Russia’s membership among the Group of Eight (G8) leading industrialized nations is accompanied by a number of problems associated with the Russian economy’s insufficient "parity" with the leading economies of the world. Despite Russia long being a fully-fledged G8 member at the political level, the Finance Ministry meetings still follow – in the words of the Alexei Kudrin, the Minister of Finance of the Russian Federation – the "7+1" format. In other words, certain issues are decided upon in some of the meetings without taking Russia’s opinion into account. In order to fully utilize its rights at these meetings’ the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation intended to change this situation and achieve the same full level of economic influence on other G8 members’ decisions as it enjoyed at the diplomatic level.

To achieve this, the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation prepared a series of economic proposals for the first G8 Finance Ministers’ meeting, which was scheduled to take place in Moscow on February 10-11, 2006. But the meeting’s success also depended on the quality of its organization. Having encountered such a problem for the first time, the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation assigned its subcontractors with the task of organizing the meeting as a whole, preparing the operations of a press center, and providing the event with communication support.

The R.I.M. Porter Novelli agency was thus assigned with organizing a set of "turnkey" events. In this situation, the agency engaged another R.I.M. Group company – the Republic agency, which specializes in marketing services and events management. The de facto goal set before the agency may be described as follows: to execute a major international event in a manner that meticulously adheres to protocol and organizational guidelines, thus demonstrating the Russian side’s ability to stage an event of this level; to display Russian hospitality to the meeting’s delegates and guests; and to imbue a positive perception. Another goal rested in stimulating international media interest in the “financial summit.” This entailed both attracting international media to Russia and ensuring that they worked in the meeting’s press center, which would help deliver key Russian statements to an international audience and to consolidate Russia’s position within the G8 framework. As it later emerged, some of the meeting’s guests had concerns about visiting Moscow during the winter, concerns that had to be negated.

The project’s preparation stage was divided along administrative lines: the organization of the ministerial meeting, and the organization of the press center work. The first line of work was distinguished by the meeting’s strict protocol, which on the one hand severely limited the agency’s ability to display initiative, and on the other – required the protocol’s repeated agreement with the various authorities involved. The preparation work here was primarily reduced to the provision of logistical support. In contrast, the press center’s creation required a design approach, since the agency was responsible for conceptualizing, designing, constructing and equipping the press center specifically for the meeting – “from scratch.” At the start, the agency designed a logo for the meeting and prepared basic information about the event (subjects to be covered, participants’ biographies and so on).

The agency also organized on-line accreditation for reporters at a specially designed website: www.g8finance.ru. One of Moscow’s most beautiful buildings – the National Hotel – was selected as the preferred location for meetings between the G8 Finance Ministers and representatives of the various international financial organizations and the European Union. Each of the delegations at the hotel was provided with a fully-equipped business office (including wireless Wi-Fi Internet access, office supplies and information material). The Petrovsky Hall was selected for the Finance Ministers’ protocol meetings. The agency installed special sound and video equipment in the hall, kitting it outwith eight-language synchronized translation cabins.

The agency also designated and designed a special hall area for staging protocol photo sessions. For its part, the press center was set up in the Forum Hall designated for official functions – one of the roomiest and most elegant halls in Moscow, with an area of more than 2,000 square meters, and which especially renovated for the event. More than 100 computer workstations were installed in the main hall and connected to the internet, as well as printers and faxes. The agency also installed photocopiers and monitors for providing live broadcasts from the main National Hotel meeting. The agency further created and equipped a special information zone where reporters were required to register, have their questions answered by the event organizers as well as to browse through provided information material. The press center’s second floor was designed for conducting exclusive interviews. The press center was further equipped with a 500-seat hall that could accommodate 50 television cameras. The hall was outfitted with an eight-language synchronized translation system, and audio recording system, monitors and so on. This hall was especially reserved for Alexei Kudrin, the Minister of Finance of the Russian Federation, who was due to arrive here for his main concluding press conference. The agency viewed the press center not only as the information hub, but also as a venue for staging informal meetings. A special guided tour around Moscow was organized for all media representatives so that they could get a better taste of Russian culture. The various locations selected within the hotel helped to streamline the project’s logistics, and simplified the preparation of a detail program of meetings and foreign media invitations (which were issued according to a previously approved list).

he agency also developed the souvenirs for the meeting’s participants and guests. Their development was conducted in accordance with the member-states’ national legislation, which regulate the value of gifts and memento souvenirs that state officials are allowed to receive. Special silver memento plaques and engraved pens were prepared for the VIP participants. All members of the delegations received a gift album about the Kremlin’s State Diamond Fund. Special paper weights bearing a large image of Saint Basil’s Cathedral and the event’s logo were prepared for reporters, along with a collective set of Russian coins (since money was the meeting’s focal point) and CDs with multimedia presentations about Russia’s history and culture. All of the meeting participants received a basic business set bearing symbols and logos of the meeting.

During a February 13 briefing conducted at the US Department of the Treasury, official spokesman Tony Fratto said that the biggest impression the US delegation came home with was that of “the bitter Russian cold and the warm hospitality of the Moscow meeting’s organizers.” Fratto especially highlighted the great organization of the coverage of the G8 Finance Ministers’ meeting. “We are very grateful to the Russians, especially to Mr. Kudrin for his preparation work,” he said. More than 600 Russian and foreign media representatives visited the press center during its first day of operations. Some 300 reporters attended the press conference of the Minister of Finance of the Russian Federation, Alexei Kudrin.

These figures substantially surpassed expectations. More than 3,000 items were published about the event in Russia and various other countries. At his February 11 concluding press conference, the Minister of Finance of the Russian Federation, Alexei Kudrin, announced that the Finance Ministry chiefs conducted their Moscow negotiations according to the "eight" rather than the "seven plus one" format. He addressed reporters’ attention to the fact that during the meeting, Russia did not focus its attention on becoming a full-fledged member of the "financial G8". "This will come naturally. No one should have any doubts that Russia is prepared to discuss not only the political issues, but also the international development programs as well as the financial and economic issues, at the highest level,” the minister said. He reported that “in my one-on-one meeting, a number of my colleagues confirmed their interest in seeing Russia join the elite financial club.” German Federal Minister for Finance Peer Steinbruck spoke publicly about this subject within the framework of his February 11 press conference: “Such an important partner [as Russia] has to sit at the same table as us, without being excluded,” he said. Speaking on the same subject, French Finance Minister Thierry Breton underscored: "Today, the dialogue passed into a new phase". At the Finance Ministers’ meeting, Russia presented several new proposals for improving bilateral economic relations with the United States, the only country that has not yet signed a document on Russia’s accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO).

The Minister of Finance of the Russian Federation, Alexei Kudrin, noted in this connection that at the "financial G8" meeting in Moscow, the United States and Russia managed to bridge differences concerning unresolved issues of the Russian Federation’s membership in the WTO. "The United States is set on signing the documents in the shortest order," said US Department of the Treasury (finance ministry) Secretary John Snow. The February meeting in Moscow turned out to be a success, and was continued under Russia’s presidency at a June 2006 meeting in Saint Petersburg. The first meeting’s model prepared by the agency (logo patterns, creative designs, souvenir products and so on) was almost completely "scale transferred" to the second meeting.