This year’s St Petersburg International Economic Forum provided a boost for Russia’s beleaguered image, but The Kremlin didn’t have it all its own way. Here is a snapshot of some of last week’s more memorable quotes.
“German business leaders have spoken out against economic sanctions as a political tool. Even if this results in considerable public pressure on us.” Former Mercedes CEO, Eckhard Cordes.
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“‘Caring for the well-being of a country is a duty of all us.” Russian Railways president, Vladimir Yakunin, quoting Henry Ford.
“When you have so much market share, it is difficult when you start to lose it [but], this year we will stop the erosion.” AvtoVAZ CEO, Bo Andersson,
“Events in Ukraine, including the illegal annexation of Crimea, have brought some short-term tactical advantage to Russia, but in my view…the wider political instability it has sparked may turn this into a pyrrhic victory.” Former European Union Trade Commissioner, Lord Peter Mandelson.
‘Kremlin lackeys’ – one western critic’s view of those attending SPIEF.
“One way or another, we must be boiling our horses by galloping hard.” Russian government spokesman. [That was how the translation came through – maybe an English equivalent would be: “Don’t spare the horses?”]
“[The] more brands we have of electric vehicles here the more public electricity for infrastructure. It is a kind of chicken and egg.” MMC Rus CEO, Andrey Pankov
“Thanks to our Soviet legacy in the good sense of the word, we were all focused on meeting the planned target.” Gazprom Neft chairman, Alexander Dyukov.
“It is not an option to get divorced.” Former Mercedes CEO, Eckhard Cordes.
“On certain additional steps, such as sanctions that are applied to Russia, that has a negative impact.” Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, president, Alexander Shokhin.
“We all need free trade, free of any restrictions, sanctions, trade duties. This is the main tool we have today for intensifying growth.” Russian Minister of Economic Development, Alexey Uljukaev.
“Building Europe without Russia is difficult – building Europe against Russia is impossible.” Former Mercedes CEO, Eckhard Cordes.
“We know a lot of people are happy and unhappy with the Lada, but we will do everything we can to make the Lada better.” AvtoVAZ CEO, Bo Andersson.
