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|**BISNISHome PageSearchBISNISEmbassyReportsCountryReportsIndustryReportsPublicationsSourcesof FinanceLeadsand EventsExchangeRatesState ExportsOtherSources** |  | March 1998by Paul NortonSince 1990, Citizens Democracy Corps (CDC) has been recruiting American volunteers to
support the development of enterprises and economies in Moldova, Russia, Ukraine, and Eastern
Europe.  Through its Enterprise and Economic Development Program (EED), CDC provides
business training assistance that is designed to have a broad, long-term impact.Volunteer assignments serve as a platform for a range of activities that maximize the impact for
the client, while also creating trade and investment opportunities for businesses in the region and
in the United States.  The recent introduction of CDC's Trade & Business Links program, CDC's
coordinated effort to link its clients with each other and with U.S. firms, has significantly
increased CDC's capacity to develop more business for CDC clients and U.S. firms.Training Leads to Business Opportunities
The EED program begins with a review of a client's needs.  CDC then recruits an appropriate
volunteer to travel abroad for up to two months and help the client develop new products and
services. The work of advisors ranges from the general --strengthening management practices and
capabilities in decision-making and problem-solving --to the specific, such as developing and
improving manufacturing processes, introducing new financial and control systems, and
developing marketing, sales and business plans.Eason Diving & Marine Contractors, Inc., of Charleston, South Carolina, laid the foundations
for a long-term business relationship in Russia as a result of its president's experience as a CDC
volunteer.  In response to a request for assistance from "Peter" Diving Services of Voronezh,
CDC enlisted the help of Eason Diving's Tom Eason to help develop new services and products
for Peter Diving.  On two separate visits, Eason trained the Russian firm in specialized diving
techniques for performing services in contaminated environments, including nuclear, oil, and
hazardous materials.  According to Eason, this type of diving is routine in America but virtually
unknown in Russia.Upon his return to the United States, Eason continued to support Peter Diving by helping it
purchase and distribute the products of Tapecoat, an Illinois company supplying anticorrosion
products for underwater and underground pipelines.  Eason Diving is Tapecoat's distributor for
Russia and has worked with Peter Diving to introduce the Illinois company's anticorrosion
products to the Russian market.  After a long but ultimately successful effort to certify Tapecoat
products in Russia, the two diving companies' efforts have "led to some orders of the product" by
Transnefteprodukt, Russia's largest oil pipeline operator.  "More will come," Eason said
recently.Linking Business and Financial Assistance
The EED program also emphasizes facilitating a client's access to credit.  In fact, there is almost a
natural synergy between financial organizations and CDC.  With numerous investment funds and
banks looking for sound investments in the NIS, CDC clients represent promising opportunities
because they have benefited from the training of CDC advisors.  And, once an investment has
been made, CDC volunteers can offer additional assistance to support that investment.In Novgorod, for example, CDC has partnered with the Small Enterprise Assistance Fund
(SEAF) to develop business plans and provide preliminary due diligence and postinvestment
management support.  CDC also organizes the monthly Investment Round Table in Khabarovsk. 
During these sessions, CDC serves its clients and financial organizations by introducing them to
each other.The benefits of this type of work are already evident. In the past year in Russia, CDC has helped
its clients access approximately $1.5 million in financing.  Included in that amount is a CDC client
from Khabarovsk, Macaron, which recently secured a $500,000 investment from the European
Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).Trade & Business Links
During or after an assignment, volunteer advisors or CDC staff often become aware of a client's
need for additional types of assistance.  Some clients need to locate suppliers and buyers.  Others
look to serve as a distributor, need help accessing credit, require additional business training, or
seek to visit the United States and learn how business is conducted here.Recently, CDC launched its Trade & Business Links program to meet these needs.  This program
supplements the work begun under the EED program by providing postassignment support that
contributes to achieving long-term impact.  Trade & Business Links achieves this by increasing
the exposure of a client's opportunities to a targeted audience and by developing resources and
relationships that, when applied appropriately to a client's business opportunity, contribute to its
successful completion.One of the most important resources at CDC is its database of volunteer advisors. With
information on more than 5,000 volunteers, this resource represents years of experience and
contacts that can be called upon for assistance.  By offering the opportunity to volunteers with the
appropriate experience, contacts or industry knowledge, the chance of completing a deal
increases.CDC can also help identify buyers and suppliers by cooperating more with U.S. Government
programs such as BISNIS, private and government sources of finance, and trade multiplier
organizations.  Lastly, CDC will soon use Internet-based trading sites to link its clients with
potential trading partners.  CDC is supported by the U.S. Agency for International Development,
as well as private-sector and individual donors.  For additional information about volunteer
assignments, visit the CDC website at: http://www.cdc.org or call 800-394-1945. Prospective
volunteers can send their resume, via e-mail, to: [email protected].Paul Norton is the Manager of the CDC Trade & Business Links Program.This report is provided courtesy of the Business Information Service for the Newly
Independent States (BISNIS)