The prestigious award was presented in recognition of the fast realisation by Volga-Dnepr of its strategic potential. According to the judges, Volga-Dnepr was honoured for its ‘successful combination of charter and scheduled transportation using the unique Antonov AN-124-100 and Boeing 747-200 aircraft’.

Presenting the award, the Institute of Economic Strategies recognised Volga-Dnepr Group’s leadership of the outsize and unique air cargo transportation market, its high level of compliance to international flight safety standards and the quality of the Group’s customer service.

Volga-Dnepr Group was one of three organisations to receive ‘Company of the Year’ awards along with the ROSNO insurance company for its ‘steady innovation’ and the Equant communication company.

The Institute of Economic Strategies and ‘Economic Strategies’ magazine also named ‘Managers of the Year 2004’. These included Yuri Shafrannik, Chairman of Soyuzneftegaz, Serguei Nedoroslev, President of Kaskol Group and Serguei Chemezov, General Director of Rosoboronexport.

The ‘Breakthrough of the Year’ category honoured MOK-Center, an appraising company; the building company Inteco, and Russian Railways.