On January 18, 2014, the award ceremony for the winners of the contest "Sustainable Future of Russia" takes place

On January 18 the award ceremony for the winners of the contest "Sustainable Future of Russia" 2013 took place as part of the Gaidar Forum held at the Russian Presidential Academy of National Academy and Public Administration.

As part of its social responsibility practice, ACIG Group of Companies, together with the RANEPA, acts as the contest organizer. The General Partners of the contest are Coca-Cola and Unilever, the Association of Innovative Regions of Russia is its partner.

The ceremony was opened by Vladimir Mau, Rector of the RANEPA, and Victor Tolmachev, Chairman of the ACIG Supervisory Board.

In his welcoming speech, Vladimir Mau expressed gratitude to ACIG Group of Companies for its initiative to establish this project which the Academy actively supports from the very beginning. In his turn, Victor Tolmachev emphasized the importance of the Contest: “Sustainable Future of Russia” facilitates development of professional opportunities for young professionals and their goals achievement.”

The laureates of the contest were chosen by the Central Contest Commission which this year includes Vladimir Mau, Rector of the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration, Victor Tolmachev, Chairman of the ACIG Supervisory Board, Aleksandr Ivlev, Country Managing Partner for Russia for EY, Aleksei Komissarov, Moscow Government Minister and Head of Moscow Department of Science, Industrial Policy and Entrepreneurship, Andrei Nikitin, Director of the Agency for Strategic Initiatives to Promote New Projects, Anton Chuklin, Deputy Executive Director of the Association of Innovative Regions of Russia, Unilever Vice President for Human Resources in Russia, Ukraine & Belarus Theodore Kitsos and Coca-Cola Bottlers Eurasia Public Affairs & Communication Director Anna Kozlovskaya.

In 2013 the organizers of the event extended the number of topics. Thus, the Contest agenda was determined by the business environment in Russia, effectiveness of Russian enterprises, status of national education at the international level, environmental efforts of the government and business as well as practical realization of sustainable development concept.

Alina Konovalova, a student of Demidov Yaroslavl State University, won in the topic “Business Management: Tools for Increasing Internal Effectiveness”. Her work “Managing the Risks of Innovative Projects of Credit Organizations” was highly appraised by the Central Contest Commission. When presenting the awards to the winners, Anton Chuklin emphasized: “The contest is an effective tool helping students unlock their potential.”

Alesya Polezhaeva, a student of the National Research University – Higher School of Economics ranked first in the “Doing Business Rating: How to Conquer a Summit”. General Director of the Agency for Strategic Initiatives Andrei Nikitin congratulated the finalists of this topic: “We’ve got a long way to go to the top of the rating. There are no simple ways to make doing business in Russia easy and comfortable. Students and laureates of the Contest help us move forward faster.”

Research work dedicated to legal regulation of academic mobility, the students of St. Petersburg University of Management and Economics Yulia Konovalova ranked first in the topic “Increasing Competitiveness of the Russian Universities among the Leading Global Research and Educational Centers”. Aleksei Komissarov presented the award to the laureate. “It is a great honour for me to take part in the Contest as a member of the expert commission. All students who have sent their works have already won. Wonderful future lies ahead of us: in business, state service, education and science. It’s good that there are active people ready to make steps aimed at improving the quality of life in Russia,” the Minister of the Moscow Government said.

Communications Manager of Coca-Cola Russia, Ukraine and Belarus Maria Kanukova presented the awards to the winners in the topic “Public-Private Partnership in Environment Protection”: “The Company gladly came forward to the proposal to take part in the Contest. Everything connected with a competition is beneficial. For Coca-Cola, sustainable development is not just a global trend, but, first of all, a serious business priority within the framework of the company’s development.” Natalia Karabanova, the student of Vladimir State University, who submitted a work on PPP optimization in solid-waste recycling, ranked first in this topic.

In 2013 Unilever, General Partner of the Contest for the second year round, initiated the topic “Development, Establishment and Promotion of Products Corresponding with the Sustainable Growth Concept: How to Win Success among Consumers”. Welcoming the participants and guests of the ceremony Theodore Kitsos said that creating opportunities for the younger generation is one of the key tasks for the business. “Implementation of the sustainable development concept requires ambitious leaders offering breakthrough ideas towards creating a better future,” the member of the Contest Commission emphasized. Theodore Kitsos also thanked the RANEPA and ACIG Group of Companies for fruitful cooperation and active efforts in solving the issues of sustainable development in Russia. Elena Pilchinova, student of the East-Siberian State University of Technology and Management ranked first in the topic proposed by Unilever.

At the end of the awarding ceremony, Director of the “Sustainable Future of Russia” Contest Aleksei Shipov congratulated the finalists and told about the prospects for the Contest development. “Every year quantitative and qualitative performance of the Contest is getting better. Thanks to the support of the Moscow Government, a contest for schoolchildren has started as part of the initiative. Now they can offer their ideas for solving important development tasks. “Sustainable Future of Russia” is a serious global framework, a space for young people’s ideas and projects. We will do everything to support young professionals ready to develop our country,” Mr. Shipov summed up.

The laureates received certificates for educational programs to the value of 40 thousand rubles for the third place, 70 thousand rubles for the second place and 120 thousand rubles for the first place. Besides, each finalist received a unique prize in the shape of a glass pyramid symbolizing Russia’s sustainable development, as well as the prizes from the general partners.