INTERVIEW – Alf Torrents, Executive Chairman of the RBCC

Posted on by JJRowson Posted in Economy, Politics

Interview with Alf Torrents, the executive chairman of the Russo-British Chamber of Commerce

Published: November 10, 2020

Cited by: Sputnik Moldova, Russia-Briefing, Pakistan Point, Urdu Point, Ground News, NNN, Today24

Brexit to Provide New Opportunities for UK, Russian Businesses – RBCC Executive Chairman

MOSCOW, November 10 (Sputnik) – The eventual completion of the Brexit process, which looks set to end on December 31 with the conclusion of an 11-month transition period, will provide new opportunities for UK businesses on the Russian market and vice versa, Alf Torrents, the executive chairman of the Russo-British Chamber of Commerce (RBCC), told Sputnik in an interview.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s government has made a concerted effort throughout the Brexit process to advertise the opportunities available for UK businesses in non-EU countries such as Japan and Australia, and the same can be said for Russia, Torrents said.

UK Gov’t Continues to Support Doing Business With Russia Despite Political Tensions – RBCC

MOSCOW, November 10 (Sputnik) – The UK government has continued to encourage the country’s businesses to conduct trade with Russia despite the recent political tensions between Moscow and London, Alf Torrents, the executive chairman of the Russo-British Chamber of Commerce (RBCC), told Sputnik in an interview.

“The UK has never, despite all the political tension, pulled the rug out from under business, and it has always encouraged it to carry on,” Torrents stated.

Russo-British Chamber of Commerce Head Says Russia Becoming More Conducive for Business

MOSCOW, November 10 (Sputnik) – Russia is becoming a friendlier place for international businesses to conduct operations, as evidenced by the country’s rapid rise in the World Bank’s Doing Business rankings, Alf Torrents, the executive chairman of the Russo-British Chamber of Commerce (RBCC), told Sputnik in an interview.

The World Bank placed Russia 28th in its 2020 Doing Business rankings, which measure the business regulations and ease of conducting operations in countries across the world. Torrents noted that Russia has risen up the rankings rapidly over the past six years.

“In 2014, Russia was 92nd and I know it was one of the presidential administration’s strategic aims to make Russia much more business-friendly, and by 2018, it had improved to 31st place, and I think in 2020 it’s 28th, so huge strides in that respect. Interestingly, Spain is 30th and France is 32nd,” the RBCC’s executive chairman commented.

Russo-British Chamber of Commerce Lobbying for Visa Regime Simplification – Exec. Chairman

MOSCOW, November 10 (Sputnik) – The Russo-British Chamber of Commerce (RBCC) is frequently lobbying in both London and Moscow for a simplification of the visa regime currently in place between both countries to help facilitate the growth of business, Alf Torrents, the chamber’s executive chairman, told Sputnik in an interview.

“It’s an area that is hugely important to business. I don’t think there’s any businessperson who wouldn’t want a more simplified version. It’s something we are lobbying frequently on,” Torrents stated.

Negative Coverage of Russia in UK Press Hindering New Businesses Entering Market – RBCC

MOSCOW, November 10 (Sputnik) – The negative coverage of Russian affairs in the United Kingdom’s press outlets is hindering the Russo-British Chamber of Commerce’s (RBCC) efforts to persuade UK businesses to enter the Russian market, Alf Torrents, the chamber’s executive chairman, told Sputnik in an interview.

“What we’ve found is that all the businesses that are established in Russia, none of them leave because of the various road bumps. They know the market, it’s a good market, but the difficulty we have is persuading new businesses to come because they see it from quite a colored perspective,” Torrents said.

Businesses Face Challenge to Reach Pre-Pandemic Activity Without Face-to-Face Talks – RBCC

MOSCOW, November 10 (Sputnik) – The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has pushed businesses to move their operations online in order to add value, although the epidemiological crisis has also shown the limits of conducting trade without face-to-face talks, Alf Torrents, the executive chairman of the Russo-British Chamber of Commerce (RBCC), told Sputnik in an interview.

The COVID-19 pandemic’s first wave this past spring prompted many governments to shut their borders, which in turn led to the widespread cancellation of international passenger flights. For many businesses, moving online was the only way to continue operating at a profitable level, Torrents remarked.