Expert: Equal Conditions for Businesses are Key to Improving the Investment Climate of Big Moscow

MOSCOW, RUSSIA, October 19, 2012 (Press-News.org) EXPO REAL 2012, 15th International Trade Fair for Commercial Property and Investment Projects was held in Munich, Germany, on October 8-10. This prestigious event was attended by the Government of Moscow delegation, including Chairman of Gradient Alpha Board, Chairman of the Expert Council of the Moscow City Duma Commission on Legislation, Pavel Gagarin, and Svetlana Tischenko, Council Executive Secretary and Strategic Development Director of Gradient Alpha Investments Group.

The Europe's largest trade show hosted delegations from 34 countries in six pavilions with 1,700 stands. The event was attended by around 37,000 people. EXPO REAL 2012 widely presented investment projects in real estate, architecture, construction solutions and new ideas in the field of management and business development.

In his written greeting to exhibition participants, Moscow Mayor, Sergey Sobyanin, expressed confidence that the prestigious investment forum would facilitate the development of international cooperation. According to his words, attractiveness of investment projects related to further development of Moscow metropolitan area is associated with achievements of the capital. "Over the past few years, Moscow has been one of the leaders in European rankings," said the mayor.

Minister of the Moscow Government, Head of Department of External Economic and International Relations of the capital, Sergey Cheremin, headed the Moscow delegation at EXPO REAL 2012, marked three main priorities of the metropolis for foreign investors. "First is creation of new centers of economic and social attractiveness. Second is overcoming the transport collapse through the development of road transport infrastructure and public transport. And third is a large-scale reorganization of the public space to make the city more comfortable for living," outlined Mr. Cheremin.

In the coming five years, it is planned to invest at least 40 billion euros to modernization of the transport infrastructure of Moscow. These funds will be spent for construction of new subway lines, development of ground public transport and purchase of more comfortable modern buses.

In ensuring these major initiatives city authorities rely on private investments, including foreign ones. To attract them, representatives of business and expert communities were invited to participate in round table sessions, held at EXPO REAL 2012, at the stand of the Government of Moscow. Pavel Gagarin, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Gradien Alpha Investments Group, spoke at the meeting "Investment Policy of Moscow" from the standpoint of the investor and co-investor of projects in various economic sectors, investment banker, tax consultant, expert in investment project support and the auditor.

He encouraged investors to seek for investor's sympathy not only through legislative activities, but rather through creating a positive, clear and transparent enforcement practice. "There should be no ambiguous legislation, discrimination, regulation around specific market participants, unjustified preferences for some companies and unnecessary administrative burdens on the others," noted Pavel Gagarin. "Both foreign and domestic investors should demonstrate a strict observance of the principle of equal business conditions in Big Moscow. It can be an important step in improving the investment climate of the Moscow metropolitan area."

At the requests of round table participants, Pavel Gagarin elaborated on prospects of investing in special economic zones (SEZ) in Russia. These clusters, by the way, demonstrate inequality in perception of businesses by the government. "Until recently, foreign companies saw the green light for the presence in SEZ and preferential treatment, while Russian companies were most favored in industrial parks and innovations centers. Both Western investors and Russian businesses are waiting for the active improvement of government working methods with regard to investors," explained the situation Pavel Gagarin.

Among the main opportunities of SEZ, the expert highlighted the principle of build-to-suit investment in construction of industrial and logistics, production and laboratory buildings for specific customers for the further long-term lease. According to the head of Gradient Alpha, attention of investors can also be attracted with opportunities of venture investment, construction of tourist facilities and SEZ infrastructure.

Pavel Gagarin suggested discussing legislative and enforcement aspects of attracting investors in Big Moscow in the Moscow Duma at the round table session "Moscow agglomeration: legislation, investment prospects" to be held on October 25. The event will be conducted by the Moscow City Duma Commission on Legaslation (Chairman - deputy Alexander Semennikov) and Expert Council of the Commission, headed by Mr. Gagarin.

15th International Trade Fair for Commercial Property and Investment Projects, EXPO REAL 2012 in Munich. First annual international exhibition of commercial property and investment EXPO REAL was held in Munich, in September 1998. Since 2001, the exhibition has been held at the Munich Exhibition Centre (New Munich Trade Fair Centre), featuring 14 exhibition pavilions with a total area of 160,000 sq. m. For 15 years of its existence, the exhibition has become the largest in Europe and in the world forum covering the interests of the construction industry, financial and investment institutions and real estate management.

Gradient Alpha ACG is one of the largest Russian audit consulting companies. Since 1995, Gradient Alpha has been providing services in support of investment projects, strategic management, auditing, tax, law and accounting. Gradient Alpha constantly cooperates with leading Russian and international companies and has the status of Microsoft Certified Partner.

Gradient Alpha ACG is a member of leading industry organizations and business associations: International Association of Accounting and Auditing Companies (IAPA); International Guild of Financiers; the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs; the Russian Collegium of Auditors; the National Guild of Professional Consultants; Moscow International Business Association.

Pavel Gagarin, founder and head of Gradient Alpha, is Chairman of the Expert Council of the Moscow City Duma Commission on Legislation, a member of the Investment Policy Committee of the Russian Federation Chamber of Commerce, a member of Expert Councils of the Russian State Duma on Economic Policy, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development, Financial Market, Budget and Taxes, a deputy head of the working group on the road map "Improving Tax Administration" of the Strategic Initiatives Agency, a member of the working group on improving the system of investor protection of the Strategic Initiatives Agency.

Gradient Alpha specialists participate in the development of legislative initiatives in the Moscow City Duma, Russian State Duma and Chamber of Commerce of the Russian Federation.

OJSC Gradient Alpha Investments Group is the investment unit of Gradient Alpha ACG. The total capital invested through Gradient Alpha Investments Group is around $3 billion annually.

By results of 2011, the revenue of Gradient Alpha ACG was 330 million rubles.

http://www.gradient-alpha.ru/