At the 34^th World Economic Forum opening today in the Swiss city of Davos, the results of the annual survey of the `World's Most Respected Companies' were published by organizers PricewaterhouseCoopers and the Financial Times.  

According to the survey, the Baltika Brewery is ranked among the five most respected Russian companies.  

 

The results of the sixth worldwide survey were based on a poll of more than 1,000 top officers of companies in more than 20 countries around the world, and also based on the views of managers of investment funds, staff in NGO's and the correspondents of international mass media.  

 

Among the evaluation criteria for determining the most respected companies were various factors such as market capitalization, social responsibility, policy on ecology, transparency, and others.  

 

Besides Baltika, the other four most respected Russian companies were all energy giants: Gazprom, RAO `EES', Lukoil, and Yukos. Baltika Brewery was the only representative from outside the raw materials sector of Russia's economy to enter the prestigious world-class ranks.  

 

Russian companies were first reviewed for the survey of the `Most Respected Companies of the World' in 2002 and at that time Baltika was also ranked among the 5 most respected companies of Russia.  

 

The work of the Forum will go on until 25 January 2004. About 1200 delegates from 94 countries participate in it, including more than 30 heads of state and 75 government ministers. Besides the state of the world economic major discussion topics of the Forum include the Near East, safeguarding stability in the world, the Euro/dollar exchange rate, and global warming.