Diplomatic World nummer 54

and the creation of an environmentally friendly business
environment. We were lucky to be able to attract top
speakers, including Mr Christian Cleutinx, former Director-
General of the Euratom Supply Agency and Senior Fellow
at the Clingendael Institute, and high-level representatives
from Cockerill Maintenance & Ingénierie (CMI), ENGIE,
Eurochem, Fluxys and Gazprom.
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Other important sectors are life sciences and agriculture,
in which we see heightened interest on the part of both
our Russian and Belgian contacts and clients.
E-commerce is another important sector in the Russian
economy. Our Dutch colleagues worked on the joint
venture between Uber Technologies Inc. and Yandex,
which involved the consolidation of ridesharing, food
delivery and related logistics businesses in Russia,
Kazakhstan, Armenia, Belarus and Georgia in a new
company. In addition, Uber has agreed to invest
USD 225 million and Yandex USD 100 million in the
new company, which is valued at USD 3.725 billion on
a post-money basis.
Arkady Arianoff: I would like to stress the importance of
Belgian ports. CCBLR has helped to further successful
cooperation between Russian and Belgian ports. In
September 2012, we invited the Russian deputy transport
minister to visit the ports of Antwerp, Ghent and Ostend,
along with a delegation of 42 people representing the most
important Russian ports and Rosmorport. We have also
organised an economic mission for the ports of Brussels
and Zeebrugge, which resulted in the conclusion of several
large contracts.
What message do you wish to send at the end of
this interview?
Kurt Demeyere: This is not the place to talk about politics.
However, I would like to take this opportunity to reiterate
how eager my Belgian and Russian friends and colleagues
are to continue to work together and build a common
future. Unfortunately, people today on both sides are using
too many slogans. This new reality is my greatest concern.
My main goal as CCBLR vice-president is to continue to
convey the message of cooperation and contribute to an
objective, open dialogue. I am convinced that our Russian
partners feel the same.
I would also like to take this opportunity to mention an
important upcoming event. Mr Daniel Stevens, the first
vice-president of CCBLR, is planning to organise an
CCBLR Moscow conference, March 2017
exhibition in 2018-19 at the State Historical Museum on
Red Square about Belgian-Russian relationship including
the Belgian investment in imperial Russia. At the turn of
the twentieth century, Belgium was the largest investor
in Russia, with much greater interests than France,
the German Empire or the United Kingdom. Belgian
investments covered a wide range of industries, including
metallurgy, glass production, railways and tramways,
chemistry and machinery.
Arkady Arianoff: We trust that, in the coming year,
business and cultural ties between the Russian Federation
and Belgium and Luxembourg will continue to improve.
Our business contacts on both sides tell me that the
sanctions currently in place harm the business and future
development of Belgian and Luxembourg companies in
Russia, and vice versa. In my opinion, we should give the
Russian Federation the place it deserves by granting it the
status of privileged economic partner of the European
Union. The business world pleads in favour of genuine
efforts by all the parties to overcome the present difficulties
and normalize the economic relations.
Finally, please don’t forget that we’re available to assist you
24/7 via our Brussels and Moscow hotlines!