is a non-governmental non-commercial organisation that unites commercial banks and other credit institutions, as well as organisations involved in the functioning of Russia’s financial credit system.

The ARB Founding Congress was held in Moscow on March 27-28, 1991.

The Association of Russian Banks unites about 80% of Russia’s banking institutions, which hold over 92% of Russia’s total banking capital and over 93% of all banking assets.

The ARB has more than seven hundred members operating in all Russian regions, including through their branches.

Since 1997, the Association of Russian Banks has been an associate member of the European Banking Federation, which unites about 3,000 European banks.

ARB’s official website: http://www.arb.ru/site/eng/

established in 1989. Russia joined it in 1998.

APEC brings together 19 countries (Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, USA and Vietnam) and two territories (Hong Kong special administrative region of China, and Taiwan).

APEC does not have a charter and therefore cannot be termed an organisation, but is an international forum and consultative body for discussing economic issues. All APEC decisions are made on a consensus basis.

APEC is chaired by whichever country is due to host the next summit.

APEC will hold its summit in Russia in 2012.