Memo: Enhancing business ties with Russia through regulatory, business and tourism cooperation

On Sunday 16 June 2013 Vice President Antonio Tajani travels to Russia accompanied by a 120 strong business delegation composed of representatives of companies and industry associations from 23 Member States. Collectively they represent approximately 2.5 million employees and EUR 718 billion in turnover, more than the GDP of both Poland and Romania.

This visit is part of the "Missions for Growth" to help European enterprises, in particular small and medium sized enterprises, to better profit from fast growing emerging international markets. The visit, held from 16 to 18 June 2013, will reinforce partnerships to help industry and SMEs to fully exploit the commercial relations potential between Russia and the EU. This specific Mission is characterised by a significant growth in the geographical spread of the business delegation and by the fact that 65 small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) are on the delegation, a group twice as large as the group of big companies. European and national business associations make up around 20 % of the delegation.