Forbes tracks the fate of the heroes of its past publications Interest in organics In May, we wrote that billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev, who got rich from inorganic fertilizers, invested $30 million in the Tilocor company, which invests in biotechnological projects in different countries. Details have recently become known.

Getting rid of colonial dependence was a tragedy for tens of millions of Africans and an indelible shame for politicians in developed countries In the autumn of 1975, the Angolan capital was in a state of alarm. The country was preparing to declare its independence from Portugal. But the people of Luanda felt not joy, but fear. Detachments of warring factions were approaching the capital from several sides.

Three years ago, sitting on the jury of the European Sommelier Championship, which then bore the name of the Trophee Ruinart champagne house, I made a bet about the fate of this brand with the Englishman David Moulinet-Berry, a Ruinart consultant, a recognized wine expert, one of the oldest holders of the Master of Wine title . He bet that within three years the LVMH group, which owns Ruinart, would sell the brand, leaving the vineyards behind.

About transparency, big profits and Bill Gates June 1923 “The greatest success will be achieved by those who heed the prediction of the recently deceased J. P. Morgan: “Business will begin to acquire transparent pockets.” 1973 May “Lee Iacocca is annoyed that the Ford Motor Company, of which he is president, is worth less than eight times its annual earnings. This year, the US auto industry will sell about 12 million cars, 10% more than in 1972. But investors are nonetheless pessimistic.

To create a good brand, you don’t have to live in the capital. Even in the regional capital “You can promote a brand in a year with a lot of money, or you can promote it in five years with almost no money,” entrepreneur Sergei Mironov sets out his marketing credo. He tested this rule on himself: having once started selling dumplings fashioned in the kitchen, he created a trademark that is now well known throughout the Volga region from Ulyanovsk to Volgograd.

Sometimes the simplest solutions help take your business to the next level Internet instead of rent In 1999, Omsk programmer Alexander Osadchiy created the website Alib.ru - a virtual book showcase. Sellers display their books there, buyers leave requests. Buyers and sellers make all monetary payments among themselves, and books are sent by mail. In mid-June, about 740,000 titles were listed on Alib.ru. Osadchy makes money from subscription fees for large sellers.

The peculiarity of the Russian consumer mentality—the love for expensive equipment—is well known. It turns out that it manifests itself not only in large things - say, the purchase of expensive cars, but even in such small things as the choice of office equipment. More inkjet printers than laser printers were in use in European homes and offices in 2007, according to a recently published study by research firm IDC. The ratio is 1.2:1.

Actions Last year, Mechel shares almost quadrupled in price - the best result among all Russian metallurgical and mining companies. Time to sell? Not at all. The company's products are rising in price, and business diversification between the raw materials and steel sectors reduces risks. “The current situation on the commodity markets is extremely favorable for Mechel,” writes Otkrytie FC analyst Sergei Krivokhizhin.

10 questions to the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Troika Dialog Andrey Sharonov Officials have nothing to do on the boards of directors of state-owned companies; independent directors will do this job better. First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov made a very liberal speech at the St. Petersburg Economic Forum, but, apart from statements about director-officials, there was little specificity in it.

Why is it that even a minister with an entrepreneurial spirit cannot sell military equipment without a discount? Two billion six hundred - one... two... three. Sales!" - Leonid Yakubovich shouted. With the light hand of the TV presenter, the military town on Rublyovka with an area of ​​12 hectares went to the structures of Mikhail Prokhorov.

THE SHARE OF SMALL BUSINESS IN RUSSIA'S GDP IS ABOUT 17%. THE STATE WISHES TO INCREASE THIS SHARE, AND THIS IS UNDERSTANDING SO IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE TO SOLVE TWO TASKS: TO ACHIEVE DIVERSIFICATION OF THE ECONOMY, NOW DEPENDING ON LARGE, EXPORT-ORIENTED PRODUCTION, AND INCREASE THE WELL-BEING OF THE POPULATION. ARE THERE PREREQUISITES FOR GROWTH IN THE NUMBER OF BUSINESSMAN? WHAT SHOULD THEY DO? FORBES TALKED TO TWO ENTREPRENEURS ABOUT THIS, WHO STARTED FROM SCRATCH 20 YEARS AGO.

Those who want to connect to power grids need money and patience. The owner of a car service, on condition of anonymity, shared his personal experience with Forbes I have a friend, a former Mosenergo inspector, who makes a living helping entrepreneurs connect to power grids. So, it’s impossible to meet him: seven days a week, from early morning until late evening, he’s on the road, sorting out problems.

Sobinbank became widely known thanks to the Bank of New York case, through which billions of dollars were laundered. It turned out to be quite difficult to launder the reputation of a Russian bank Every day, fresh milk is delivered to the Sobinbank head office, located in the Krasnaya Presnya area.

Easy money, contacts with presidents, criminals and future billionaires - the creators of the famous Soyuzkontrakt spoke for the first time about the structure of their business in the 1990s Vasilyevsky Spusk near the Moscow Kremlin, June 1996. The crowd of thousands is entertained by a military orchestra, the Pyatnitsky choir, the Bolshoi Theater ballet and a dozen pop stars.

In terms of tariffs, joining the WTO is comparable to the strengthening of the ruble in just six months The economic policy of modern Russia is subject to serious fluctuations - ministers and deputy prime ministers change, priorities move from the fight for investment to the fight against overheating and inflation, the focus on the private sector is replaced by hope for state corporations. Only one thing remains unchanged: the expectation of joining the World Trade Organization.