Русская версияPrint versionContent... +65 6696 7068 info@meridian103.com PDA
103 Meridian East Magazine
103 Meridian East » Small Talk with Big People »  Dmitry Ananiev: "The Generous Spirit of Singapore"
DiplomacyBusines$HistoryLifestyleTraveller's NotesFacts & FiguresFaces of RussiaLeisure/TravelMade in Singapore
Small Talk with Big People

DMITRY ANANIEV: "THE GENEROUS SPIRIT OF SINGAPORE"

Singapore hosted the 18th Annual Meeting of the Asia Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF) at the beginning of this year. Dmitry Ananiev, Chairman of the Russian Federal Committee on Financial Markets and Monetary Circulation, who attended the session, speaks to 103rd Meridian East.

Mr. Ananiev, how do you assess Russia’s role in the Asia-Pacific region?

Russia’s territory is so vast that the country may equally be part of both the European community and Asian region. In this respect, Russia’s participation is relevant and natural, especially considering the growing influence of Asia-Pacific countries on politics in the current multi-polar world. It is only prescient to cooperate as much as possible to establish bilateral and multilateral contacts. Such a policy helps Russia to enhance its authority and influence, which, unfortunately, were practically lost during the perestroika era. Today, we are striving, at least on the political level, to build up relations appropriate for present-day Russia.

What interests Russia about Singapore?

What fascinates Russians most about Singapore are its great infrastructure, properly regulated social and business relations within the country, and its sustained growth over the last 30 years. Even though we have different mentalities and not every experience could be transposed to Russian soil without certain adaptations, Singapore nonetheless deserves to be very closely observed. The new surge of Russian-Singaporean relations may be explained by the absence of contradictions between the two countries regarding most issues. First of all, we have nothing to fight about and, secondly, we share the same viewpoint on most current global problems. As for technology and standard of living, Singapore, as compared to Russia, lives one century ahead, and its progress is, unfortunately, unattainable for us.

One more thing amazes me: Neither the trade nor the business volume existing between our two countries at the moment are adequate enough for Singapore to pay so much attention to Russia. And yet, Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew is actively supporting, both with his expertise and finances, a new Russian business school called Skolkovo. At first glance, this aged man has no reason to do this, at least on the basis of pragmatic mathematical calculations! This is what Singapore’s and Singaporeans’ generosity is about: to share their competence, skills, expertise and success. I recently took part in the Skolkovo launch ceremony, which was opened by the Russian Presidents and followed by a conference. Contacts of such a level, not necessarily based on pure business relations, create an informal ambiance and lead to mutual understanding.

Does this mean that there will be further Russian-Singaporean cooperation along the Skolkovo line?

In my opinion, such projects are as vital for today’s Russia as the air is for us to breathe, and their numbers must be increased. We are now discussing just Skolkovo, whereas similar new possibilities are abundant. We would love to acquire Singapore’s experience in housing and communal services, should the Singaporean government be in favour of sharing it with us. My biggest regret is that we in Russia are always out of time, knowledge and even capabilities to receive such external expertise and, most importantly, to implement it in our own reality. By Natalia Makarova

Dmitry Ananiev’s Career Milestones

1992 Cofounder of Technoserv A/С

1995 Cofounder and Chairman of the Board of Directors of commercial bank Promsvyazbank

2002 Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Argumenty i Fakty newspaper

2005 Member of the Board of Directors of the bank Rostpromstroybank

2005 Adviser to Sergey Mironov, Chairman of the Federation Council of Russia

2007 Chairman of the Russian Federal Committee on Financial Markets and Monetary Circulation

2007 Member of the National Banking Council of Russia

Member of the Patriarch’s Board of Guardians of the Russian Orthodox Church

One of Forbes’ top 50 Russian billionaires

Married with four children (two sons and two daughters)

 

Submit new comment


 

 
Health and Help

 

DiplomacyBusines$HistoryLifestyleScienceFacts & FiguresFaces of RussiaLeisure/TravelLetter from the Editor-in-Chief
Русская версияHomeContentSearchAdvertisingSitemapContactsRSSrss
Copyright © 2008-2012 «103 Meridian East», All rights reserved