Moscow, October 30, 2003. A Sistema JSFC-sponsored seventh session of the UK-Russian Roundtable arranged by the RUIE and the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) was held today. The Roundtable participants discussed various aspects of business relations between the two countries in manufacturing industries, and innovative and environmental aspects of Russian business, including those in the context of Russia’s accession to the WTO. The Roundtable was attended by Sir John Egan, President of the Confederation of British Industry; Lord Marshall of Knightsbridge, Chairman of the CBI’s International Advisory Board; Sir Andrew Wood, advisor to the British Prime Minister on investment in Russia; Alexei Kudrin, Vice Chairman of the Russian Federal Government; RUIE President Arkady Volsky; Valery Draganov, Vice Chairman of the Budget and Taxes Committee, State Duma of the Russian Federal Assembly, and representatives of major Russian companies. Session participants spoke of the importance of a constructive dialogue between members of the Russian and British business communities in establishing a common European economic space, noted a high level of understanding of common global and tactical goals, and exchanged views on prospects for continued cooperation. The Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (Employers) brings together more than 300,000 representatives of industrial, academic, financial, economic, commercial and entrepreneurial organizations in all the constituent members of the Russian Federation that generate around 80 per cent of Russia’s gross domestic product. The Confederation of British Industry is one of Western Europe’s biggest and most influential business associations bringing together over 250,000 companies, including 83 of the UK’s top 100 companies, and more than 200 trade unions and associations.