Document text
Russian delegation to visit Their interest is economic development By Dani Dodge A delegation from the Tomsk district of Russian Siberia will be making their way through the Rogue Valley this week. "They are coming over to see how government and industry work together and learn about economic development and initiating that in their own area," said Aggie Bearden, executive assistant at the Southern Oregon Regional Economic Development Inc. "They will also be doing some cultural things, too ... like a trip to Ashland�s Shakespearean theater." Members of the delegation include a mayor, two vice-mayors, and heads of financial, municipal, social and economic development departments. The delegation is being sponsored by the Institute Urban Economic headquartered in Moscow. The group will arrive Monday and stay through Wednesday, Bearden said. The best time for Southern Oregonians to meet the Russians will be at a meeting of the Southern Oregon Commission on American-Asian Affairs on Tuesday. The meeting will be held from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. at the Rogue Community College�s Medford campus, Building F, Room 11. Building F is at the corner of Eighth and Front streets. The commission�s mission is to promote trade, community and business relationships, as well as cultural and educational opportunities between the citizens of Southern Oregon and the Pacific Rim. While in Southern Oregon, the Russian delegation will focus on economic diversification strategies. The Tomsk leadership is looking for ways to move their current resource-based economy in a new direction. Bearden said the Tomsk region lies next to an incredible forest, but at this point the Tomsk people only export whole logs. The Tomsk region also is experiencing severe energy issues and will study alternatives available in Oregon. Bearden said many who live outside the major towns don�t even have power or indoor plumbing. "That part of Russia is really, really third world," Bearden said. "Their (small) towns are nothing more than hunting camps." For more information on the visit, call Bearden at 773-8946 or e-mail her at [email protected]. Reach reporter Dani Dodge at 776-4471, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.