On 12 February 2008, the official result of the VIIth All-Russian Competition Russian Organization of High Social Efficiency was announced at the award ceremony in the State Kremlin Palace. OJSC North-West Telecom was awarded a Russian Federation Government Certificate signed by A.V. Levitskaya, Co-chair of the competition organizing committee, Deputy Minister for Economic Development and Trade, and a Certificate of Merit of the Presidium of the Russian Federation Communications Workers Trade Union Central Committee, signed by A.G. Nazeikin, Chairman of the Trade Union Central Committee.

Over 910 organizations from 77 Russian regions took part in the VIIth All-Russian Competition Russian Organization of High Social Efficiency, representing 42 sectors of the economy. Over 580 enterprises and organizations were awarded participation certificates.

As one of the largest telecommunications companies of the North-Western Federal District, OJSC NWT recognizes its role in the region's social dynamics. Its active cooperation with the authorities and NGOs helps to find solutions to the most vital social problems, aiming to raise the welfare of the Company employees as well as the whole population of the North-West.

OJSC North-West Telecom is also one of the major taxpayers in the North-West Federal District. It believes in the scrupulous compliance with the taxation legislation and the full and timely payment of taxes as crucial conditions for social responsibility. The social protection of employees is an integral part of the social responsibility structure at OJSC North West Telecom. It involves compliance with the labour legislation in the areas of remuneration and social benefits; voluntary medical insurance; private pension schemes; holiday and recuperation benefits for employees and their families; provision of material aid; compensation payments to employees made redundant; education and training subsidies etc.

The social investment by OJSC North West Telecom is targeting both internal and external social programmes, providing support to the most vulnerable segments of the population (the war veterans, the disabled, the orphans), as well as of education, cultural activities and other social spheres. The Company takes an active part in major socially relevant state projects: the National Priority Project Education ( OJSC North West Telecom provided Internet access to 2,842 schools in the North-West Federal District by the start of the new academic year on 1 September 2007), the universal payphone service programme (the Company installed over 13.5 thousand universal service payphones in the remotest areas of the region).

Further information on social responsibility at OJSC North West Telecom can be accessed via the Company website: www.nwtelecom.ru .

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According to the RF Government Order N291-p of 6 March 2003, the All-Russian Competition Russian Organization of High Social Efficiency organized by the Russian Federation Ministries of Economic Development and Healthcare and Social Development, involving the federal and local authorities, all-Russian employer and trade union organizations, is held annually. The main objectives of the competition are: drawing attention to solving social problems; demonstrating the best practice in social work using the examples of the leading organizations (competition winners and award holders); promoting the positive experience.