OREANDA-NEWS. September 27, 2012. Herman Gref, CEO and Chairman of the Management Board, Sberbank of Russia, took part in the XI International Investment Forum Sochi 2012. The discussion was held under the theme "Competitiveness: issue of development or issue of survival?" Herman Gref was the only representative of the Russian business participating in the meeting, reported the press-centre of Sberbank.

The meeting was attended by Dmitry Medvedev, Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation. Other participants in the event included Ichak Adizes, expert, director of Adizes Institute; Hans-Paul Burkner, president, CEO, The Boston Consulting Group and Laurent Vigier, Director of European and International Affairs, Caisse des Depots Group. The event was moderated by Sergei Guriev, Rector of the New Economic School.

Today, the key role in the competition among the economies is played not by geography or natural resources but by the quality of the urban environment and infrastructure, availability of capital, institutional environment and government effectiveness. How do these factors affect the competitiveness of economies? What must be done today in order to avoid becoming an outsider? These were the main issues discussed during the plenary meeting.

"To make our state truly competitive, we need to ensure the freedom for talents, which will allow them to assume leadership roles", said Herman Gref at the end of his address in the plenary meeting.