DOCSLIB.ORG

Showcasing the New Russia

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Showcasing the New Russia RUSSIA Showcasing the new Russia INTERVIEW WITH HERMAN GREF MINISTER OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TRADE, RUSSIAN FEDERATION You were closely involved in the organisation of this St Petersburg has historically been Russia’s ‘window year's International Economic Forum in St Petersburg. on the world’, and will be the focus of intense How satisfied were you with the outcomes of the international attention during the G8 summit in meeting and what innovations have you introduced to July. How does the city intend to capitalise on this the format of the event? heightened level of international interest, and what competitive advantages can it offer would-be We were extremely pleased with the results achieved. In international investors? the end, more than 5,000 delegates from 46 countries took part in the Forum, including President Putin St Petersburg has been riding a wave of vigorous and Finland’s President, Tarja Halonen. We were also development in recent years, particularly since its 300th fortunate to have a great many senior executives from Anniversary celebrations in 2003. Both visitor numbers HERMAN GREF both Russian and international companies speaking on and media interest in the city have grown, and it is actually graduated in law from a wide range of subjects. Around ten contracts worth becoming quite difficult to find hotel rooms at certain the University of approximately US $1 billion were also signed over the times of the year. At the same time, the city authorities Omsk State in 1990. course of the three days. are making full use of the available hotel facilities to From 1991-98 he was As this year marks the tenth anniversary of the encourage business events to come to St Petersburg. a member of the St Forum, we introduced a brand new format in order They have also been very successful in attracting Petersburg Municipal to encourage discussion of the most vital issues facing large-scale foreign investment in the city – Toyota, for Property Management the global economy. We also constructed a purpose- example, has more than US$1 billion invested in St Committee, serving as built venue to house the Forum, which allowed Petersburg. Nissan also signed an agreement to build Chairman from 1997-98. several exhibitions to be held concurrently with the a manufacturing plant in the city during the Economic Between 1998 and 2000 main programme, on the themes of Achievements in Forum, and General Motors has a significant presence, he was First Deputy State Innovation, Advanced Technologies in Energy and along with many others. Property Minister of the Investment Projects. In terms of its competitive advantages I would say that Russian Federation and Our aim is to make the Forum the principal platform its highly-skilled labour force, its strategic location and was appointed Minister for addressing the key economic issues affecting the its long tradition as a cosmopolitan, outward-looking of Economic Development world’s emerging economies, in particular the so-called city have definitely helped attract foreign companies and Trade in 2000. BRIC countries: Brazil, Russia, India and China. With to invest. It has also seen the implementation of a Mr Gref also serves as that in mind, this year’s programme focused on the number of interesting projects recently, in particular Deputy Governor from economic prospects for these emerging economies the redevelopment of New Holland Island, the former the Russian Federation in the age of globalisation, highlighting both their military zone in the central hub of the city. The on the International competitive advantages and structural weaknesses. project was put out to tender, attracting bids from Bank for Reconstruction Senior representatives of the governments of the such internationally renowned architectural practices and Development three other BRICs took part in the Forum and we as Germany’s Engel & Zimmerman and the Dutch and the Multilateral devoted a special session on the second day to an in- architect Erick van Egeraat, and was finally awarded to Investment Guarantee depth analysis of the Russian economy in particular. Britain’s Norman Foster in February of this year. Agency (MIGA). This session featured roundtable discussions on different aspects of the economy, including knowledge- Given its lack of significant oil and gas-based based industries, raw materials and commodities, the economic activity, do you see St Petersburg as a model judicial system and related problems, corruption and for the diversification of the Russian economy as a whole? What is your view of the current state of this issues related to efficient corporate governance. diversification process? In keeping with St Petersburg’s status as the cultural capital of Russia, there was also an extensive recreational Economic diversification is a very lengthy process; it programme, including the White Nights Festival, a cannot happen overnight, in five or even ten years. performance by the stars of the Mariinsky Theatre at At present, a quarter of the Russian economy is based the Peterhof and a concert by the Rolling Stones. on oil and gas, although diversification is very much All in all, I think the Forum was the best marketing a key priority for the government. All of the various for the country that we could possibly have organised. economic instruments that were discussed at the St RUSSIA An efficient Is there room for a ‘state within a state’ – as some produces gas at approximately US$70 per 1000 cubic commentators have described Gazprom – in the metres, whereas it was selling to Ukraine at US$55, modern Russia? and effectual so naturally, the shareholders of the company were I would not say that Gazprom is in any way independent asking: what kind of business is that? Why should a Gazprom is of the government, as the government has a controlling commercial company be expected to sell gas at a price interest in the company. I myself sit on the board of below the production cost of the deposits which it is of paramount directors of Gazprom. currently developing? Given the relatively small size of the Russian market The resulting media coverage was not of a particularly importance at this point in time, Gazprom is undoubtedly the high standard and unfortunately it sent ripples across dominant company, accounting for around 30 per cent a number of European countries, despite the fact that to the of the Russian stock market. Therefore, the dynamics Gazprom has been a reliable supplier to Europe for many of Gazprom largely set the pace for the dynamics of the decades, without any reproach in fulfilling its obligations. government, market as a whole. The fact is that Europe has one main supplier, which I believe we can safely say therefore that an efficient is Gazprom, and Gazprom has one main buyer, which and that and effectual Gazprom is of paramount importance to is Europe. There is a mutual co-dependence, which I the government, and that efficiency hinges largely on believe is the best basis for any partnership. Gazprom efficiency effective competition being put in place. On the other could not turn off the supply to Europe tomorrow, hand, Gazprom, like any mammoth structure, is driven because the Russian economy would collapse. So I think hinges largely to seek a monopoly position, so there is certainly a these anxieties on the part of our European partners are difference in the interests of the government and totally without foundation. on effective Gazprom in that respect. Following the deregulation of the market in To what extent has investor sentiment recovered from competition Gazprom shares however, and the adoption of a the setback caused by the Yukos affair, and how do number of important structural reforms within the you see the investment climate in Russia developing, particularly in the so-called strategic industries? being put company itself, over the coming year Gazprom should see a delineation of its businesses, sub-dividing them Foreign investment in Russia is increasing, but it is in place into areas such as developments, transportation and so still not at sufficiently high levels to meet our needs. on, which is a major step towards making the whole Russia needs foreign investment in order to develop company more transparent. and diversify its economy, and to enable that, we have to work hard to improve the investment climate in the Gazprom’s pricing dispute with Ukraine at the country. A great deal has been accomplished over the beginning of this year caused a certain amount of past year but there is obviously quite a lot still to be alarm in some European countries. How seriously has done. It is a gradual process, but I believe that the most this episode affected Russia’s economic and political important thing is for investors to see at first-hand relations with its European partners? the positive dynamics which I believe we have in the I have to say that I do not think the media coverage of Russian economy today. this subject was either fair or accurate. Gazprom is now embarking on a path of extracting The government has been saying for some time gas from ever more fresh deposits, where the cost of that it is going to clarify the guidelines concerning production is considerably higher than it was in the which industries are to be closed to foreign investment. Can you comment on the current past. In the case of these fresh deposits, Gazprom progress on that front? Herman Gref in conversation with Alastair Harris, The relevant draft law is currently being worked Executive Publisher of FIRST upon. There will be a shortlist of industries – still to be determined – where certain procedures will need to be followed and authorisations sought prior to the acquisition of a controlling interest in the enterprise in question.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Volker 2010 Phd Deciding ... Uality.Pdf
    Leentje Volker In the past few years the image of tender procedures in Deciding which Dutch public clients selected an architect has been dominated by distressing newspaper headlines. Architects fear that the current tender culture will harm the quality of about Design Quality our built environment due to a potential lack of diversity, Value judgements and decision making in the creativity and innovation in architectural design. Due to potential risks clients often allow legal requirements to selection of architects by public clients under overrule their actual wishes. This PhD research addresses the origin of the problems as currently experienced by public European tendering regulations commissioning clients in architect selection and proposes Deciding about Design Quality pragmatic implications for future practice. It is therefore of interest for commissioning clients, management consultants, policy makers and legal advisors but also for designers and researchers in the field of architecture and decision making. Based on four empirical cases the author shows that during architect selection the rational legal requirements clash with the psychological process of decision making. Decision makers only start to make sense of the proposed designs once they are confronted with the alternatives. It is therefore about Design Quality almost impossible for clients to design a selection procedure and announce the criteria and weighting factors up front, as required by procurement law. The scientific underpinning of the findings is found in four theoretical perspectives on value judgements in design and the latest decision theories in which sensemaking, emotion, intuition, and expertise play prominent roles. The thesis proposes fifteen factors for a successful design of a tender procedure to select an architect.
    [Show full text]
  • Gideon Maasland
    Gideon Maasland Director, and Architect, Gideon Maasland (NL), joined MVRDV in 2016. With extensive experience acquired at several high profile Dutch offices, Maasland leads MVRDV’s Studio 8, which is responsible for large-scale, complex buildings in the Netherlands and abroad. He leads the development, and construction of Valley, a 75,000 m2 mixed-use building in Amsterdam, as well as the construction of a 61.800 m2 residential tower project in the Hague, and the transformation of Jaarbeurs in Utrecht, a trade fair of 170.000m2. Besides this, Maasland is working on several projects in Poland, and the UK. Other exceptional projects include the Glass Farm in Schijndel, The Crystal Houses in Amsterdam, and the Balancing Barn in Suffolk, England. “I love to work on buildings that make a difference to the people using them or living close to them. At first glance, you might think these projects will never happen, because they are too difficult, too expensive, or not technically possible, but with the help of a large team of experts, and dedication to relationship management, anything is possible. There are no good projects without good clients.” - Maasland Profession Education 2001-2004 Technical University, Delft, Netherlands Director Architecture and Urbanism Architect 1998-2001 Technical School, Amsterdam, Netherlands Years of experience Bachelor in architecture 16 Professional 2016 / - MVRDV, Rotterdam, NL. Experience Director Nationality experience Dutch 2011/ 2016 Designed by Erick van Egeraat, Rotterdam, NL Qualifications Senior Project
    [Show full text]
  • Corporate University Structures
    ISSUE 9: 2012 DevelopingLeaders Executive Education in Practice Leadership + Choosing the All Change at VG’s Innovation Strategy Right CEO Vlerick Imperative Lonza and St. Gallen Hay Group Dean Philip Haspeslagh for India Find the Formula Interviewed Tuck at Dartmouth Building Towers of Babel? Roland Deiser Considers Corporate University Structures IEDP Ideas for Leaders Bridging the Academic Corporate Gap www.iedp.com Viewpoint Business Models Galore The Colorful and Diverse World of Corporate Universities “It would appear from 15 years of data that a corporate university is whatever a corporation decides it is.” By Roland Deiser his fall, a delegation of 15 executives from major Russian corporations will visit Germany in the course of a learning expedition to find out about great examples of Corporate Universities (CUs). The delegation is led by Russia’s largest bank, Sberbank, who is especially ambitious here; they recently opened a flagship university near Moscow that serves not only internal Tpurposes but provides a visibly branded educational institution for Russian society at large. A similar project has been launched by Qatar Petroleum in an effort to strengthen the conglomerates’ capabilities and, at the same time, position the Gulf country as a hub for the knowledge economy. It seems that despite economic turmoil, the concept of CUs is quite alive; it may even face a renaissance. Over the last year or so, activity has also picked up in Western Europe, where CUs have been around now for about 15 years. Major players such as BASF, Bayer, SAP, or ABB, who so far have held back and refrained from joining the club, are currently huddling over blueprints for innovative learning architectures that they hope will help address their complex capability challenges.
    [Show full text]
  • Dutch Architecture Abroad Christian Maijstré on the Sixth of June the Symposium Committee Organized Another Symposium
    symposium Dutch architecture abroad Christian Maijstré On the sixth of June the symposium committee organized another symposium. This time the symposium was titled ‘Dutch architecture in foreign countries’. Working abroad is very popular with Dutch architects. Why is that and what are they building there? The theme was conceived out of the contem- tries also. While having worked with a lot of ficient, they found out that countries such as porary issues within the field of the Dutch ar- local architects he gave us a good example of China were not incompatible with this, limiting chitect, which forces a bulk of them find their Erick van Egeraat, who had designed and rede- their activities to European countries. luck abroad. Issuing how to deal with the dif- signed some of Budapest’s most well known Next, Friso van der Steen, currently the mana- ferent cultures: how would one position him- buildings. During that period, he guided some ger of international projects at Mecanoo, told or herself as a Dutch architect abroad? Would interns on which he had a clear influence. In of his activities in Korea, China and Taiwan. His one submerge into the local approach of the return, Hungary also had influence on Emiel lecture shed light on a big issue in East Asia: a assignment by ways of techniques and archi- Lamers: in 2007 he designed a pavilion in Am- diminishing understanding of building scale. tecture, or would a Dutch identity still be seen sterdam taking Hungarian vernacular design Clients want to see a design first, before kno- in the result, or would perhaps an internatio- characteristics and molding them into a pavi- wing the necessary program to design pro- nal approach be more fitting? lion which fit perfectly in any Dutch city.
    [Show full text]
  • Reprinted from Euromoney Magazine, December 2007 Interview
    Tatarstan reprinted from Euromoney magazine, December 2007 Interview “We can!” Tatarstan’s President Mintimer Sharipovich Shaimiev talks to Euromoney about the republic’s economic development, its plans for the future and its determination to succeed Please tell us about the specifics of Tatarstan’s Mintimer Sharipovich Shaimiev, President of Tatarstan economic development and about the priorities for 2008? total of 1,153 people have been sent for training to the best univer- The main objective of Tatarstan’s development strategy is to sities and centres of science in the Russian Federation, the US, UK, achieve a European standard of living for the population. We France, Switzerland and Germany. aspire to build a democratic society on the basis of a competitive Another feature of our economy is cluster development. We set market economy, organically integrated into the world system. out the strategic task of developing four main clusters: oil/petro- Tatarstan is capable of achieving this aim. I say this because the chemical, car-building, aviation and power production. Here the results of social and economic development in 2007 bear witness most effective industrial complexes have been formed by various to the dynamic development of the republic. enterprises with a single sector orientation. Today our industrial production is growing at a rate of slightly less We pay great attention to developing small businesses. By 2010, than 9%. Across the Russian Federation the rate is 7 %. The value of we intend to raise the small business share of total regional product industrial output by the end of the year will be little bit more than to 30%.
    [Show full text]
  • Spectacular Building on the Banks of the Pearl River in Guangzhou The
    View Reference magazine 2011 Zaha Hadid opera house Spectacular building on the banks of the Pearl River in Guangzhou A new museum in Great Britain The Hepworth Wakefield Gallery by David Chipperfield Water is our source of inspiration. Published by Photos Geberit International AG, Iwan Baan (cover, pages 20–23, 28, 31), Corporate Communications, Büro Trojan Trojan + Partner, Schachenstrasse 77, CH-8645 Jona Andreas Schuldes (pages 6–9), Fotofrizz, Burkhard Kuhn (page 6), Editorial team Courtesy of Panchshil (pages 10–13), Brigitte Selden, Martin Kamber Thies Wachter, Zurich (page 14), Dan Zoubek (page 15), Editorial commission Tamás Bujnovszky (page 16), Roman Sidler, Philip Bucher Miran Kambič (page 17), Steve Hall © Hedrich Blessing (page 18), Concept Peter Burgstaller © Atelier schneiter meier AG, Zurich Heiss Architekten (page 19), www.schneitermeier.ch Werner Huthmacher (pages 24–25), Christian Richters (pages 26, 29, 30), Design/prepress/printing Philippe Ruault (pages 32–33), Linkgroup, Zurich Arte Charpentier Architectes (pages 34–35), www.linkgroup.ch photos Geberit (pages 36–37), Photowerkstatt Johannes Seidl (page 38), Number of copies photo Geberit (page 39), 55,000. Issued: one time annually. Ben Huggler (page 40), The reproduction of individual articles, Cadesign (page 41), in part or in full, is subject to approval Ralph Bensberg (pages 42–43), from the editorial staff. Vegar Moen/Statens vegvesen (pages 44–45). Editorial “The outstanding quality and functional- ity of our products has made it possible to complete major building projects all over the world. ‘View’ features examples of our broad involvement in the inter- national architecture field and gives you a deeper insight into our philosophy.” Strong companies make advances during times of crisis.
    [Show full text]
  • Façade Systems Hunter Douglas Façades
    Designed to work for you Façade systems Hunter Douglas Façades OUTSTANDING Over the last 50 years, Hunter Douglas Architectural has been the name CONTENT behind some of the biggest developments in the areas of Façades, Sun ® HunterDouglas Façades Control, Ceilings and Window Coverings. 2 QUADROCLAD® SYSTEMS > 4 QuadroClad ® QC50 Hunter Douglas Architectural products Our façades systems offer: > 6 QuadroClad ® QC100 SUSTAINABLE offer unparalleled design freedom. ® A wide range of choices are available • Performance - easy to adapt to > 8 QuadroClad QC200 with different materials, shapes, specific project requirements. > 10 QuadroClad ® QC300 PERFORMANCE systems, coatings and colours, that • Economic value - highly durable, > 12 QuadroClad ® QC500 can help turn design ideas into reality. fast and efficient installation. > 14 QuadroClad ® Renovation Hunter Douglas Architectural collaborates with architects and designers around the world to create architectural • Green characteristics - at the end products that meet the needs of each individual project. The results end up in our Façades, Ceilings, Sun Control of the façade lifecycle aluminium 16 SANDWICH WALL SYSTEMS and Window Coverings, not to mention support, from design development to post-installation service. alloy is 100% recyclable. > 18 Sandwich Wall Systems PRODUCT HISTORY • Aesthetic product - colours, Go ahead, judge a building by its cover. We’ll help you specify shapes, and details offer > 20 Sandwich Wall Bi-Modular Systems rainscreen façades and cladding systems, making sure
    [Show full text]
  • Aude De Broissia [email protected] 19.09.1972 French Nationality 00 32 (0)4 89 27 11 53
    Aude de Broissia [email protected] 19.09.1972 www.audedebroissia.com French nationality 00 32 (0)4 89 27 11 53 Orde van architecten n°A202848 Insurance HDI Brussel, polis n° 60/999971707/23 Affiliated with the Social Insurance Fund Acerta VAT n°: BE 0817.206.588 Profile An independent architect with 21 years’ experience, Aude de Broissia helps discerning clients take their architectural brief from pure ambition to design, concept and realization. Aude studied alongside such luminaries as Paul Virilio and Paco Rabanne. She worked at Vogue magazine, and with Pritzker Prize winner Jean Nouvel. As EEA associate architect she developed and maintained award winning design quality and aesthetics while meeting rigorous project, cost and technical demands. In her work, Aude has faced, and met, a range of architectural and design challenges: from sustainable and low energy consumption mixed programs, through interventions in 18th century châteaux, the extension and renovation of the listed Municipal Theatre in Haarlem, to an award winning study for the largest public gallery in London. Establishing her independent architecture and design practice in 2009 Aude provides clients with large practice rigorousness and capabilities with agile, client focused independent response. Aude provides design consultancy, interior, architecture, landscape, styling and graphic design services. Her approach is tactile, sensitive, delicate and intuitive, yet functional and results driven. As a créateur d'atmosphère, Aude draws from many disciplines to design
    [Show full text]
  • Sam Jacob, Sean Griffiths, and Charles Holland 04 Nick Johnson
    Constructs Yale Architecture Fall 2007 Constructs Fall 2007 Table of Contents 02 FAT: Sam Jacob, Sean Griffiths, and Charles Holland 04 Nick Johnson 05 REX: Joshua Prince-Ramus and Ezra Ella 06 Developing the UAE: Keller Easterling and Ali Rahim 08 UN Studio: Evolution of Space 09 The Market of Effects 10 Delayed Gratification 12 Common Ground, Yale’s New Partner 13 In the Field: The New Chicago Architecture, The Rotterdam Biennale 16 Book Reviews: Frederick Horowitz and Brenda Danilowitz’s Josef Albers: To Open Eyes; Nathan Glazer’s From a Cause to a Style; Carter Wiseman’s Louis I. Kahn: Beyond Time and Style; Ray Ryan’s Gritty Brits; Diana Balmori and Gaboury Benoit’s Land and Natural Development (LAND) Code. 18 Yale Fall Events Symposium: “Constructing the Ineffable: Contemporary Sacred Architecture” Exhibitions: A Field Guide to Sprawl, and Ecology. Design. Synergy. 19 Books from the School of Architecture 20 Spring 2007 Lectures 22 Advanced Studios, a snapshot 23 Colin St. John Wilson: A Eulogy and A Reminiscence 24 Faculty News Hope House Kolkata, Fabrication on Display, Kevin Roche Archives to Yale 26 Alumni News New Architectural Centers 02 CONSTRUCTS YALE ARCHITECTURE FALL 2007 INTERVIEW: REX Joshua Prince- Nina Rappaport for Ramus and Erez Ella Constructs. Ramus of the firm REX, in and Ella will be giving New York, are teach- a lecture, “It’s Not REX ing as the Saarinen All About You,” on Visiting Professors Monday, October 29, in the fall. They at the school. discussed their new firm and work with Nina Rappaport Where do you see constraints: “We need a stage 90 feet by 40 your architectural practice going now that feet, a proscenium wall of this thickness, REX has been established independently concrete walls around the auditorium, acous- from OMA New York for the past year? tics determined by these panels, these lights, Joshua Prince-Ramus Yes, it was doors that work like this.” We responded, about a year ago that we changed the name.
    [Show full text]
  • Invasion of the Dutch Designers
    by nanci tangeman Invasion of the They’re everywhere! They’re everywhere! Like some B-movie invasion, Dutch designers seem to have con- quered the world. There’s no place to hide (they’re in Dutch our wardrobes and our pedal bins!) and no place to esıgners run (they’ve taken control from Las Vegas to Gdansk). D The only choice is to pull on a pair of G-Star jeans and a MEXX tee shirt, lie back on your Tejo Remy chair, pop marcel wanders open a Grolsch in a Swingtop bottle – and surrender. jurgen bey designer in the world’ according to icon bible on Dutch design, False Flat: Why offices to the boarders on the half pipe On weekends, this temple to design is Magazine. BMW, Vitra, Cappellini and Dutch design is so good. He knows what when it was constructed a few years ago. packed with style-conscious locals; during marcel wanders Maharam all have Dutch designers work- he’s talking about. the week, in-the-know tourists file in, ing for them. Of course, there’s more to the story than quickly folding their maps, trying to look And (dare we take this horror-movie ‘Both the environment and objects are a swamp. There are centuries of govern- hip. It’s the place to find out, first-hand, metaphor one step further?) there are designed with more care here – every- ment policies and the social welfare why Dutch design is so important. even giant blobs ‘attacking’ in the form thing from tax forms to stamps to the system and many other forces at work.
    [Show full text]
  • Press Release Great Court Amongst Five British Projects Shortlisted For
    Press release 01 July 2002 Great Court amongst five British Projects shortlisted for the 2002 World Architecture Awards British architects are well represented in the World Architecture Awards, with four well known landmark buildings and a small house on the shortlist of 44 projects. The British schemes include Foster and Partners' Great Court at the British Museum, the Eden Project in Cornwall (designed by Nicholas Grimshaw and Partners), the Rothermere American Institute in Oxford (Kohn Pederson Fox), the Electra House in Stepney, London (Adjaye Associates) and the Lloyds Register of Shipping office building in the City of London (Richard Rogers Partnership). A diverse range of buildings from all around the world are on the shortlist - from a high rise Bank headquarters in Peru to a World Cup football stadium in Japan. The winners, including the architect that will be awarded the overall US$30,000 prize for the Arup World Architecture Best Building in the World, will be announced at a glittering Oscars- like ceremony in Berlin on 26 July 2002. The World Architecture Awards are the newest international architecture prize. The award is now in its second year. This year's ceremony takes place on the last day of the Union of International Architects' Congress in Berlin. The two events together are expected to attract up to 10,000 architects to the German capital. Regional Finalists: Europe Eden Project, Cornwall, UK - Nicholas Grimshaw and Partners Biosphere and Flower Pavilion, Potsdam, Germany - Barkow Leibinger Architects Lloyds Register
    [Show full text]
  • We Aim Above the Mark to Hit the Mark Ralph Emerson
    STRATEGIES FOR BUSINESS IN MOSCOW We aim above the mark to hit the mark Ralph Emerson A PROPOS I will start with two quotes. Here is the first: “We had a with his band Hollywood Vampires. We will hope that this very successful trip to Russia. We made it back.” Here is the time he will have more time to enjoy the city. second: “The only problem that I have coming to Russia is Life in Moscow is becoming better not by waving a magic that there’s never enough time to see and visit everything.” wand. All of this is the result of the city’s authorities imple- The first line comes from the well-known American comic menting programs affecting all corners of life. Transport, Bob Hope, who visited Moscow at the start of the 1960’s. The residential buildings, education, health, safety, sport, tour- second quote came from the famous Hollywood actor Johnny ism, recreation… Even sceptics acknowledge today that Depp, who visited the Moscow capital twice, first in 2011, and these programs are being implemented with success. Not later in 2013. More than half a century had passed between surprisingly, the Moscow Mayor Sobyanin has been for some the two quotes, during which time Moscow changed radically. years now in the first place in national ratings among Rus- Changes today in the capital occur at a such a break-neck sian regional authorities. speed that even a Muscovite could not keep track of them. However, one does not need to look at ratings to understand Almost every day some positive development takes place how Moscow is getting better.
    [Show full text]