On 18 April 2008 the largest tax-payers of St.-Petersburg were awarded honorary titles at an official ceremony in Smolny. OJSC North-West Telecom received the title of the best tax payer in St.-Petersburg of 2007. Valentina Matvienko, the governor of St.-Petersburg, awarded the representatives of 20 companies diplomas and honorary badges*.

This is the second time that OJSC NWT receives the title of the “Best Tax Payer in St.-Petersburg". OJSC NWT believes that timely payment of all taxes is one of the main constituents of socially responsible business. In 2007 the taxes of the Company amounted to about 6 billions. Of those 3 billions were Federal taxes and 3 billions - local taxes. The St.-Petersburg taxes in 2007 amounted to 1 billion roubles.

In her address to the guests of the ceremony, Valentina Matvienko noted that their businesses determine the social and economic development of St.-Petersburg, its wellbeing and success, and expressed her confidence, that the city can always count on the support of responsible tax-payers for its most important social and economic tasks.

*Apart from OJSC NWT, the Diplomas the “Best Tax Payer of St-Petersburg 2007” were awarded to: OJSC Gazprom Oil; OOO Novatek; OJSC SIBUR holding; OJSC Baltika Brewery; OJSC LUKOIL St.-Petersburg-Trade; OAO RZD; OOO RN-Trading; OJSV CitFinance Investment Bank; OJSC Megafon; OJSC; OJSC The Savings Bank Of Russian Federation; OJSC Heineken Breweries; State Unitary Enterprise St.-Petersburg Metropolitan; OJSC VTB North-West Bank; OJSC Transoil; OJSC Transneft; OJSC Severstal; State Unitary Enterprise Vodokanal St.-Petersburg; OOO Petro; OJSC Mobile Telesystems.