AEB Event: COVID-19, Consequences for European Companies & Prospects for the Future.
The Association of European Businesses organized an event with high-profile speakers on the challenges to European businesses during the COVID-19 crisis and the prospects for the future.
Stuart Lawson, member of the AEB board and chairman of the Finance & Investments Committee, made some opening remarks. Tadzio Schilling, CEO of the AEB then presented the results of this year’s AEB Business Survey, which showed the impact on business climate by the corona crisis. After Tadzio’s part, it was expected to have Mr Vasily Osmakov, Deputy Minister of Industry & Trade, with a keynote speech and a Q&A session. Unfortunately, he had to cancel at short notice and we expect him at another event in the future.
The second part of the event was covered by Sergey Bykovskih, Chairman of the AEB Non-food FMCG Working Group and President of Henkel Russia, Thomas Stärtzel, Dep. Chairman of the AEB Board, Chairman of the Automobile Manufacturers Committee and Managing Director of Porsche Russia, Alexey Grigoriev, Chairman of the AEB’s Retail Trade Committee and Head of Representative Office at Metro, Marina Balabanova, Chairperson of the AEB Food Processing Committee and Regional VP Corporate Affairs CIS of Danone, Andreas Bitzi, Chairman of the AEB Small and Medium Sized Enterprises Committee, Deputy Chairman of the Northwestern Regional Committee and Managing Director at quality partners, Ivan Glushkov, Dep. Chairman of the AEB Health & Pharmaceutical Committee and Deputy General Director at Stada, Jan Aichinger, Chairman of the AEB Commercial Vehicles Committee and Managing Director at MAN Truck&Bus, as well as Andrey Komov, Chairman of the AEB’s Construction Equipment Committee and Managing Director at Volvo CE Russia.
The speakers explained the situation in their industry as well as in their companies, the partly massive effects of the economic downturn and the health measures in place on their businesses. Andreas Bitzi gave insights into the current business support measures in place for SMEs in Russia, how (in-)effective they are and suggested additional measures to support business and boost the economic upturn that is hoped for to follow the current massive economic slump.
The last 20 minutes of the event was a Q&A session for the approximately 100 participants to ask questions to the panelists.
Thanks to the Association of European Business for the organization of the event and the many participants for their interest.
