’s role in Europe;
- Effects of the war on terrorism.
Andrei N. Illarionov, Advisor to the President of the Russian Federation, was the keynote speaker.
10th Plenary Meeting - Jun. 2002, New York
The agenda covered:
- Current and emergent trends in international capital markets
and their implications for Russia; - The Russian factor in regional and international energy
supply and security; - Russia's role in "International High-Tech/IT Space";
- Russian-Western relations beyond the recent Bush/Putin summit;
- The government, the business community, and the media;
- Flaws in American corporate governance and oversight: recent lessons and their implications for Russia.
Richard Haass, Director of the Office of Policy Planning Staff, U.S. Department of State, was a featured speaker.
9th Plenary Meeting - Nov. 2001, Moscow
The agenda covered:
- Possibilities, requirements, and prospects for a new U.S.-Russian strategic partnership;
- Possibilities, requirements, and prospects for Russia's integration into Europe;
- Reforming the management and regulation of Russia's natural monopolies;
- The emergence and future of Russian agribusiness;
- Results of the Washington/Crawford summit between Presidents Bush and Putin; and
- The consequences of the global economic slowdown for Russia's economic development.
Keynote speakers at the meeting were Mikhail M. Kasyanov, Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation; Andrei V. Sharonov, Deputy Minister of Development and Trade of the Russian Federation; Alexander Vershbow, U.S. Ambassador to the Russian Federation; and Andrei N. Illarionov, Advisor to the President of the Russian Federation.
8th Plenary Meeting - Jun. 2001, New York
The agenda covered:
- Trends and prospects for the global economy;
- Current and emergent trends in the Russian economy;
- Political stability and change under President Putin;
- The changing role of the business community in Russian politics and policymaking;
- Prospects for reform in Russia's banking and financial services sector; and
- Requirements and prospects for attracting foreign investment to Russia.
Keynote speakers were Jack F. Matlock, former U.S. Ambassador to the Soviet Union and current George F. Kennan Professor at the Institute for Advanced Study, and Alan P. Larson, Under Secretary of State of the United States for Economic, Business, and Agricultural Affairs.
7th Plenary Meeting - Nov. 2000, Moscow
The agenda covered:
- The sources and dimensions of Russia's recent economic “boom” and requirements and prospects for its continuation;
- Russia's role in the global communications/information revolution;
- Government and business in Russia and the West; and
- Current and emergent investment opportunities in Russia.
Keynote speakers were A. L. Kudrin, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of the Russian Federation and A. N. Illarionov, Advisor to the President of the Russian Federation.
6th Plenary Meeting - May 2000, New York
The agenda covered:
- The priorities and policies of the newly installed Putin Administration;
- The implications of the forthcoming U.S. presidential election for Russia;
- Key issues in current and emergent U.S.-Russian security relations;
- The sources and dynamics of Russia's better-than-expected economic performance in the past year-and-a-half;
- The development of new types of organization and association within the Russian business community; and
- Dispute-resolution between Russian and foreign investors.
The keynote speaker was James Steinberg, Deputy National Security Adviser to the President of the United States, who spoke about the state of Russian-American relations on the eve of the first Clinton-Putin summit.
5th Plenary Meeting - Oct. 1999, Moscow
The agenda covered:
- The significance of the forthcoming Russian parliamentary and presidential elections for the business community;
- The causes and consequences of the current focus in the West on the Russian business community's alleged involvement in organized crime and corruption;
- Efforts by the Russian business community to improve its image at home and abroad and ways in which Western business leaders could assist; and
- Regional and sectoral differences in Russia's investment climate.
Keynote speakers were Deputy Prime Minister Ilya Klebanov, Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov, former Prime Minister Yevgeny Primakov, and leader of the "Yabloko" party Grigory Yavlinsky.
4th Plenary Meeting - May 1999, New York
The agenda covered:
- The strategic significance of U.S.-Russian relations from the point of the national interests of the two countries;
- The sources and dynamics of current tensions in U.S.-Russian relations;
- Systemic obstacles to Russian economic recovery and growth; and
- Near-term measures to arrest and reverse Russia's economic deterioration.
Keynote speakers were Anatoly Chubais, Henry Kissinger, and Senator Charles Hagel.
3rd Plenary Meeting - October-November 1998, Moscow
This meeting focused on ways to limit and overcome Russia's economic crisis. Topics included:
- The economic program of the new Russian government;
- Lessons learned from Russia's financial crisis;
- Political and institutional requirements and challenges in reviving the Russian economy;
- The roles of the Russian business community and the West in Russia's recovery; and
- Near-term opportunities and prospects for U.S.-Russian business cooperation.
The keynote address was delivered by Russia's First Deputy Prime Minister, Yurii Maslyukov.
2nd Plenary Meeting - May 1998, Washington, DC
Key topics of discussion included:
- Economic competitiveness and corporate restructuring;
- Managing the social dislocations of global competition;
- The opportunities, challenges and risks in foreign partnerships;
- The business community's role in the political process; and
- The civic and social responsibilities of the private sector.
The keynote speaker was Paul A. Volcker, former Chairman of the U.S. Federal Reserve.
1st Plenary Meeting - Nov. 1997, Moscow
Key topics of discussion at this meeting included:
- Policy requirements for economic growth in the 21st century;
- Possibilities and prospects for Russian-American economic relations; and
- The impact of privatization on Russia's social and political stability.
The keynote speech was delivered by Russian Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin.
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