U.S. Chamber Hosts Presidents Obama and Medvedev to Underscore Bi-lateral Economic Ties

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Chamber of Commerce hosted business leaders from the United States and the Russian Federation at an event highlighting the burgeoning economic relationship between the two nations. U.S. President Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev attended the meeting as guests of the business dialogue jointly organized by the U.S. Russia-Business Council, American Chamber in Russia, and the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs.

“There is no shortage of ambition or ideas when it comes to spurring economic growth in our two countries” said Thomas J. Donohue, president and CEO of the U.S. Chamber. “There is a huge upside to improving our economic ties with Russia. The launching of the Obama-Medvedev Bilateral Presidential Commission has given companies from both countries a valuable and timely signal of confidence in these new market opportunities.”

Donohue addressed a gathering of prominent U.S.-Russian business leaders laying out the Chamber’s three main policy objectives in this area:

• First, the Chamber supports major improvements in the bilateral investment regime, including the negotiation of a new and robust bilateral investment and cooperation agreement.
• Second, the Chamber supports ratification and implementation of the 1-2-3 Agreement on cooperation in the civilian nuclear sector.
• Third, the Chamber encourages a joint surge in innovation investment that will benefit both countries.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business federation representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions, as well as state and local chambers and industry associations.

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