Relex Chief Investment Adviser delivers address as panelist for SME Laboratory

Alexander Kalinin, President of Opora Russia, oldest and largest association of SME businesses in Russia, converses with Bonar in Vladivostok during his visit for the Eastern Economic Forum.

Relex Chief Investment Adviser John Bonar spoke at a session of the Eastern Upgrade Laboratory for small business on the eve of the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, advising participants on the basics for improving their export success.

The Eastern Economic Forum was established by Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2015.

Later in the day Bonar visited the Russian Far East Project Partnership organised by the Korea Trade Investment Promotion Agency. Following his talks, he was invited to participate in the Far East meeting of Opora Russia, the All Russian Non-Governmental Organization of Small and Medium Business where the visiting President and a team of Regional Representatives were plied by questions from the business audience.

Issues raised were dominated by the problems Russian Small-to-Medium Enterprises (SME’s) face in accessing finance, the issue of pension age and bureaucratic obstacles in the way of small business.

John was invited to a further meeting Friday with Alexander Kalinin, President of Opora, to discuss Relex solutions to business in the area of Real Estate Development and Infrastructure.

Konstantin Bogdanenko, the Vice Governor for business had to dash from the Eastern Upgrade Laboratory session he was moderating to greet South Korean delegates who arrived to participate in the Far East Economic Forum which takes place September 11 and 12.