OREANDA-NEWS. December 10, 2012. CCI of Russia Vice-President Georgy Petrov met with a Gabon delegation led by Industry and Mines Ministry Secretary General Jeannot Kalima at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Russia.

Gabon Ambassador to Russia Rene Makongo and representatives of Russian companies seeking business relations with partners in the African country attended the meeting.

CCI of Russia Vice-President Georgy Petrov noted Gabon’s economic successes: the country ranks high in Africa by its development and living standards. Russia-Gabon trade and investments are not large so far but their potential is rather big.

The Coordination Committee on Economic Cooperation with African Countries South of Sahara established at the CCI of Russia initiative has been working since 2009. One of its objectives is the assistance in regaining the ground Russia lost in Africa in the 1990s. Modern Russian business has learned to operate under market conditions and has accumulated experience and knowledge: Russian companies can become reliable business partners of African states. Georgy Petrov said that the Chamber had established a good working relationship with the Gabon Embassy in Russia. The vice-president gave a brief account of the CCI of Russia possibilities and stressed that it could be regarded as a floor for mutually beneficial cooperation.

Gabon Industry and Mines Ministry Secretary General Jeannot Kalima said that the trip to Russia aimed to establish contacts with partners. He said they had good relations with the Satkinsky Iron Smelting Plant in the Chelyabinsk region and agreed to the delivery of manganese raw materials. The possible involvement of South Urals plants in other projects was discussed during the visit to the Chelyabinsk region, he said.

The visit to the CCI of Russia, a representative of Russian business, is an important item of the program of the visit to Russia, Jeannot Kalima said. Gabon has adopted a program of accelerated development of industries and mining. Russia’s experience of geological survey, development and processing of minerals is very interesting, the secretary general stressed. Gabon is a small country but it is a member of a customs union with the overall population of 90 million people. That is a substantial market.

Representatives of Russian companies spoke about promising areas of cooperation with Gabon businessmen. This cooperation is possible not only in mining, but also in the development of infrastructure, logistics and agriculture. The sides discussed issues of mutual interest.