Proof that 2011 will be the year of the “green rush” in Russia, as I argued in my previous ModernRussia post, can be found in World Wildlife Fund’s recent announcement that it will transform its Moscow headquarters into a full-fledged eco office.

The Pulkovo Airport in St. Petersburg is set to undergo a massive infrastructure upgrade that aims to more than double its passenger handling capabilities with the help of European based airport designers. 

Following the recent Deal Drivers Russia 2011 survey by mergermarket and CMS, the firm’s Senior Partner John Hammond talked with Modern Russia about the state of the Russian M&A market and what should be done to attract more investors and deal makers.

How would you describe the M&A market in Russia? How does it compare to other markets?

On behalf of the foreign members of the Foreign Investment Advisory Council (FIAC) in Russia, which I have the honor to coordinate, we appreciate the Russian government’s continued support in working to resolve issues affecting foreign investors.   Russia is an integral part of the global economy, and its economy is growing despite the recent economic crisis.  The government’s support is absolutely critical if Russia is to realize its economic modernization objectives and foreign investment potential.
 

Russia’s high-tech development and economic modernization program has brought many of the country’s leading IT companies into the spotlight. This month, U.S. private equity firm General Atlantic’s acquisition of a 20 percent stake in leading antivirus software producer Kaspersky Labs indicates that Russian IT companies are becoming popular in the investment community.  The $200 million deal is General Atlantic’s first deal with a Russian company, and the firm has been upbeat on the partnership so far.