Yuri Sigov

US Bureau Chief of “Business People” business magazine

Mr Sigov is currently US Bureau Chief of “Business People” business magazine in Washington DC, USA. Previously he was Spokesperson to the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General, Spokesman’s Office, South Africa, Angola, Namibia (1996-2000), US Bureau Chief of “Moscow News” weekly in Washington DC, USA (1994-1996), Foreign Editor, Political Editor of “Arguments and Facts” weekly (Moscow, Russia; 1988-1992), Foreign Editor, “Trud” daily newspaper (Moscow, Russia; 1984-1988), attaché, Economic Department, Embassy of the USSR in Peru (1982-1984).

His educational background includes a Ph D in Latin American Studies, Institute of International Relations, Moscow, UN courses in English-Spanish simultaneous translation, Institute of Foreign Languages, Moscow, High Courses in Journalism, Moscow State University, Moscow and a MA in Business Administration with English-Spanish languages proficiency, Technical University, Rostov-on-Don, Russia.

As a journalist and panelist of international conferences, visited more than 100 countries, invited by their Governments and Ministries of Information, accompanying the top official political and business delegations from the Russian Federation, including the President and the Prime Minister in their overseas trips. In 1987, I was the first journalist from than-USSR who visited the South African Republic, later the Republic of China (Taiwan) and South Korea.

Author of numerous monographs and books: “The Caspian Gates of Asia” (about Azerbaijan), “Unknown Kazakhstan”, “Under the roof of the world” (Tajikistan), “Multi-faced Malaysia”, “In the country of Golden Buddha”(Thailand), “Big ambitions of a small lion” (about Singapore), “Brazil: country, people, policy”, “South Africa: today and tomorrow” and more than 10,000 articles published in Russia, the USA, UK, Australia, Mexico, South Africa, Spain, Tunisia, Thailand, Egypt, Finland, Republic of China, Germany and other countries, with an emphasis on business and trade issues, mass media influence on world politics, financial markets, international financial relations, activities of international organizations in the developing countries, donors’ aid, political and economic affairs, foreign policy of the developing countries, international markets and commerce, humanitarian problems.

As a panelist and speaker, participated in a number of global economic and trade forums, and numerous international conferences on foreign policy, business and trade issues in the developing countries, the mass media and communications, and their relationship with the political establishment (Vienna 1997-2006, Seoul 1998-2006, the Hague 1998, Johannesburg 1999-2007, Nairobi 1999, Mexico City 2000-2003, Paris 2000-2006, New York 2000, Sydney 2000-2004, Doha Forums on Trade and Democracy 2003-2008, Zurich 2001- 2006, Paris 2001-2007, Auckland 2002, Kuala Lumpur and Langkawi (Malaysia) 1998 -2007, Singapore 2002-2007, Budapest 2002, Panama 2002, Reykjavik 2003, Jamaica 2003-05, Belgrade 2003, Berlin 2003, Havana 2003-2006, Cancun 2004, Taipei 2004-2007, Bangkok 2004-2007, Almaty (Kazakhstan) - Eurasia Media Forum 2007-2008, Lima 2007, San Jose (Costa Rica) – 2007, Shanghai – 2007, Baku (Azerbaijan) – 2007, Buenos Aires – 2007, Montevideo -2006-2008, Tajikistan – 2008, Brazil - 2008, UAE – 2008, Chile- 2008, Australia – 2009, Ecuador – 2009, and others), annual meetings of the World Bank, IMF, IFC, regional international organizations in Asia, Africa and Latin America.

Winner of the Fellowships with the residence in the United Kingdom and Hong Kong (1992, Reuters News Agency, “Writing International News”), and the United States (1993-1994, University of Maryland, College Park, School of Journalism, Hubert Humphrey Program) for the media mid-career professionals and foreign editors.

Winner of the Best Political Journalist Premium awarded by the Union of Journalists of Kazakhstan (2008).

Lectured on the mass media, international affairs, peace-keeping and peace-making, trade and commercial issues on the emerging markets, humanitarian assistance to the developing nations at the Universities of Austria, Australia, South Korea, South Africa, Kuwait, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, USA, United Kingdom, Mexico, Brazil, Costa Rica, Argentina, Uruguay, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Canada, Singapore, New Zealand, Taiwan, Finland, Yugoslavia, Spain, and other countries.

In 1996-2000, worked in Africa as a Spokesperson for the peacekeeping UN mission, providing PR and press coverage of the mission, media and communication liaison with the government and Parliament, assisting in the press and media work of the Special Representative to the Secretary General of the United Nations in Portuguese, English, Spanish and French languages.

As an international observer, participated in monitoring of the elections in Ecuador, Panama, Angola, Azerbaijan, Mexico, South Africa, Kuwait, Thailand, Tajikistan and Slovenia.

He is an active supporter of Forum Invest conferences & summits which he often attended as moderator.

Leaders at Forum Invest