February 2000

St. Petersburg’s Bronze Horseman

(continued on p. 4) (continued on p. 5)

by Matthew Edwards & David E. Knuti

Helping your Russian business partners or employees

navigate the process of obtaining a visa to visit the United

States will help ensure a smoother relationship. Companies can ease the process for their Russian partners by

advising them of considerations that can expedite, or delay, a visa application. It is important for companies to

realize that instances of visa fraud have prompted more

careful screening of visa applicants and that applicants

have the burden of proving the legitimate purpose of their

visits. The following tips address problems commonly encountered by applicants as gleaned from the experiences

of numerous U.S. firms that have hosted Russian customers, employees, or partners in the United States.

Apply early: Applicants are advised to apply for visas

at least 3 weeks in advance because of the possibility that

the applicant will need to return for an interview from the

consular section of the U.S. Embassy or a U.S. consulate.

If you believe an interview will not be required, apply at

least 10 business days before the desired departure date.

Although early application does not guarantee a visa by a

given date, it offers a better chance of receiving the visa in

time than a late application.

Apply for the visa you really need: If multiple trips to

the United States are anticipated, suggest that your Russian business contacts apply for the longest term business

visas possible (3-year, multientry; or 1-year, multientry).

This choice is more expensive than a single-entry visa, but

it eliminates the need to reapply for each visit. Besides, the

Consular Section will issue only one single-entry visa per

applicant, per year. Russian employees or contractors coming to the United States to perform long-term work (as

CHOOSING AN INVESTMENT

DESTINATION IN NW RUSSIA

by Alexei Kim

One key issue for U.S. companies considering any

region in Russia is the local legal framework for doing

business. In regions such as Northwest Russia, the considerable competition to attract foreign investment has

led to the creation of tax and other incentives for companies entering the market. The fact that most regions of

NW Russia have adopted investment laws gives U.S.

companies a chance to choose an area that provides the

maximum advantages for a given investment project.

Both the city of St. Petersburg and the surrounding

Leningrad Oblast have adopted investment legislation

EASING THE VISA PROCESS FOR YOUR RUSSIAN

BUSINESS PARTNER

Published by the Business Information Service for the Newly Independent States (BISNIS)

U.S. Department of Commerce • International Trade Administration

BISNIS

BULLETIN
BISNIS BULLETIN - February 2000

2

BISNIS is an information center for U.S. companies doing business in the Newly Independent

States of the former Soviet Union. Operated by the Market Access and Compliance unit of

the International Trade Administration, BISNIS disseminates information in print form, electronically, and through consultations by its staff of trade specialists. For more information,

please contact:

202-482-4655 (phone)

202-482-2293 (fax)

bisnis@ita.doc.gov (email)

To call BISNIS toll free, dial

1-800-USA-TRADE (872-8723)

press 3 and then press 2

or visit the BISNIS Online website at

www.bisnis.doc.gov

BISNIS

The Business Information Service for the Newly Independent States

In This Issue

Easing the Visa Process for Your

Russian Business Partner

Choosing an Investment Destination in NW Russia

Conference Offers Perspectives on

Ukraine

SABIT FY00 Calendar

Tricks of the Trade: Certifying

Goods in Kazakhstan

Regional Corner: Perm Oblast,

Russia

Agency Spotlight

Articles by non-U.S. Government employees express the views of the authors and

should not be construed as a statement of U.S. Government policy.

Director

Anne Grey

Deputy Director

Trevor Gunn

Managing Editor

 Ellen S. House

Assistant Editors

Juliana Kinal, Kelly Raftery

Contributors

Natalya Antonenko, Matthew Edwards,

Juliana Kinal, Alexei Kim, Dave Knuti,

Yelena Zheberlyaeva

Conference Offers Perspectives on Ukraine

by Juliana Kinal

World Food

Technology 2000

Catering &

Restaurant

Showcase 2000

Moscow, Russia

March 1417, 2000

The U.S. Commercial Service in

Moscow invites U.S. companies to

participate in a Catalog Show in

conjunction with World Food

Technology 2000. The event will feature

equipment for the food processing,

packaging, and food service industries.

The Foreign Commercial Service

Moscow will manage an American

booth at the event to feature U.S.

machinery, supplies, and technology.

Participation in the U.S. Catalog Show

is free of charge. Catalogs must be

received by Commerce in Washington,

DC, no later than February 14, 2000.

Contact: Eugene Shaw, U.S. Dept. of

Commerce, Washington, DC. Tel:

202-482-3494, Fax 202-482-0304.

Is now the right time to invest in Ukraine? What are the

potential pitfalls, and are they the same as several years ago?

Have attitudes toward business between Ukraine and the

United States changed since the first heady days of the transition to a free market? A gathering of over 70 private

businesspersons, with the participation of U.S. Government

officials, discussed these and other questions on January 10,

2000 at the “Business-to-Business Conference on Ukraine: A

Matter of Perspective.” Eastern Economist magazine organized the conference, held in Washington, DC, which reviewed

the experiences of foreign investors and factors influencing

the business climate in Ukraine, and provided specific guidance for being successful in business in Ukraine.

The roundtable discussions began with a panel on the

general legal, macroeconomic, trade, and investment climate

in Ukraine. The moderator, former U.S. Commercial Attaché

to Ukraine Andy Bihun, set the tone of the panel by asserting

that now is the “right time” and the “ripe time” to go into

Ukraine. Nestor Scherbey of CTRMS (Grand Rapids, MI)

continued this theme by drawing parallels between Ukraine

and other developing countries, such as Mexico and Brazil,

giving examples of legislative and tax incentives that helped

attract investment into those countries. He outlined steps

Ukraine needs to take to get to that stage, including enforcement actions against government corruption, acceleration of

privatization, and governmental trade facilitation efforts. John

Hansen, an economic advisor at the World Bank, outlined a

macroeconomic profile of Ukraine since 1991, concluding

that the trend is in an upward swing. Markian Silecky of

The Silecky Firm (Kyiv) commented on the main legal issues facing investors: corruption, repatriation of profits, and

cultural legal misunderstandings. However, according to Mr.

(continued on p. 3)
BISNIS BULLETIN - February 2000

3

SABIT Pr SABIT Programs

Fiscal Fiscal Fiscal Year 2000 ear 2000

The U.S. Department of U.S. Department of

Commerces Special ces Special American Business Internship

Training (SABIT) raining (SABIT) program, which provides funding raining (SABIT)

to U.S. organizations to conduct stateside management

training for business executives and scientists from the

NIS will host experts in the following sectoral and regional programs this year.

Novosibirsk - Technology Commercialization/

Computer Industry

Program Dates: April 129, 2000

Caucasus/Central Caucasus/Central Asia Regional Development Asia Regional Development

- Building and Home Construction

Program Dates: June 3July 1, 2000

Caucasus/Central Caucasus/Central Asia Regional Development Asia Regional Development

- Technology Commercialization

Program Dates: August 19September 16, 2000

NIS Environmental Technologies - echnologies - Air Pollution

Management Management

Program Dates: June 10July 22, 2000

NIS Standards - Information Technology

Program Dates: May 22June 17, 2000

NIS Standards - Laboratory ds - Laboratory Accreditation

Program Dates: October 23November 18, 2000

For more information, contact SABIT at (202) 482-0073, SABIT 

or visit www.mac.doc.gov/sabit/sabit.html.

Silecky, legislative changes are taking place that will work

Western legal concepts into Ukrainian law and improve the

investment climate. Richard Shriver of the Lviv Consulting

Group (Lviv) spoke about his firm’s survey of foreign investors, which concluded that the main problem for foreign investors is the reliability of the Ukrainian partner. He capped

off this informative session by providing concrete, experience-based advice: avoid absolutes in reference to Ukraine, bring

money not preachy advice, and take a long-term perspective.

Recommendations on how to approach the Ukrainian

market from conference participants included:

q Learn from other businesses’ attempts.

q Adopt a long-term perspective, be patient.

q Perform due diligence and follow up on that research by

keeping an eye on operations.

q Set out from the beginning how you’ll exit if you need to

and how you’ll settle disputes if you need to.

q Know your partner.

q Know the legal and legislative context of your business

in Ukraine.

q Learn the culture, history, societal norms, bureaucracy,

and market conditions.

After the first session, the seminar shifted to discuss legal, cultural, and financial aspects of doing business in

Ukraine. The legal session dealt with technical issues of setting up business, dispute settlement, tax issues, and exit strategies. Mr. Silecky moderated a panel consisting of Sarah Carey

of Squires, Sanders & Dempsey (Wash., DC), Adam Mycyk

of Altheimer & Grey (Chicago), and Dr. Irina Paliashvili of

the Russian-Ukrainian Legal Group (Wash., DC). Ms. Carey

discussed corporate structure choice and consideration of the

government in a business’ operations in Ukraine, while Mr.

Mycyk ran through the legal aspects of setting up a business.

Dr. Paliashvili discussed different means and venues for dispute resolution and the pros and cons of each: local court

settlement, foreign court settlement, international arbitration,

and mediation. Mr. Silecky wrapped up the session by stressing building in an exit strategy from the beginning.

At the conclusion of the conference, participants offered

ideas on how individual investors, the U.S. Government, and

the Government of Ukraine can further the development of a

market economy and a more solid investment climate. All

welcomed the appointments of what appears to be a reformist

government, with Prime Minister Viktor Yushchenko at the

head, and expressed the hope that Ukraine is at long last creating a hospitable and steady business climate.

For market reports, announcements of trade events, and other

information on doing business in Ukraine, visit BISNIS Online

at www.bisnis.doc.gov/bisnis/country/Ukraine.htm.

Juliana Kinal covers Ukraine for BISNIS in Washington, DC.

(UKRAINE CONFERENCE, continued from p. 2)

FREIGHT TRANSPORT & LOGISTICS

IN RUSSIA & THE CIS,

THE BALTICS & EASTERN EUROPE

MARCH 21-22, 2000

THE GRAND HOTEL EUROPE

ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA

Organized by: The Adam Smith Institute

For more information, fax +44 (207) 505-0079 or

email: transport@asi-conferences.com
BISNIS BULLETIN - February 2000

4

(VISA PROCESS, continued from p. 1)

EXHIBITION

UNSEEN TREASURES: IMPERIAL

RUSSIA & THE NEW WORLD

New Jersey State Museum

Trenton, New Jersey

The exhibition tells the story about the RussianAmerican Company and the development of U.S.-

Russian trade. Open until April 16, 2000.

To order tickets by telephone, call 1-800-766-6048.

For more information, call 609-984-5687.

their Russian business contacts, as well as their local Russian national employees. Fees to join the Amcham (email:

amchamru@amcham.ru) vary depending on company size.

Although membership does not guarantee an interview-free

visa application, it can be helpful in establishing the bona

fides of applicants.

U.S. companies should encourage their Russian business

contacts to submit complete, truthful applications with sufficient lead time as the best way to obtain a visa on time. In

general, if the application process is handled in this manner,

problems can be avoided. However, a Russian company’s

current or past applications can have a bearing on its employees’ ability to obtain visas. Russian companies should

keep in mind that it may be the individual that they are trying to send to the United States who is rejected, rather than

the company itself.

Visa applicants or their hosts can contact the Consular

Section of the U.S. Embassy in Moscow at phone +7 (095)

956-4242 (Russian) or +7 (095) 956-4233 (English) for updated official information on application requirements and

procedures. Information on visa requirements can also be

found on the U.S. Embassy in Moscow website at http://

www.usia.gov/abtusia/posts/RS1/wwwhcm.html.

Although the Embassy’s Commercial Section is not authorized to process visas, it is able to offer informal advice to

new applicants before they apply and to applicants who have

encountered problems in the past. The Commercial Service

in Moscow can be contacted at tel: +7 (095) 737-5030, fax +7

(095) 737-5033, or email: moscow.office.box@mail.doc.gov.

Matthew Edwards and David Knuti are Commercial Attachés

for the U.S. Commercial Service at the American Embassy

in Moscow.

opposed to participation in training, familiarization meetings,

or business negotiations) may need work visas—requiring

compliance with Immigration and Naturalization Service

(INS) regulations, rather than business visas.

Provide a proper invitation: Invitation (sponsor) letters

should be written on company stationery with a U.S. corporate address and should be signed by an official at that location. Proofread the invitation letter carefully. Typos and grammatical errors draw tighter scrutiny. The time you save by

delegating the drafting of an invitation letter to a staffer who

lacks command of business English won’t compensate for

the delays such mistakes can cause. Don’t simply copy a text

your Russian contact sends you, thinking that he knows what

the invitation should say. Remember, an American officer

will review this letter, and a grammatically incorrect invitation signed by a U.S. company official can bring intense scrutiny. Do not substitute rubber stamps for an original signature or get the invitation notarized. Simply write a plain, clear,

specific business letter summarizing the dates, purpose, and

itinerary of the visit.

Be prepared and be forthcoming: If an applicant requires

an interview, and new or previously refused applicants generally will, it will be the most important part of the application process. Applicants must demonstrate their legitimate

business purpose and intent to comply with their visas (i.e.,

to return on time). Russians who are young, fluent in English

and technically skilled may make better business partners,

but should realize that they could be considered higher risks

to overstay their visas. The more clearly an applicant states

the purpose of his/her visit on the application and in the interview, the more easily he/she will receive a visa. People

traveling in groups should give honest, consistent answers.

For example, a business visa applicant can run into trouble

when accompanying friends or relatives (who will be traveling as tourists) present themselves as employees of the

applicant’s company, when in fact they are not. Before the

interview, make sure your Russian invitee fully understands

the itinerary and purpose of his/her trip, and can explain it.

While it is generally not helpful to bring extensive documentation, the inviting company should consider preparing a concise statement of the nature of its business with the applicant,

along with other facts that can help establish the legitimacy

of the intended visit. Applicants who respond to interview

questions by giving answers inconsistent with their invitations or the written information on their applications risk

refusal. Fudging information of any sort is never a good idea.

Companies with a local presence in Russia may find it

advantageous to be members of the American Chamber of

Commerce in Russia (Amcham). The Consular Section of

the U.S. Embassy in Moscow has arranged that member firms,

by presenting an Amcham letter attesting to their membership, may be able to bypass the interview requirement for
BISNIS BULLETIN - February 2000

5

(NW RUSSIA, continued from p. 1) FOURTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE

INVESTING IN RUSSIA

& THE CIS

March 16, 2000

The Plaza Hotel, New York

Organized by Sachs Associates & Bloomberg LP

For more information, contact

Vicky Gibb, Sachs Associates

Tel: +44 (171) 379 1919; Fax 379-9555

Email: sachsassoc@aol.com

to stimulate additional investment. Although both sets of laws

treat domestic and international investors equally, it is clear

that the laws were adopted with the view to attract foreign

investors. As the majority of U.S. firms in NW Russia chose

St. Petersburg or Leningrad Oblast as an investment site, a

brief comparative analysis of St. Petersburg’s and Leningrad

Oblast’s investment climates is useful.

St. Petersburg Investment Laws

The St. Petersburg administration’s attitude toward attracting foreign investors has changed over the course of the

last several years. The initial attitude was that foreign investors would flood in and the city would be in a position to

choose the most desirable investor. As that did not happen,

St. Petersburg has undertaken certain steps to attract foreign

capital and is currently the main competitor location for

Leningrad Oblast. Thus, on July 30, 1998, the city of St. Petersburg adopted the law “On State Support of Investment

Activities in St. Petersburg.” The law welcomes investors,

provides them with equal rights, and guarantees fair competition for the object of investment. A second law, “On Investment in Real Estate in St. Petersburg,” approved by the governor on the same day, is viewed by investment analysts as a

big step toward improving St. Petersburg’s investment climate. In essence, it details how to deal with the city of St.

Petersburg and offers an attractive base for companies interested in investing in the city’s real estate market.

The city of St. Petersburg provides the following means

of support to investors:

1. City guarantees. The city’s budget guarantees a foreign

investor 10 percent of the total cost of the investment

project, or up to 25 percent of the funds borrowed by the

investor to complete the investment project.

2. Tax benefits to investors. According to the Russian Federation investment law, these tax breaks apply only to

those taxes going to the city’s budget.

3. Tax benefits to banks and/or other financial institutions

supporting investments.

4. Leasing benefits (i.e., discounted rent). A discount of

up to 25 percent is provided to investors during the design of the investment project site, and 40 percent discount applies to the lease of investment project’s site

while under construction.

5. Delays on payment for the rights to invest. The St. Petersburg Investment Law provides for the deduction of

expenses for infrastructure development from the total

value of the investment project.

6. Budgetary support. The city of St. Petersburg can budget certain funds to co-invest in the investment project.

The city’s draft budget for 2000 plans to allocate certain funds for budgetary support of investment projects.

Investing in Leningrad Oblast

Leningrad Oblast’s investment law, approved shortly before St. Petersburg’s, attracted a number of big U.S companies. After the law was approved, several U.S. companies

originally interested in implementing projects in the St. Petersburg area turned to Leningrad Oblast. Leningrad Oblast

is located just on the outskirts of the city and extends to the

border with Finland (an EU member). A number of big manufacturers have already established production facilities in the

Leningrad Oblast, bringing their suppliers along.

Leningrad Oblast offers the following support to foreign

investors:

1. Tax breaks.

2. A guarantee of the stability of the investment climate.

This guarantee says that should an increased tax burden (federal and/or local) occur Leningrad Oblast will

compensate the investor for the difference. (Compensation, however, is only possible if the local budget has

sufficient funds to cover the difference.)

3. Investment tax credit. The new law “On the Tax and

Investment Credit in Leningrad Oblast,” adopted by the

Leningrad Duma on October 8, 1999, provides new investors with an investment tax credit. If the company is

conducting certain investment activity (research of new

technology, introducing new technology into an existing project, etc.), Leningrad Oblast will provide investment credit to investors not to exceed 100 percent of

taxes paid to the local budget.

4. No payments for the right to invest. Leningrad Oblast

does not charge investors for the right to invest. The

oblast is working on implementing a number of amendments that will expand the law’s applicability to some

new projects, and will qualify modernization of stateowned enterprises as an investment activity.

For a lengthier report on the St. Petersburg city and Leningrad

Oblast investment laws, visit BISNIS Online at http://

www.bisnis.doc.gov/bisnis/country/9911stpete.htm. For more

information on doing business in Northwest Russia, visit

www.bisnis.doc.gov/bisnis/country/nw.htm.

Alexei Kim is the BISNIS representative in St. Petersburg.
BISNIS BULLETIN - February 2000

6

TRICKS OF THE TRADE

Certifying Your Products in Kazakhstan by Nataliya Antonenko

Although aimed at ensuring the quality and safety of

imports, the complex and costly product certification process

in Kazakhstan has often served as a barrier to trade. The new

Kazakhstani “Law on Certification,” which came into force

on July 16, 1999, may help to ease this process. The intent of

the new law is to bring regulations on certification in

Kazakhstan into conformity with the requirements of international and interstate regulations on certification of goods

and services and to specify the functions, rights, and obligations of Kazakhstani certification agencies.

The Certification System

The state certification system in Kazakhstan includes the

following bodies:

1. The Committee on Standardization, Metrology and Certification (Gosstandart), attached to the Ministry of Energy, Industry and Trade, which is the central Kazakhstani

standards and certification agency;

2. Accredited centers for certification of products, technologies, works, and services (44 throughout Kazakhstan),

which are legal entities independent from manufacturers, suppliers, and consumers, and also incorporate testing laboratories; and

3. Testing laboratories (237 throughout Kazakhstan), which

are independent legal entities or structural divisions of

legal entities.

What Products Should be Certified?

The law provides for the mandatory and voluntary certification of products, works, and services in Kazakhstan.

Voluntary certification is conducted on the initiative of manufacturers or traders to prove conformity of products within

regulation requirements. Voluntary certification does not substitute for mandatory certification.

Products subject to mandatory certification include motor

transport; industrial pipeline fittings; metalwork and woodwork machine-tools; arms and ammunition; industrial laundry equipment; food industry and catering equipment;

electric insulating materials; cables; electromechanical,

radiotechnical, and electronic products; means of communication; heating devices; household chemicals; toys; consumer

goods that involve contact with skin, potable water, and food;

packing materials; construction materials; medicines and

medical devices; perfumes and cosmetics; agricultural and

food products; fodder; fuel raw materials; mineral fertilizers

and chemicals; and metallurgical industry products.

Certification Documents

A certificate of conformity is issued by an accredited center for products, technologies, works, and services. Currently,

10 different schemes are used in Kazakhstan to certify various products and equipment.

The documents required for completing certification include, but are not limited to, (1) a standard application form

(available at certification centers), (2) a customs declaration,

and (3) a supply contract or agreement. Additionally, depending on the nature of the goods/certification scheme, the following documents may be required: (1) a hygiene resolution

and (2) a declaration of conformity. All required documents

should be submitted to an accredited center that specializes

in certification of certain products. Following submission of

the documents, the testing of samples takes place. Only after

passing this testing may a certificate be issued.

The cost of the certificate is specified in a special agreement between the applicant and the center. The cost depends

on the type of certification scheme and may vary from one

center to another depending on the applied calculation

method. Different certification schemes provide for different

terms of validity of the issued certificate. Products that contain components from other manufacturers are tested and

certified as “final products.”

The mark of conformity can be affixed to the certified

products. It functions as a copy of the certificate. The type

and the size of the mark will depend on the type of products.

The mark should be affixed to each unit of the certified product, close to the trademark of the producer, on the unremovable part of the product, and on the operating manual or label.

U.S. companies are encouraged to contact Gosstandart for

more information on cerfication regulations and procedures.

USEFUL CONTACTS

Committee on Standardization, Metrology and Certification

(Gosstandart)

Tel: +7 (3172) 75-29-91; Fax: +7 (3172) 75-26-41

Email: standart@akmo.kz

Website:www.banknet.kz/gosstandart (in Russian)

Almaty Branch of Gosstandart

Tel: +7 (3272) 21-65-41, 21-48-45; Fax: +7 (3272) 21-65-59

KazSERTICO Almaty Branch (accreditation of certification centers and testing laboratories)

Tel: +7 (3272) 28-32-95, 28-65-44; Fax: +7 (3272) 21-75-18

Email: kazsert@kazsert.almaty.kz

Kazakhstani Customs Committee

Tel: +7 (3172) 75-04-47; Fax: +7 (3172) 75-30-16

U.S. Commercial Service Almaty

Tel: +7 (3272) 58-79-20, 58-79-24; Fax: +7 (3272) 58-79-22

Email: almaty.office.box@mail.doc.gov

Website: www.usis.kz/csalmaty

Contacts: Julie Snyder, Senior Commercial Officer

Nataliya Antonenko, BISNIS Representative
BISNIS BULLETIN - February 2000

7

REGIONAL CORNER: Perm Oblast, Russia

by Yelena Zheberlyaeva

AGENCY SPOTLIGHT

Perm oblast (region) is located in the Ural mountains,

the traditional border between Europe and Asia. It is situated

on the Kama river, one of the largest navigable rivers in Russia. The Kama provides access from Perm to five seas—the

Azov, the White, the Baltic, the Caspian, and the Black—

through a network of channels. The oblast has a population

of over 3 million—its largest cities are Perm (1.08 million

people), Bereznyaky (201,800), and Solikamsk (109,000). Located 1,100 kms from Moscow, it takes an hour and a half to

travel between the city of Perm and the capital.

Leading Industry Sectors

The oblast’s Soviet-era industrial development has only

recently been diversified. Perm manufactures 30 percent of

Russia’s mineral fertilizers, 20 percent of pulp and paper,

and most of its telephones. Perm oblast is considered to be

the leader in Russia in chemicals, particularly oil industryrelated chemicals; machine building; mining; and oil and gas

extraction. Bereznyaky Titan-Manganese Plant is one of

the largest of its type in the world and the only plant in Russia that manufactures magnesium alloys.

Former defense enterprises have been privatized and are

restructuring their facilities to manufacture competitive consumer products. For example, Motovilikhinskiye Zavody

manufactures consumer goods, agricultural equipment, and

machines and machine-building equipment for local enterprises and oil and gas sector.

Food processing enterprises are developing rapidly after

the 1998 financial crisis, which proved an impetus for local

manufacturing of food and light industry. The majority of the

population consider imported food products prohibitively

expensive due to the ruble devaluation. Currently, many enterprises are seeking investors to upgrade their technology

and equipment to be competitive in the local market.

Foreign Investment andTrade

Over 300 foreign enterprises are registered in Perm oblast

and foreign investment is $276.9 million. Over 50 percent of

foreign companies are manufacturers, 30 percent are trading

companies, and 10 percent are involved in the tourism, automobile, and transportation sectors.

In 1998, the foreign trade turnover for Perm oblast totaled $1.5 million with $1.2 million in exports and $302 million in imports. The major imports to Perm in the first quarter 1999 were machine-building equipment, chemicals, and

foodstuffs—70 percent of all imports come from Europe.

Perm’s major exports include methanol, cement, petroleum

products, mineral fertilizers, and potassium salts.

A number of joint ventures are operating successfully in

Perm oblast. Sun Group (U.K.) formed a joint venture with a

local brewing company, which is now one of the top brewing

companies in Russia. Nestle (Switzerland) has invested equipment and technology in Kamskaya confectionery, making the

factory competitive not only in Perm, but all over Russia.

Another example of successful development is the Perm

Motor Plant, a former military enterprise, which has a joint

venture with Pratt & Whitney (U.S.) to upgrade engines for

PS-90a model aircraft. Pratt & Whitney invested $3 million in the venture in 1998–99 to upgrade manufacturing facilities and make the plant competitive on the world market.

It was scheduled to invest $5 million by the end of 1999.

For more information on the Urals, including Perm oblast,

and a contact list for the oblast, visit BISNIS Online at

www.bisnis.doc.gov/bisnis/country/regions.html#Urals.

Yelena Zheberlyaeva is the BISNIS representative in

Yekaterinburg.

Eurasia Foundation—The Eurasia Foundation has made

available on its website a new publication, Equity Investment

for Small and Medium Enterprises in the Newly Independent

States. The report is found in .pdf format at www.eurasia.org/

programs/SEAFReport.html. It was prepared by Tom Gibson,

Chairman of Small Enterprise Assistance Funds (SEAF)

of Washington, DC, with funding from the U.S. Agency for

International Development (USAID). The report is based

on SEAF’s experience in managing SME equity investment

funds in nine countries, including two funds in Russia, as

well as on the experience of many other small business

investment vehicles operating in other developing countries

and in economically depressed areas of the United States.

Small Business Forum (SBF)—SBF, a Moscow-based, nonprofit organization supporting small- and medium-sized businesses in Russia, held its inaugural meeting in November

1999. Helping the small business sector overcome multiple

barriers in the Russian economy is SBF’s primary goal. SBF,

which seeks to unite small business representatives active in

Russia, hopes to fill an existing information gap by arranging business meetings and social events, providing consulting and administrative support, helping members promote

products and services, and organizing seminars and workshops. To contact SBF, call Aika Jaxybaeva at tel: +7 (095)

917-0706, email: primest@cityline.ru or Chetwynd Bowling

at tel: +7 (095) 792-5151, email: chet@alinga.com.
Penalty for Private Use, $300

Sender ________________

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

Washington, D.C. 20230

BISNIS - RRB

OFFICIAL BUSINESS

FIRST-CLASS MAIL

PRE-SORTED

POSTAGE & FEES PAID

ITA/DOC

PERMIT No. G-54

This notice is provided solely as an informational resource and does not constitute U.S. Department of Commerce endorsement of these events. For a more

complete listing of NIS trade events, visit BISNIS Online at www.bisnis.doc.gov/bisnis/leads/tradecal.htm. All information published in the BISNIS Bulletin

regarding trade events is subject to change without notice by the organizers of those events.

Dental Salon 2000

Agro’ 2000 February 22–25, 2000 Ufa

Organized by:

Telephone:

Facsimile

Email:

Sector:

RID Center

+7 (3472) 22-46-66

+7 (3472) 22-48-57

rid@polikc.bashnet.ru

Agribusiness technology &

equipment

March 28–31, 2000

Organized by:

Telephone:

Facsimile

Email:

Dental-Expo Exhibition

+7 (095) 281-7881, 288-8347

+7 (095) 281-7881, 281-9306

dentalexpo@geosoft.ru

Yalta

TRADE EVENTS CALENDAR

Organized by:

Telephone:

Facsimile:

Sectors

Primorye-Expo

+7 (4232) 257-867, 259-889

+7 (4232) 250-844

Medical equipment, supplies,

pharmaceuticals, & health care products

Crimea 2000

Medicine 2000 February 22–25, 2000

Organized by:

Telephone:

Facsimile

Email:

Sectors:

March 1–4, 2000

Fair Organizing Cttee

+380 (654) 350-192

+380 (654) 352-307

umnov#hotel-yalta@crimea.com

Travel & tourism

Vladivostok

Moscow

Turkmenistan urkmenistan

International Oil International Oil International Oil

& Gas Confer & Gas Confer & Gas Conference

and Exhibition and Exhibition

(TIOGE) 2000 (TIOGE) 2000

Ashgabat, Turkmenistan urkmenistan

March 1517, 2000 ch 1517, 2000

 For more information, contact e information, contact

ITE Group Plc

+44 (207) 596-5231

+44 (207) 596-5106

fred.malgoire@ite-exhibitions.com

www.ite-exhibitions.com