An inaugural meeting of the Business Council for Cooperation with Indonesia was held in the Chamber of Commerce & Industry of the Russian Federation.

Mr Vladimir Strzhalkovsky general director & chairman of management board of MMC Norilsk Nickel was unanimously elected chairman of the Council. Mr Strzhalkovsky, as an experienced state official and former Head of Russian Indonesian Intergovernmental Commission for Trade and Economic Cooperation was nominated to chair the Council by a group of Russian companies interested in business relations with Indonesian partners, and the nomination was supported by CCI RF.

Mr Strzhalkovsky noted high importance of business cooperation with Indonesia as this country shows the greatest potential for commercial and economic partnership in the South East Asia region. Notwithstanding the ongoing world financial and economic crisis Indonesia remains one of the few Asian countries capable of improving their macroeconomic indicators.

There is no doubt that institution of the Business Council for Cooperation with Indonesia is well timed. Favorable conditions for the expansion of business cooperation between Russia and Indonesia are first of all related to positive developments in bilateral political talks. High interest of Indonesian Government in enlarged partnership with Russia was confirmed at the recently held top level intergovernmental negotiations.

On the Indonesian part, the former minister of industry Mr Lukhut Pandzhaitan was elected chairman of the Business Council for Cooperation with Russia.

Mr Strzhalkovsky pointed out that the fact that the Business Council for Cooperation with Indonesia was established in Moscow today demonstrates once again the willingness of both parties to strengthen their wide ranging commercial and economic cooperation.