Preparations for Adam Smith Conferences’ 8th International RUSSIAN RETAIL CONGRESS™ are now well under way. This year the forum will take place from 30th March – 2nd April 2009, at the Marriott Grand Hotel, Moscow

If you’re in retail, you’ll no doubt know that Adam Smith Conferences’ RUSSIAN RETAIL FORUM has been the biggest annual event in the Russian retail calendar for the past 7 years. We have been working hard to build a programme which really addresses the issues that you face in the Russian retail sector today, particularly in light of the changing economic climate and the new challenges that now demand your attention.

WELCOMING ADDRESS TO ALL CONGRESS PARTICIPANTS:

Lev Khasis, CEO & Chairman of the Management Board, X5 Retail Group N.V.

"I am delighted to welcome all Russian Retail Congress participants.

Adam Smith Conferences are known as major events, offering business communities a chance to discuss key sector and macroeconomic trends.

In order to solve the challenges facing us today, all retail market players need to be in constant communication, especially in these difficult economic conditions.

 I am confident that the Congress will help you to understand each other better, and allow to formulate collective solutions which will take the sector to a whole new level".

Lev Khasis

Chief Executive Officer and the Chairman of the Management Board

X5 Retail Group N.V.

This year more than ever, the Russian Retail Congress will be a unique opportunity for you to come together with your peers to receive the latest, most accurate and excusive market information first hand from the elite of the Russian and international retail community. You will hear from the sector’s biggest and most successful names on how they’re facing today’s tougher market head-on. You’ll discuss the “burning issues”, such as crisis management strategies, regional expansion, retail trends and innovations, development and finance, with the real experts. And you’ll get to meet the industry’s biggest movers and shakers. The coming year will be tough, but with the right knowledge, you can not only survive, but thrive in 2009.

Members of the Speaker Faculty include:

Lev Khasis, CEO & Chairman of the Management Board, X5 Retail Group N.V.

Jere Calmes, President, OJSC “Pharmacy Chain 36.6”

Bernd Guralczyk, CEO, Media Markt Russia

Antonio Baptista, Managing Director, OOO Real-Hypermarket

Oleg Bolychev, Chairman of the Board of Directors, “Vester” Group

Vitaly Klyuchnikov, President, DIXY Group of Companies

Georgy Trefilov, President, Marta Holding

Maksim Entyakov, General Director, Detskiy Mir Centre

Igor Lazarev, General Director, Starik Khottabych

Ilya Timchenko, Managing Director, OOO “Bely Veter Tsifrovoi”

Aleksandr Fedorov, President, “Dikaya Orhideya”

Leonid Abaushkin, General Director, “Trade System "Т3С”

For a full listing of speakers confirmed to date, click here