Russian Minister of Education and Science Andrey Fursenko to Participate in the Second U.S.-Russia Technology Symposium at Stanford University, Feb. 17 - 18

New York, February 16. RIA Novosti. Russian Minister of Education and Science Andrey Fursenko will take part in the Second U.S.-Russia Technology Symposium at Stanford University, February 17 - 18. Along with the former U.S. Secretary of Defense William Perry Mr.Fursenko will co-chair the Symposium sponsored by Dow Jones and The Wall Street Journal.

New York, (PRWEB) February 17, 2005 -- RIA Novosti. Russian Minister of Education and Science Andrey Fursenko will take part in the Second U.S.-Russia Technology Symposium at Stanford University, February 17 - 18. Along with the former U.S. Secretary of Defense William Perry Mr.Fursenko will co-chair the Symposium sponsored by Dow Jones and The Wall Street Journal.

The U.S.-Russia Technology Symposium is the premiere investor conference on Russian technology and emerging growth companies. The Symposium cultivates a transatlantic network of businesspeople and policymakers with an interest in Russian technology and publicizes such technology among investors unfamiliar with Russias scientific potential. The annual Symposium participants list this year represents the cream of the crop or the Russian hi-tech and emerging growth companies, as well as many prominent government officials. Among the participants are Anatoly Karachinsky (President & CEO, IBS Group), David Yakobashvili (Chairman of the Board, Wimm-Bill-Dann), Viktor Vekselberg (CEO, TNK-BP), Sergey Kravchenko (President, Boeing Russia/CIS), Sergei Generalov (Chairman of the Board, Russian Investor Protection Association), Dmitry Milovantsev (Deputy Minister of Communications).

The American participants list include names of the former Secretary of State George Schultz, Michael J. Copps, FCC Commissioner, Andrew Somers (President, American Chamber of Commerce), Jon Khazam ( Vice President, Software and Solutions Group General Manager, Intel), Coit Blacker (Director, Stanford Institute for International Studies), Carly Fiorina (until last week -- CEO, Hewlett-Packard), John Schwarz (President and COO, Symantec), Helen Teplitskaya (President of the American-Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry).

Information technologies are among the most rapidly developing sectors of Russias economy. The Federal Targeted Program Electronic Russia" stipulates measures aimed at Russias informatization. In particular, it is planned to make investments to the tune of about 2.4 billion US dollars in this sector. It is pointed out in the program that by 2007 that the share of information technology (IT) products in Russias GDP should be increased from the present 0.5% to 2%, and the export of high technologies is to grow 15 to 20 times over and reach 2.5 billion dollars. Russias high-tech segment is most attractive for major international companies. The success of the research departments of companies like Intel and Motorola in Russia has encouraged their rivals to think of opening similar centers there. Now both the companies and the rating agencies note the fact that the IT market has been growing faster than the oil industry.

The Symposiums theme is timely in light of the attention focused on outsourcing in Silicon Valley and Russias desire to diversify its economy beyond traditional oil and gas sectors. Russia is mastering new technologies, including those in telecommunications, at a high pace. The Symposium is an excellent opportunity to meet U.S. and Russian top business, government, and academic leaders working in the technology sector.

If you are interested in covering this event or interviewing Russian participants, plese contact:

Dmitri Klimentov, Russian News & Information Agency Novosti"

(914) 525-60-58 or dklimentov@email.msn.com

Additional info at www.usrts.org

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