At 43 years of age, Irina Khakamada is recognized as a rising star and one of the most prominent women in modern Russian politics. Educated as an economist, she served on the faculty at Moscow State University as an associate professor of macroeconomics prior to starting her political career. In 1993, she launched her own political party, Common Cause, and was elected to the State Duma, RussiaÕs lower house of parliament. In 1996, she was cited by The Australian Magazine as one of the 100 most powerful women in the world.
In 1997, Irina Khakamada was appointed to head the State Committee for the Support and Development of Small Business. She accepted the post because she felt her voice was lost in the political infighting in the State Duma. As the Chair of a State Committee she felt she could have a more direct influence on small business development. Her stated goals in assuming this post included: simplifying taxation for small businesses; easing registration procedures for new enterprises; and reinstating low-interest loans and other types of assistance for small enterprise development.
In early 1998, Ms. Khakamada met with Sharon Tennison, President of the Center for Citizen Initiatives, to request the CenterÕs assistance in training several delegations of Russian specialists to support the development of the small business sector. At the top of her list was a delegation of legal specialists who would be trained in how to write and lobby legislation for small businesses. This delegation arrives in the Bay Area at the end of October 1998. They will make a report, including proposals for new Russian legislation, to Ms. Khakamada after their return.
Additionally, Ms. Khakamada is one of the leading figures in RussiaÕs growing womenÕs movement. She has been a member of the Liberal WomenÕs Foundation, the Council on Industrial Politics and Business in the government of the Russian Federation, and the Council on External Politics in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Most recently, in September 1998, Irina Khakamada survived the Yeltsin government reconfiguration and was promoted to the position of First Deputy Minister of the newly created Ministry of Antimonopoly Regulation and Entrepreneurship Support.
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