German business places great hopes on Scholz's visit to Russia | News from Germany about Russia

German business in Russia has “great hopes” for the visit of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to Moscow. This was stated by the head of the German-Russian Chamber of Commerce (AHK) Rainer Seele on Sunday, February 13.

“The conflict around Ukraine in any case should be resolved peacefully and diplomatically,” Zele said.

The head of the German Cabinet will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on February 14, after which he will hold talks with Russian leader Vladimir Putin on February 15.

For five years, German business has invested about 7.6 billion euros in the Russian economy

The head of the AHK warned politicians and businesses against breaking contacts and freezing projects. Such a move would lead not to a reduction in tension, but to even “greater confrontation,” he stressed. On the contrary, the bet should be made on the activation of ties, Seele believes.

“Even during the darkest times of the Cold War, German business and the economy have always been a bridge between Germany and the Soviet Union,” he added.

At the same time, the AHK specified that despite the sanctions due to the conflict in Ukraine and restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic, German companies have invested about 7.6 billion euros in the Russian economy over the past five years.

Tests for HIV, syphilis and COVID-19

From December 29, 2021, foreigners and their family members over 7 years old who come to the Russian Federation for a period of more than 3 months are required to submit to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia certificates of drug testing and the absence of infectious diseases, including HIV, syphilis, leprosy, tuberculosis and COVID-19 . In addition, it is required to undergo an X-ray examination, fingerprints and a biometric photograph. According to the law, foreigners are required to undergo a medical examination at the institutions of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation.

Against this background, AHK previously warned about the threat of a mass exodus of companies from Germany from the Russian market. Despite the efforts of the German-Russian Chamber of Commerce, their number continues to decline. Thus, in 2011 the number of German firms in the Russian Federation was 6,300, but in the next 10 years it decreased by more than 40 percent – to 3,651 companies with German authorized capital.

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