Russian businesses support Kremlin’s call to help summer wildfires victims
Prominent representatives of Russian businesses have warmly supported President Dmitry Medvedev’s call for companies to help rebuild villages and other rural settlements burned down in central Russia during the summer wild fires. Proposing this initiative at a meeting with the local business community, Medvedev noted that all the official decisions on compensations of citizens that had lost properties have been adopted and will be fully executed. “But this will require the active participation of businesses. Therefore, taking into consideration the scales of the disaster, I would like to consult with you on how businesses could help liquidate the negative consequences.”
Speaking on behalf of colleagues, JSFC Sistema board chairman Vladimir Yevtushenkov noted that some business owners have not only adopted, but have also started offering such aid. As an example of such conscientious Russian capitalism titans, he named his corporation, which has prepared dozens of free housing certificates, valued at $10mln-$20mln, for the fire victims.
Other business representatives have also offered huge contributions. For example, Interros president Vladimir Potanin announced that his company will take patronage over one of Tver Region’s districts, where there are lots of dry turfs seen as the main cause of the bushfires, while Base Element owner Oleg Deripaska said his RusAl plans to help one of Nizhny Novgorod Region’s villages by building over 50 houses for the residents. Similarly, Novatek board chairman Leonid Mikhelson said company’s shareholders have decided to help by building 25 houses in the Nizhny Novgorod Region and 25 houses in Mordovia.
Medvedev expressed gratitude to the business executives at he meeting for showing compassion to those in acute need and conscious civic positions on all the issues discussed at the meeting, and to all representatives of Russian business community for displaying mature corporate and social responsibilities, especially at time that is also very difficult for businesses.
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