OREANDA-NEWS. On November 03, 2008 SCM became a partner of the Annual International Investment Summit in Donetsk Oblast, because, despite the global financial crunch, the company regards Donbass as an investment-appealing region both for national and international investors, reported the press-centre of SCM.

High-ranking officials and representatives of big national business called on delegates at Opening of the Annual International Investment Summit in Donetsk Oblast to join efforts to improve the investment climate of Ukraine in the global financial crisis environment.
 
Rinat Akhmetov, controlling shareholder of SCM, said in his address to the delegates: "We all are concerned with the question how to overcome the crisis? Today it is very important to prevent mass slumps of banks and panic among depositors. Liquidity of banks needs to be backed by the government, as it is done by the EU, the United States of America, Great Britain and others".

"I am sure if we make quick, efficient and responsible decisions we will not only overcome the crisis but can become much stronger", Mr Akhmetov added.                     
 
Over 500 businessmen and investors representing 20 countries attended the Summit from 29 to 31 October, 2008. The event presented more than 250 local and national investment projects available in Donetsk Oblast.
 
"We are confident that many investors discovered Donetsk Oblast as an investment-appealing region at the Summit", said Jock Mendoza-Wilson, SCM's Director of International and Investor Regions. "And, in spite of taking place in the period challenging for the economy of the country and the region, the Summit can launch the most important investment initiatives, which can help overcome the crisis". 
 
Being a socially responsible business, SCM regards participation of business in development of regions of operations as an important CSR area. To realize the Group's policy in this field, SCM developed and is consistently implementing an action program. An essential element of the program allows to support the projects focused on improving the investment attractiveness of the regions of presence.
 
As the biggest national investor, SCM organized a panel discussion "Investing in the Ukrainian Economy - opportunities and challenges". The panel discussed investment climate in Ukraine and the opportunities it offers to foreign investors. It also focused on competitive advantages of the state, existing problems and the ways to overcome them. The panel was participated by: Jock Mendoza-Wilson, Director of International and Investor Relations, SCM; Anna Tokarz, Senior Banker, EBRD in Ukraine; Jorge Zukoski,  President, American Chamber of Commerce; and Vitaliy Butenko, Chief Strategy Officer, Donbass Fuel-Energy Company. The debate was moderated by Iskander Khisamov, editor-in-chief of Ekspert magazine.