Supporting Organisations

AK&M is a well-known information analytical agency focusing on the financial, economic and business information. The unique amount of data gathered and stored since the foundation of the agency in 1990 (including detailed data on more than 3500 Russian public companies), the close ties and contacts with the Russian companies and governmental bodies, the high level of professional skill of the staff makes the agency a real leader on the Russian business information market and make it possible to provide the wide spectrum of high quality information products to the subscribers. The experienced experts working in AK&M Analytical Center carry out profound macroeconomic and market researches, conduct the detailed analysis of Russian industry sectors and particular companies, make forecasts of the market performance and compile business plans.

www.akm.ru

American Chamber of Commerce in Russia
Andrew Somers, President

In 2004, the American Chamber of Commerce in Russia celebrates its 10th anniversary. Representing close to 750 member companies, the Chamber has established itself as one of the largest and most influential foreign business organizations in the Russian Federation. With its Moscow headquarters, its St. Petersburg chapter, and representatives in Washington, D.C., the Chamber advocates members’ interests to the Russian and U.S. governments, and provides a forum for dialogue between the international business community and policy-makers.

The Chamber is a lead organization of the Russian-American Business Dialogue, initiated by Presidents Bush and Putin as a vehicle for the private sector to make recommendations to both governments on how to reduce barriers to trade and investment. The Chamber also co-chairs the U.S.-Russian Commercial Energy Dialogue, the U.S. Russia Information Technology Roundtable and other important forums to advance business in Russia.

www.amcham.ru

BISNIS

BISNIS was established in 1992 under the Freedom Support Act and is a part of the U.S. Department of Commerce's International Trade Administration, which promotes market access for U.S. companies worldwide.

BISNIS, headquartered in Washington, D.C., is the U.S. Government's market information center for U.S. companies pursuing business development in the NIS - some of the world's promising developing market economies. A critical feature of BISNIS is its ability to bring buyers and sellers together to facilitate successful transactions, which has resulted in more than $3 billion worth of U.S. exports and overseas business activities since 1992.

Current Operations:
At the core of BISNIS' operations is its staff of trade specialists based in Washington, D.C. and its network of overseas network representatives. BISNIS has representatives in the following NIS countries / cities:
Armenia - Yerevan
Azerbaijan - Baku
Georgia - Tbilisi
Kazakhstan - Astana
Kyrgyzstan - Bishkek
Moldova - Chisinau
Russia - Moscow, St. Petersburg, Samara, Nizhny Novgorod, Yekaterinburg, Novosibirsk, Tomsk, Vladivostok, Khabarovsk, Sakhalin.
Tajikistan - Dushanbe
Ukraine – Kiev
Uzbekistan - Tashkent

BISNIS also gathers additional market information on the NIS through other US government offices, as well as through NGOs, the private sector, and reliable sources in the NIS.

Council for Trade and Economic Cooperation USA-CIS (CTEC)

The Council is a non-profit organization assisting and supporting Russian and American companies develop their trade and investment operations. Founded in 1992, The Council has helped hundreds of US and international companies establish their operations in Russia and introduced hundreds of Russian businesses to the international marketplace.

Promoting dialogue among Russian and US/international buyers, sellers and investors is key to the Council’s vision of expanding trade and investment to all 89 Regions of the Russian Federation.

CTEC Publishing, the Council’s data and publishing affiliate, has compiled the most complete database resource on trade and investment opportunities in the Russian regions: Russia: All 89 Regions, Trade and Investment Guide. Published in January 2004, the Guide and CD is available in English and Russian at www.ctecpub.com.

Eurasia Group

Eurasia Group (EG) is a research and consulting firm that focuses on political-risk and macro-political and industry analysis. EG provides clients with regular research publications and tailored consulting on political trends and their impact on the business and foreign investment climate in Central and Eastern Europe, Russia and the former Soviet Union, Latin America, the Middle East, Africa, and Southeast Asia. EG offers direct consultation with in-house country analysts as well as programming services that enable clients to engage in direct dialogue with relevant country analysts and government officials from the region.

For more information, please contact Alec Alenstein at
646-424-2520 or alenstein@eurasiagroup.net.

www.eurasiagroup.net

Mid-Atlantic – Russia Business Council

Business Description:
Since 1994, MARBC has worked to foster business relations between Russia and the Newly Independent States (NIS), and the U.S. Mid-Atlantic Region, while cultivating mutual appreciation of political, economic, cultural, and educational interests. The goal of MARBC is to enable companies based in the U.S. Mid-Atlantic Region to enhance their positions in Russia and the NIS and to attract Russian businesses to the U.S. Mid-Atlantic Region.

Markets:
MARBC is a major non-profit organization in the Mid-Atlantic Region that provides information about and services related to Russia and the NIS. MARBC places emphasis on industries in which the Russian market is most lucrative and prosperous, including Advanced Technology, Energy and Environment, Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology, Materials/Nanotechnology, Manufacturing Technology, Information Technology, Transportation, Instrumentation, Communications, Air, Space and Surface Transportation, Agriculture, and more. MARBC organizes more than 25 events annually, including many targeted at companies in these particular industries.

Latest Achievements:
Since mid-1997, MARBC has been actively involved in developing cooperation with Russian regions. Since that time, MARBC has signed agreements with nearly twenty regional Russian Chambers of Commerce and Business Associations, including Moscow and the Moscow Region, is the epicenter of most Russian technology-related enterprises, and others. MARBC and its members are involved in number major projects in Russia. During the year 2003, seven MARBC-led delegations visited several Russian regions with various projects. Also, MARBC is responsible for the extremely successful series of seminars entitled The Changing Face of Russia. These seminars were critical to the education of regional companies with regard to the changing business environment in Russia after the financial crisis in 1998. MARBC hosted sixteen such seminars through May 2000. From March 2001 to June 2003, MARBC, jointly with the U.S. Department of State, organized a thirteen-seminar series entitled “Russian Science and Technology Opportunities for U.S. Businesses.” This seminar series has proven to be an excellent way to learn more about the opportunities for business and technology cooperation between American and Russian companies. Since 2003, this seminar has been, and will continue to be, culminated at the Russian Conference and Russian Pavilion organized by the Mid-Atlantic Russia Business Council as part of CeBIT America.

Outlook for 2004:
The emerging Russian market is proving to be a challenging but lucrative one for many companies in the U.S. Mid-Atlantic Region. MARBC provides these companies with the necessary tools and connections to succeed in the rapidly expanding market. As a continuation of efforts to develop cooperation with Russian regions, MARBC will host three Russian regional delegations in 2004 for presentations in the Mid-Atlantic States. The Russian Business Opportunities Symposium and Ambassadors Business Forum—two semiannual gatherings organized by the MARBC—are the foremost events in the Mid-Atlantic Region dedicated to promoting business opportunities within Russia and the Newly Independent States. In 2004, MARBC, jointly with the U.S. Department of State, plans to continue the highly successful “Russian Science and Technology Opportunities for U.S. Businesses” Series with five new seminars. The Russian–American Innovation Technology Week, which is held annually in November, promises to be another premier Russian-American technology cooperation opportunity for the Mid-Atlantic region.

www.ma-rbc.org

Prime-TASS Business News Agency

PRIME-TASS is Russia’s leading business news agency. Privately owned, the agency has no political affiliations, and is known for its objective coverage worldwide. With over 200 permanent staff and scores of stringers across Russia, the Commonwealth of Independent States and the world, we provide quality live coverage of major economic and political news in Russia and 14 former Soviet states. Prime-Tass’ English language service produces over 100 news and analysis pieces daily. The agency is particularly strong in commodity, energy and financial markets coverage.

www.prime-tass.com and www.prime-tass.ru

Tel: +7 095 974 7664

US-Russia Business Council
Eugene K. Lawson, President

The US-Russia Business Council, a nonprofit trades association, was formed in early 1993. Since then, the Council has grown from 23 member companies to 250, now representing virtually every major player active in US-Russian trade and investment. The Council’s mission is to expand and enhance the US-Russian commercial relationship. Guided by member interests, the Council promotes an economic environment in which US business can succeed in a challenging Russian market. Through a range of activities, the Council contributes to stability and the development of a free market in Russia and supports Russia’s integration into the global economy.

To achieve its mission, the Council conducts activities and provides specific assistance and problem-solving; Russian and US government policy work; information products; Russian business relationships; and formal and informal briefing and networking opportunities.
www.usrbc.org