Russian commerce chamber to elect new president

MOSCOW, March 4 (Itar-Tass) -- The Russian Chamber of Industry and
Commerce will elect a new president at a congress on Friday after Yevgeny Primakov, 81, said he would step down.
Former Russian Prime Minister Primakov, who served two terms as
Chamber president for close to nine years, recommended his deputy Sergei Katyrin, 56, as successor. Both men have been running the chamber for 10 years together.
"He will lead the organization along a new course as life demands," Primakov said.
However he said several other candidates were included into the list of contenders, but did not name them.
Russian media speculated Industry and Trade Minister Viktor
Khristenko, presidential envoy to the Volga federal district Grigory
Rapota, and Director of the Foreign Intelligence Service Mikhail Fradkov may also be on the list.
Despite his age Primakov said he was in good shape and "able-bodied" and might even head a commercial company. He did not elaborate.