The third group of 10 young professionals from the United States arrived in Moscow and met with Konstantin Kosachev, Chairman of the State Duma Committee for International Affairs and member of the Alfa Fellowship Advisory Board. After three months of intensive language training at the Higher School of economics, two weeks in seminars and meetings with government and private sector leaders, they will visit regions and then begin six months professional work at leading Russian organizations in the fields of business, economics, journalism, law, public policy, and government.

The program would not be possible without the excellent cooperation of the following institutions who have agreed to host Alfa Fellows for full-time professional work assignments: Higher School of Economics, Moscow Carnegie Center, Expert magazine, Baker Botts, Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (employers), Alfa Capital, INDEM Foundation and the Administrations of Moscow.

Alfa-Bank President Peter Aven noted that, “The great value of the Fellows program lies in the work experiences arranged for each participant. We are deeply grateful for the active participation and assistance of all these institutions who have welcomed the Fellows for 2005.”

The Fellows Program will help these young professionals to develop a more accurate and realistic view of life and business in Russia. Over time, these Fellows, and those that follow them in subsequent years, will move on to senior decision-making positions in the public and private sector, and put their new knowledge of Russia to use for the good of Russian — American relations.

The Alfa Fellowship Program is a unique initiative of Alfa-Bank designed to provide direct, hands-on work experience in Russia for young professionals from the United States. For 2004-2008, several groups of Fellows will visit Russia and spend 9 months each in Moscow and regions.

The Alfa Fellowship Program is governed by an impressive Advisory Board of prominent Russian business leaders, officials, intellectuals and media experts, and chaired by Alfa-Bank President Peter Aven.

The Alfa Fellowship Program is run in the US by CDS International, Inc., which handles recruiting, selection and training. The Russian part of the program is managed by the Moscow Center for International Fellowships, an independent institute that sees to all local aspects of the program.

International Advisory Board

Ambassador Frederick M. Bush, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, USA
Alexander Shokhin, Chairman of Advisory Board, Renaissance Capital
Andrei Illarionov, Presidential Economic Advisor
Boris Nemtsov, Chairman of the Board, Concern Neftyanoy
David Yakobashvilli, Chairman, WimmBillDone
Evgeniy Yasin, Rector, Higher School of Economics
Konstantin Kosachev, Chairman of the State Duma Committee for International Affairs
Mikhail Fridman, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Alfa Group Consortium
Olga Sidorovich, Director, Institute of Law and Public Policy
Peter Aven, President, Alfa Bank
Shiv Khemka, Chairman, Sun Group
Vladimir Pozner, President, Russian Academy of Television