The Chamber of Commerce of the Russian Federation hosted the annual general meeting of the Belgian-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce in Russia, marking the 300th anniversary of the first visit of Tsar Peter I the Great to Holland and France in 1717. That visit initiated an international economic and cultural collaboration that would quickly link Russia with the Netherlands, France, and what would later become Belgium.
Attending the meeting were the Vice-President of the Chamber of Commerce of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Padalko; the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium to the Russian Federation, Jean-Arthur Regibeau; the Ambassador of Grand Duchy of Luxembourg to the Russian Federation, Jean-Claude Knebeler; the President of the Belgian-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce in Russia and Belarus, Arkady Arianov; the Director of the Chancellery of the Head of the Imperial House of Russia, H.I.H. the Grand Duchess Maria of Russia, and the personal representative of the Honourary Chairman of the Belgian-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce in Russia, H.I.H. the Grand Duke George of Russia, Alexander Zakatov; and the Director of the Belgian-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce in Russia, Oleg Prozorov.
During the meeting, the Vice-President of the Chamber of Commerce of the Russian Federation, Vladiamir Padalko, congratulated Arkady Arianov on his birthday and presented him the highest award of the Chamber of Commerce—the Honourary Medal of the Chamber of Commerce—for his significant contributions over many years to the development and strengthening of trade and economic ties between Russia, Belgium, and Luxembourg, and for his work to help foster mutually beneficial contacts between businesses in these countries.
The Director of the Chancellery of the Imperial House of Russia, Alexander Zakatov, then rose and gave the following speech to those assembled:
«Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear Friends,
“I have the honour of welcoming you all to the general meeting of the Chamber of Commerce on behalf of the Honourary President of the Chamber of Commerce of Belgium and Luxembourg in the Russian Federation, His Imperial Highness the Tsesarevich and Grand Duke George of Russia.
“His Imperial Highness has asked me to convey to you his regrets that circumstances prevented him this year from being able to attend this annual meeting, which has become traditional for him to attend. But he is very glad that the number of attendees continues to grow year by year, and that the connections between us continue to increase and develop in ways that are good for our countries and peoples.
“This year our meeting coincides with the 300th anniversary of the first visit of Tsar Peter I, the great ancestor of Tsesarevich George, to the lands that today are part of the Kingdom of Belgium.
“This visit by Peter the Great produced a number of important and beneficial results for the peoples of our countries.
“Grand Duke George of Russia is convinced that all of us, each in the place that God has called him to be, should continue the work of our ancestors and be worthy of their memory. It is especially important that we emulate their readiness and willingness to engage in dialogue, to exchange information and ideas, and to offer aid and assistance to each other. And if problems should arise, to resolve them in a spirit of mutual respect and understanding.
“His Imperial Highness also sends his most heartfelt congratulations to Arkady Andreevich Arianov on his birthday. All of the staff of the Russian Imperial House in Russia and Abroad join me in extending to you their warmest congratulations.
“It is a great pleasure for me to fulfill the duty given me by the Head of the Imperial House of Russia, H.I.H. the Grand Duchess Maria of Russia, and to award Arkady Andreevich the device and patent of the Imperial and Royal Order of St. Stanislaw.
“The Order of St. Stanislaw has quite an old and venerable history. It entered the Russian Imperial system of honours in the 19th century, after the Kingdom of Poland became a part of the Russian Empire, and remained an active Order even after the revolution.
“The Imperial and Royal Orders are not so much, or at all, badges of merit as they are honourary associations, composed of people engaged in philanthropy, education, service to the nation, and the cause of international peace. To be raised to the honour of a knight in one of the Imperial and Royal Orders is to be given a mark of recognition, gratitude, and appreciation by the Imperial House of Russia—a mark that links leading public figures today with those of previous generations who were similarly honoured.
“We congratulate with all our heart Arkady Andreevich Arianov, knight of the Imperial and Royal Order of St. Stanislaw!
“Grand Duke George of Russia also sends his thanks to Arkady Arianov and Oleg Prozorov for their efforts in organizing this meeting, and expresses his appreciation also to those who worked with them toward this end, and to all of you who are here now participating in these important discussions. He wishes you all a very productive meeting, discussing the important issues of our day!
“Thank you!”
Also taking part in the investiture ceremony of Arkady Arianov into the Imperial and Royal Order of St. Stanislaw was the King of Arms and Director of the Office of Heraldry in the Chancellery of the Imperial House of Russia, Stanislaw V. Dumin. Afterward, Arkady Arianov expressed his gratitude to the Head of the Imperial House of Russia for the enormous honour given him and pointed out that his grandfather had also been a knight of the Imperial and Royal Order of St. Stanislaw, making this award particularly meaningful to him.
The Belgian-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce in the Russian Federation is the only active business platform for the Benelux countries in Russia. The core activity of the Chamber of Commerce is to develop business collaborations between the Belgian-Luxembourg Economic Union (BLEU) and Russia. The Belgian-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce is the main partner of the Chamber of Commerce of the Russian Federation for the development of Russian economic relations with Belgium and Luxembourg, a partnership that goes back more than 40 years.
In his speech to the group, Jean-Arthur Regibeau, the Ambassador of Belgium to the Russian Federation, stressed that the most active collaborations between Russia, Belgium, and Luxembourg are in the energy and logistics sectors of the economy, as well as in construction and industrial production. It is vital, he noted, to continue to develop trade and investment collaborations among all three countries.
The Ambassador of Luxembourg to the Russian Federation, Jean-Claude Knebeler, emphasized the importance of developing economic and cultural contacts between the peoples of these three countries, and between business leaders. He also outlined several important events planned for 2017 that offer opportunities for political collaboration between the three countries.
The meeting also included presentations that described potential opportunities in Belgium for Russian companies.
The meeting ended with a reception, where all those present had the opportunity to meet and talk in a friendly and informal atmosphere.