SEARCH FOR PARTNERS

The Business Information Service for the Newly Independent States (BISNIS) is the U.S. Government's clearinghouse for trade and investment information on the Newly

Independent States of the former Soviet Union.

BISNIS publishes SEARCH FOR PARTNERS to help

U.S. companies find investment opportunities in the expanding markets of the former Soviet Union.

SEARCH FOR PARTNERS is also distributed via biweekly e-mail broadcast. A limited selection of these leads

are published in this monthly newsletter. Previous e-mail

broadcasts are available through the BISNIS home page, at

www.bisnis.doc.gov. To receive the biweekly report, e-mail

BISNIS at bisnis@ita.doc.gov or call (202) 482-4655.

These opportunities are provided solely as an informational service and do not represent an endorsement by the

U.S. Department of Commerce. Verification of these leads is

the responsibility of the reader.

Index to Leads by Industry Page

Advertising 1

Business Park 2

Construction 3, 5

Consumer Goods 2

Food Processing 6

Food Products 5

Footwear 5

Health 6

Machinery 3,4,6

Meat, Poultry and Dairy Processing 2

Motor Oil 1

Oil and Gas 4

Pharmaceuticals 6

Real Estate 7

Telecommunications 7

Tourism 3,6,7

BISNIS

JULY 1999

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

U.S. Department of Commerce

International Trade Administration

ARMENIA

Industry: Advertising

Company: Ega

Established in 1987 as a private company, Ega specializes

in advertising services, including billboards, wall stands, and

transport advertisements. The company owns offices with

4,300 sq. ft. and 5,300 sq. ft. of production space in downtown

Yerevan. Ega is one of the largest advertising companies in

Armenia. Its clients include Philip Morris, Midland Armenia

Bank, DHL Armenia, Armentel, and major local trading companies. In addition, the company develops housing projects

and builds custom villas and residences in Yerevan. Ega employs 20 people.

Ega seeks a U.S. partner to jointly provide advertising services. The U.S. company would provide new technology and

materials for the manufacture of advertising products, modern

outdoor electronic color screens, and neon advertising. Ega

will contribute its production facilities, low-cost qualified work

force, and partial financing of up to US$200,000. A business

plan is available upon request. Ega can conduct business in

English.

Contact: Armen Gasparian, Deputy Director

13 Hrachia Kochar Street, Suite 13

Yerevan, Armenia

Tel: +374-2-270-641/270-371

Fax: +374-2-587-288

Source: BISNIS Representative in Armenia



Industry: Motor Oil/Lubricants Distribution

Company: Arpa

Established in 1990 as a private company, Arpa specializes

in gasoline sales, gold jewelry, and financial services. The company owns a warehouse with 5,300 sq. ft. It also owns a 1,180

sq. ft. currency exchange and pawn shop, and a store with

6,450 sq. ft. (all the facilities are located in downtown Yerevan).

It has three gas stations with modern English-made equipment, located on major highways close to Yerevan. A modern

car service center will be opened in August 1999. The

company’s sales for 1998 totaled US$2.5 million. Currently,

Arpa employs 50 people.

Arpa seeks a distribution agreement with a U.S. manufacturer or supplier of motor oil and lubricants. Arpa can conduct

business in English.

Contact: Arman Gabriyelian, Manager (speaks English)
BISNIS SEARCH FOR PARTNERS - July 1999

 2

82 Hanrapetutian Street

Yerevan-82, Armenia

Tel: +374-2-563-384, 562-614

Fax: +374-2-563-384

E-mail: arpa@ass.am

Source: BISNIS Representative in Armenia



Industry: Consumer Goods/Perfumery

Company: Nushikian Association

Established in 1992 as a private company, Nushikian Association specializes in selling perfume, clothes, and shoes. It

has two stores with 2,300 sq. ft., an airline tickets reservation

service (Nushikian Avia), and a restaurant, one of the most

popular in Yerevan called Poplavok. The company’s commercial facilities total 4,600 sq. ft. Nushikian is an authorized dealer

of Christian Dior, Chanel, Cosmopolitan Cosmetics, Nina Ricci,

Givenchi, S.T. Dupont, and other famous brands. The

company’s sales in 1998 totaled $2.5 million, and it employs

150 people.

Nushikian seeks to become a distributor of Estee Lauder

and Calvin Klein in Armenia. The company can conduct business in English.

Contact: Alexander Chilingarian, Head

Marketing Department (speaks English)

15 Sayat Nova Ave.

Yerevan, Armenia

Tel: +374-2-564-249

Fax: +374-2-564-292

E-mail: nushikian@best.am

Source: BISNIS Representative in Armenia

AZERBAIJAN

Industry: Meat and Dairy Processing

Company: BIRLIK Co. Ltd.

BIRLIK Co. Ltd. was established in 1990 as a private company. It has 17 employees, and 12.5 hectares of land and

facilites. The land is used for workshops, display rooms, pasture, and warehousing. The area is located in the suburbs of

Baku. All the facilities are private, and 1,200 sq. m. of the total

area is vacant.

BIRLIK Co. Ltd. has three main areas of activities: furniture

manufacturing,10 percent; construction supplies, 20 percent;

and farming, and milk and meat products, 70 percent. Its annual sales are US$40,000-US$60,000. Most of its clients are

local and national companies. The company has a competitive

advantage since it has its own pastures, livestock breeding

facilities, and arranges payment schedules for its clients.

Whereas in its furniture manufacturing division, pricing and

the ability to let clients make deferred payments make the company competitive.

The company has done business with Russia and Georgia.

It proposes setting up a joint venture with a U.S. firm in the

meat and milk processing area. It has its own livestock, pastures, covered areas, and cattle feed with relatively inelastic

demand. BIRLIK Co. Ltd. is in a position to render a potential

American partner all the assistance necessary, such as land,

utilities, facilities, marketing, contacts with local authorities,

and a work force.

The company can conduct business in English and is willing to be contacted by American intermediary companies. It is

also interested in purchasing American products, such as agricultural processing equipment (milk, meat) and wood processing equipment (for furniture) and construction supplies.

Contact: Shikhaliyev Nmik, General Director

Namik Kuliyev, Marketing Manager

Seryogin Street, 12A-31

370090 Baku, Azerbaijan

Tel: +99-412-533453, 3791

Fax: +99-412-936319

Source: BISNIS Representative in Azerbaijan

GEORGIA

Industry: Business Park

Company: Electroaparati

Electroaparati was established in 1971 as a state company

and includes four plants, three in Tbilisi and one in Rustavi, 20

kilometers south of Tbilisi. The enterprise was transferred

into a joint-stock company in 1995 and 60 percent of its shares

were privatized. Electroaparti manufactures low-voltage electric equipment, plastic supplies and cases, automatic circuit

breakers, parts for alarm systems, and a number of other items

for electric equipment in a limited quantity. Each of

Electroaparati’s plants has an operable infrastructure. The

company uses only 15 percent of its capacity primarily due to

shortages of raw materials formerly imported from Russia,

Ukraine, Azerbaijan, and Kazakhstan.

Currently, a World Bank project, The Center for Enterprises

Restructuring and Management Assistance (CERMA), is working with Electroaparati and has prepared its business overview, which is available on the BISNIS website under the leads

and events site, and is linked to this trade lead.

Contact: Sandro Khizanishvili - CERMA Deputy Director

Tbilisi, Georgia

Tel: +(995 32) 30 77 01

Fax: +(995 32) 30 77 03

Mobile Tel: +(995 99) 50 60 10

E-mail: sank-cerma@caucasus.net

Source: BISNIS Representative in Georgia



Industry: Poultry Processing

Company: Mukhiani 98

Mukhiani Poultry was established in 1968 as a state enterprise. It is located 15 kilometers from Kutaisi. In 1996 it was

transformed into a joint stock company called Mukhiani 98
BISNIS SEARCH FOR PARTNERS - July 1999

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and entirely privatized. The company owns 174 hectares

of land and has its own railway bay. After the break up of the

Soviet Union its facilities and operations were paralyzed.

After privatization, the new owner (who currently owns 98

percent of the company), attracted US$500,000 from an Austrian company. He then built four new farms of 1,500 sq. m.

each, bought modern computerized German - Big Dutchman

equipment, and bought Dutch technology for broiler breeding. Mukhiani 98 flies in broiler eggs from Germany and hatches

them in its own German incubator. The company breeds 12,000

to 15,000 chickens in each farm. The entire system is computerized, and 20 people care for 50,000 chickens.

The company also owns a birdseed processing facility. The

bird seeds are used to feed thechickens. The company’s assets are valued at US$1 million. Mukhiani 98 is producing

360,000 tons of poultry annually and selling its product mostly

in Tbilisi and Kutaisi.

In order to build its own meat processing and canning

facility, the company needs about US$250,000 - $300,000 in

investment. The company seeks a U.S. partner for mutual cooperation and distribution of its products.

Contact: Jumber Apkhaidze, Owner

Tamaz Mikadze, Business Consultant

Mukhaini Poultry

Kutaisi, Georgia

Tel: +995-331- 57 12 41

Tel/Fax: +995-331- 7 66 41

Source: BISNIS Representative in Georgia

KAZAKHSTAN

Industry: Construction

Company: Tore

Tore has specialized in construction since 1993. The

company’s services include renovation, decoration, and production of wooden doors and window frames. Its projects in

Kazakhstan include the renovation of a restaurant (1993); renovation of a bank (1994); construction of cottages for private

customers (1994-1998); construction of a food warehouse

(1995-1996); woodwork orders for various locations in

Kazakhstan, including Almaty, Astana, Shimkent, and Taraz

(1998-1999); and participation in a USAID-sponsored construction of a village for craftsmen. Tore currently employs 42

people. The company owns two workshops in Almaty with a

total area of 0.24 hectares. Its annual sales total US$245,000.

Local (90 percent) and Western (10 percent) companies constitute Tore’s client base. In 1996, the company received a

loan from the Central Asian American Enterprise Fund to purchase woodwork production equipment. The company paid

off this loan ahead of schedule. In 1999, Tore received a small

loan from EBRD for further growth. The firm plans to expand

its business to include construction of prefabricated cottages

in the northern regions of Kazakhstan.

Tore seeks a U.S. joint venture partner to manufacture

wooden and other products for the Kazakhstani construction

market. Tore seeks U.S. financing and technology. A business plan in Russian is available upon request. The company

can conduct business in English.

Contact: Bekzakir Kuralbaev, Director

40 Skryabina Street

Almaty 480043, Kazakhstan

Tel: +7-3272-416644/408969

Fax: +7-3272-408969

or U.S. Embassy Commercial Service:

531 Seyfullin Prospect, 3rd Floor

Almaty 480091, Kazakhstan

Tel: +7-3272-587920

Fax: +7-3272-587922

E-mail: OAlmaty@cs.doc.gov

Source: BISNIS Representative in Kazakhstan



Industry: Tourism

Company: Abil

Abil, a small private travel agency established in 1994, specializes in holiday tours from Kazakhstan to European and

Asian countries. Abil currently employs four people. The

agency is located in downtown Almaty. Abil rents 100 sq. m.

of office space and 1,000 sq. m. of warehouse space. In 1998,

its annual sales totaled US$50,000. Abil’s partners include

Panita Travel (Great Britain), Ellipse Voyage (France), New Club

Riviera (Spain), Pastel Tours (Turkey), Halley Tours (Italy),

ATC S.A. (Greece), Sonesta Travel (Egypt), Kintetsy International (Japan), Sigma Club System (Thailand), and A.H.A.

Australia Pty. Ltd. (Australia). According to the firm’s representative, Abil has strong working relations with Resort Condominium International (RCI) -- an international holiday exchange organization based in the United States.

Abil seeks a U.S. partner to organize first-class tours for

Kazakhstani and U.S. clients. Abil seeks opportunities to become a representative for a U.S. travel/industry-related firm.

The company can conduct business in English. A business

plan in Russian and English is available upon request.

Contact: Raushan Abilmazhinova, Director

158 Bogenbay Batyra Street, #101

Almaty, Kazakhstan

Tel/Fax: +7-3272-674856

E-mail: mila@abil.almaty.kz

or U.S. Embassy Commercial Service:

531 Seyfullin Prospect, 3rd Floor

Almaty 480091, Kazakhstan

Tel: +7-3272-587920

Fax: +7-3272-587922

E-mail: OAlmaty@cs.doc.gov

Source: BISNIS Representative in Kazakhstan

KYRGYZSTAN

Industry: Electric Machinery Production

Company: The Oremi Company
BISNIS SEARCH FOR PARTNERS - July 1999

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The Oremi Company (formerly the Bishkek Heavy Electric

Machinery Plant) was established in 1958. In 1993, the company was privatized. Currently, the government owns 46 percent of the company’s property. Oremi specializes in producing large electric machines, electric generators, consumer

goods, and repair of electric equipment. It has 227 employees

and owns 51,000 sq. m. of land with 19,547 sq. m. of building

space in downtown Bishkek, with convenient auto and

railroad access. Oremi’s annual sales total US$515,000. The

company is working out a contract with the Zait Austrian company that in July 1998 won a government tender for purchasing equipment (worth US$8 million) to manufacture distribution transformers and electric substations.

Oremi seeks a U.S. partner to produce mini electric generators for small rivers. A future business partner would supply

modern technology, equipment, and management. The company can conduct business in English. It has a business plan

in Russian.

Contact: Usen Kydydr Liyev, Director General

100, Ulitsa Tolstogo

Bishkek 720035, Kyrgyzstan

Tel: +996-312-22 68 89, 22 53 85

Fax: +996-312-66 39 95

Source: BISNIS Representative in Kyrgyzstan

ALTAY REGION, RUSSIA

Industry: Machinery

Company: BarnaulTransMash

BarnaulTransMash, a joint-stock company, was established

in 1942, and privatized in 1992. The company specializes in

manufacturing high-speed diesel engines, diesel engine-generating installations, and spare parts. The company has strong

government contacts. It plans to expand its business to include production of a new family of diesel engines (BMD)

with the dimension of 15/18. Potential customers include shiprepairing and shipbuilding enterprises, and companies involved in oil and gas, woodworking, and agriculture industries.

The company seeks a U.S. investor to produce diesel engines. Projects costs are estimated at US$70,000. The engines

will be marketed in Russia and the NIS countries.

Contact: Vadim Kargapolov

28 Kalinin Prospect

Barnaul, Altai Krai 656037

Tel: +7-3852-772013

Fax: +7-3852-779522

Source: BISNIS Representative in Novosibirsk

KRASNOYARSK, RUSSIA

Industry: Oil and Gas

Company: SIBRES Ltd.

SIBRES Ltd. was founded in 1992. The founders of the

company are the Krasnoyarsk Scientific Center of the Russian

Academy of Sciences (25 percent), and individuals (75 percent). The company specializes in developing repair technology for oil and gas wells, and employs 15 people. SIBRES Ltd.

has been involved in scientific research and engineering developments. In particular, the company invented a new technology for the maintenance and repair of oil and gas wells.

The essence of the technology is thermo-chemical destruction of asphalteno-resinous and paraffino-hydrate adjournments (ARPHA) in pumping and compressing pipes of fountain oil and gas wells, or wells equipped by electro-centrifugal

pumps, by treating the ARPHA by special discrete thermochemical elements. The technology is patented, and the company obtained the license to use the technology in 1997. The

technology allows it to carry out ARPHA liquidation practically without stopping the extraction of oil and gas for the

repair work. During ARPHA destruction, solid and harmful

wastes for the environment are not formed. The technology

has at least two distinctive features.

First, during the interaction of thermo-chemical element

components with oil components, a significant amount of heat

is released, which leads to complete melting of ARPHA and

removal of its crystallization centers from the walls of the pumping and compressing pipes. Second, an inert gel-like film is

formed on the internal surface of pipes due to the special structure of thermo-chemical elements. The film prevents metal

corrosion and fast formation of new adjournments. According to the results of industrial tests, it increases the period of

time between repair work for several times, compared to the

traditional methods of the wells cleaning, and it reduces the

time and cost of downtime of wells, compared to the traditional methods of ARPHA destruction. For example, in Liantor

deposit (JSV “Surgutneftegas”) the period of time between

repair works increased from three to eight times. Profitability

of the technology is from 50 to 100 percent, depending on oil

composition. The technology was successfully implemented

in various deposits in the Tyumen Region that are being developed by the following oil and gas mining companies:

Kondpetroleum, Noyabrskneftegas, Nizhnevartovskneft,

Surgutneftegas, Liantorneftegas, Purneftegas,

Ulianovsknefteotdacha, Samaraneftegas, Zhigulevskneft, and

others. During September - October 1997, 50 wells developed

by Noyabrskneftegas were cleaned using the technology. The

cost of this project totaled US$160,000. According to the

Tyumen Oblast officials, approximately 23,000 wells in the

Oblast are not functioning. According to an estimate by the

Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, approximately 10 million tons of oil are not developed annually because of ineffectiveness of traditional methods of ARPHA

destruction. Taking into account other markets in the NIS and

other countries, the new technology will be highly demanded.

SIBRES company seeks a joint venture with an American

partner. The company will contribute its know-how for the

production of the thermo-chemical elements, industrial base

for producing thermo-chemical elements, and technology of

well cleaning using thermo-chemical elements. A partner
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would market and promote the technology in the NIS and other

markets, and further develop the company’s business.

Contact: Boris Kogai

110 Ul. Mira

Krasnoyarsk, 660009 Russia

Tel/Fax: +7-3912-217655,212392,551082

Email: avp@foreco.krasnoyarsk.su

Source: BISNIS Representative in Novosibirsk

MOSCOW, RUSSIA

Industry: Construction

Company: ROSS

The private limited partnership company ROSS was established in 1990 as a construction project development company and a wholesaller of construction materials. The company employs seven people and generates US$485,000 of revenues annually. ROSS rents 200 sq. m. of office space; a contract for renting 0.17 hectares of land for construction from the

Moscow City Government is pending. ROSS imports furniture from a German company, (Hafele) and, decorative materials from NDM (Germany). It exports lumber to Hormag, an

Austrian company.

ROSS seeks a U.S. partner for joint construction of a trade

center (5,460 sq. m. total). ROSS will provide financial support

for the project, and is looking for an American company willing to supply equipment and consulting support. A business

plan in English is available upon request.

Contact: Vladimir Isaev, General Director

Alexander Mitin, Manager

Verkhnyaya Pervomayskaya St., 49, Building 10

Moscow, Russia 105264

Tel: +7-095-956-8338/2693

Fax: +7-095-956-0809

E-mail: rosiss@dol.ru

Source: BISNIS Representative in Moscow



Industry: Food Products

Company: Slaveks-STK

The closed joint-stock company Slaveks-STK was established in 1994 and currently employs 125 people. SlaveksSTK is a wholesale trading company and a direct distributor

that supplies over 1,000 stores in Moscow and the Moscow

region (75 percent of its total products), and to 1,500 stores in

other Russian regions (25 percent). Slaveks-STK is one of the

leading distribution companies in Russia. The company has

established a dealer network; owns up-to-date sales technologies; has a truck fleet; and has signed long-term contracts

with large supermarkets and stores. Slaveks-STK has also

developed its own trademarks. The company sells Russianmade food stuffs and is the official distributor for Heinz,

Danone, and Nestle. (Slaveks-STK was created on the basis

of the company Slaveks, an official distributor of baby foods

for Gerber and Nestle). Slaveks-STK operates primarily withn

Moscow city and the Moscow region, the wealthiest consumer

markets in Russia. Since the company distributes baby food,

it enjoys tax privileges. Slavteks-STK’s annual sales total

US$12 million.

Slavteks-STK is interested in importing U.S. foodstuffs.

The Russian company will distribute products to 2,500 stores

in Russia, introduce brands to the Russian market, and organize presentations. Slaveks-STK management was trained in

France and the United Kingdom. A business plan is available

upon request.

Contact: Oleg Viktorovich Ochinsky, Director

Andrey Nikitin, Project Manager

Annensky Proezd, 2A

Moscow, Russia 127521

Tel: +7-095-281-0931; 218-9066; +7-902-682-5125

Fax: +7-095-219-2400

Source: BISNIS Representative in Moscow



Industry: Footwear

Company: Eurotime LLP

Eurotime LLP was established in 1995 as a footwear importer from India, China, and Macedonia. Currently, Eurotime

is a small manufacturing company, specializing in footwear.

Its annual production volume is 80,000 pairs of shoes. The

company has a lease for production space and equipment in

Yaroslavl and storage space in Moscow until 2005. Eurotime

uses natural skin and fur to produce shoes and boots. The

company does in-house design. It has dealer agreements with

eight major distributors, but it also sells its products to retailers and wholesalers in Moscow and the regions. Due to the

financial crisis, there has been a decrease in imports of foreign

footwear and a drop in raw material prices, enabling the company to compete with Western footwear producers.

Eurotime is looking for a U.S. footwear manufacturer/distributor to establish a joint venture to produce footwear.

Eurotime will produce and distribute products through its dealership network. A U.S. company would provide the technology, design, and, potentially, brand equity. Eurotime is also

interested in distributing U.S.-made shoes in the NIS. The

company can conduct business in English. A business plan

in Russian is available upon request.

Contact: Vladimir V. Utenov, Director

Igor Yu. Shorokhov

Deputy Director for Foreign Affairs

48/2, Novoslobodskaya Str.

Moscow, 103055, Russia

Tel: +7-095-973 5122

Fax. +7-095-9735122/5124

E-mail: bisnis@dol.ru

Source: BISNIS Representative in Moscow
BISNIS SEARCH FOR PARTNERS - July 1999

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NOVOSIBIRSK, RUSSIA

Industry: Pharmaceuticals

Company: Novosibirsky Serpentary

Novosibirsky Serpentary was established in 1989. The

company specializes in producing nine types of crystal snake

venom. It employs 22 people, and its annual production of

crystal snake venom totals from 0.4 to 1,500 grams, depending

on the type of venom. Novosibirsky Serpentary is the only

producer of snake venom in Russia and has the capacity to

satisfy the need for snake venom used in the Russian pharmaceutical industry.

The company seeks a joint venture with a U.S. partner to

produce pharmaceuticals based on snake venom. The products will be marketed in Russia and other NIS countries.

Contact: Vladimir Dudarev, Director

18, Krasny Prospect

Novosibirsk, Russia 630011

Tel: +7-3832-465443

Fax: +7-3832-465443

Source: BISNIS Representative in Novosibirsk

SAKHALIN, RUSSIA

Industry: Health Industry: Food Supplements

Company: Sakhalin Innovation Fund

Sakhalin Innovation Fund (SIF), a joint-stock public company, produces a patented, unique and very beneficial concentrated brown seaweed food and beauty supplement called

Modifilan which was voted best new product in Russia by the

pharmaceutical industry. It was originally developed to cleanse

radiation victims of Chernobyl from toxic heavy metal poisoning. It was found to be the best cleanser for the body and was

found to have many other beneficial properties.

Sakhalin Innovation Fund needs a partner to invest in its

capital manufacturing facilities, to market Modifilan and to

bring to the marketplace SIF’s other unique Siberian extracts.

SIF is six years old and already sells its products all over the

world via distributors. SIF employs 50 people and has two

working factories and two waiting completion upon investment.

Contact: Victor Sviridov, General Director

11 Gorkogo Street

Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, Sakhalin, Russia

Tel: +7-41960-3-47-34

Int’l Fax: +7-50441-6-25-75

Tel/Fax: +7-41960-5-58-41

or Vladimir Bajanov, Director

Pacific Standards Distributors Inc.

329 Linfield Place

Menlo Park, CA 94025

Tel: 650-853-1131

Fax: 650-853-1132

Website: www.modifilan.com

Source: Pacific Standard Distributors Inc.

TOMSK REGION, RUSSIA

Industry: Food Processing

Company: Tugan Poultry Factory

The Tugan Poultry Factory is a state-owned enterprise.

Established in 1971, the company specializes in grain for fodder, and poultry production. Its annual turnover totals US$6

million. The company employs 532 people. It has strong government contacts. The company plans to expand its production of grain.

The company seeks a U.S. investor to reequip the enterprise to produce grain up to 9,000 tons annually. The amount

of investment required is US$1 million.

Contact: Nickolai Zarembo, Deputy Director

Rassvet Village, Tomsk Oblast, Russia

Tel: +7-3832-212349

Fax: +7-3832-211277

Source: BISNIS Representative in Novosibirsk

VLADIVOSTOK, RUSSIA

Industry: Tourism

Company: Krechet

Krechet was established in 1992. The company is involved

in tourism, construction, charter cargo, and passenger transportation. Krechet has exclusive rights to organize helicopter

tours to the picturesque geyser valley and volcanoes in

Kamchatka. The company owns four helicopters and several

resorts and offers 10 certified tours, including skiing, mountaineering, and fishing tours for groups of 15-20 people. The

company hosts up 2,000-2,500 tourists annually. It employs

52 people, and its annual sales exceed US$1 million.

Krechet seeks a U.S. travel agency to jointly organize tours

in Kamchatka.

Contact: Vyacheslav Zvyagintsev

Director of Tourism Department

4 Proezd Izluchiny

Yelizovo, Russia 684010

Tel: +7-4152-111-700

Fax +7-4152-111-700

E-mail: crech@elrus.kamchatka.su

Source: BISNIS Representative in Vladivostok

UKRAINE

Industry: Machinery

Company: Kristal

Kristal is the only company in the NIS region manufacturing laser-, plasma-, and gas-based programmable metal cutting equipment and machinery. The company was established

in 1959 and privatized in 1996. It currently operates as an open

joint-stock company. The Ukrainian government holds a 21.5

percent stake in Kristal. Kristal is involved in producing metal

cutting machinery, welding equipment, small agricultural equip-
BISNIS SEARCH FOR PARTNERS - July 1999

7

ment, and consumer goods. Its annual sales amount to US$1.1

million. Since 1985, Kristal has supplied its products to Germany, Bulgaria, and Vietnam. The company has signed several purchase agreements for supplying products to Asian

countries.

The company seeks a U.S. partner to expand production.

Contact: Vasyl Bibik, Project Manager

41, Dekabrystiv Vul.

Kiev, Ukraine

Source: BISNIS Representative in Ukraine



Industry: Telecommunications

Company: Asteria

Founded in 1994, Asteria, a private Odessa-based company with 26 employees has been involved in producing Yellow Page directories (including CD-ROM version) for the city

of Odessa and the Odessa region. It has created reliable and

complete information for the directory, and over a four-year

period succeeded in Ukraine in this area of business. In 1998

Asteria, along with Infonet, Odessa, its subsidiary, set up an

Internet center with equipment and a 10 MB channel acquired

from Taide Network AS, Norway.

The Odessa Municipal Council Executive Committee in 1998

approved Asteria as the principal contractor to implement a

long-term, large-scale, information network development program for Odessa. Asteria also has a multilateral agreement

with the central government's telecommunications organization UkrCosmos, to create the Odessa segment of the Ukraine

Satellite Information Transmission System.

To fulfill its contract with the local government to implement the Information Network Development Program for the

city of Odessa, the company seeks a U.S. investor (vendor

credit line or postponed payments) to acquire equipment consisting mainly of Polywell Alpha533LX System (U.S.), Polywell

500QX7 Pentium System (U.S.) computer hardware and Redhat

Linux (U.S.) computer software, for a total value of US$290,000.

A business plan in English is available upon request.

To increase the range and the circulation of itsYellow Page

directory in Odessa and other regions of Ukraine, the company also seeks a U.S. company to establish long-term cooperation such as a partnership or agency agreement.

Note: Market demand for Asteria’s product in Odessa is

considerable. The company’s business has adequate financial standing, and its management is sound. The Odessa region is being considered by the central government as the

main test site for introducing modern telecommunications and

information network technology in Ukraine.

Contact: Armen Avetisian , Director

Asteria, 23 Ekaterininskaja Street, Third Floor

270026 Odessa, Ukraine

Tel./Fax: +38 (0482) 348628, 219369, 287290

E-mail: odina567@ hotmail.com

or Victoria Potapova, Area market manager

AVA International Inc.

23 West 73rd Street # 1414A

New York, NY 10023

E-mail: VPotapova@aol.com

UZBEKISTAN

Industry: Hospitality Services/Tourism

Company: Sayyoh Makom

The private company Sayyoh Makom was established in

1997. The company is involved in the tourism business. Its

services include accommodations, reservations, interpreting

services, transportation, and airport pick up/drop off. The

company has a staff of 15 professionals. Currently, the company is interested in diversifying its activities and opening a

chain of small hotels and/or B&B’s in Uzbekisatan. Sayyoh

Makom expects to get a credit line from the National Bank of

Uzbekistan.

The company is interested in a partnership with an American hotel management company.

Contact: Nosir Asadullakhodjaev, Director

1 Furkat Street, Office 419

Tashkent 700011, Uzbekistan

Tel: +998-712-45-32-67

Fax: +998-71-139-10-59

Source: BISNIS Representative in Uzbekistan



Industry: Real Estate

Company: Interservis Business Center

The Association of the Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations Interservis seeks a U.S. joint-venture partner to manage the new Interservis Business Center complex to be completed by September 1999. The Business Center is a modern

19-floor building with a total area of 62,527 sq. m. The Business Center offers office space for rent and includes several

exhibition halls, conference rooms, restaurants, bars, a beauty

salon, and an underground garage. Interservis offers 49 percent of the projects equity to a foreign partner. Certain incentives such as tax holidays and repatriation of profits will be

provided for a partner.

Interservis is interested in a partnership with a real estate

company specializing in commercial real estate.

Contact: Yusuf Tilyaev, Director

16A Prospect Rashidov

Tashkent, 700017, Uzbekistan

Tel: +998-71-139-10-06, 139-45-49, 139-45-57

Fax: +998-71-120-65-17

Source: BISNIS Representative in Uzbekistan
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NOTICE

BISNIS is pleased to gather and disseminate to U.S. companies promising Search for Partners leads from the NIS.

Companies that wish to pursue these leads should directly

contact the NIS company via the contact information listed.

BISNIS makes every effort to obtain valid contact information, but making contact with companies in many regions

of the NIS can be difficult. Telephone calls to NIS companies may be hampered by the limited number of international and local lines in the NIS. Therefore, persistence is

the key to contacting them via telephone. Additionally, not

all NIS companies have fax machines that operate 24 hours

a day. Sometimes several attempts may be necessary before

a connection can be made. If you are having trouble reaching a company, try phoning/faxing at different times of the

day, including during regular work hours (often 9AM to 6PM)

in the region you are trying to contact.

Note: Although BISNIS representatives in the NIS occasionally provide last-resort assistance in contacting local

companies listed in leads, BISNIS representatives in the

NIS do not: provide additional market information in response to direct inquiries from U.S. companies, assist with

negotiations, or conduct due diligence on local companies.

For additional commercial information about industries,

regions, and companies in the NIS, contact BISNIS in Washington, D.C.

BISNIS

The Business Information Service for the Newly Independent States

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 (e-mail)

To call BISNIS toll free, dial

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

press 2 and then press 2 again

or visit the BISNIS Online website at

www.bisnis.doc.gov/bisnis/leads/leads.htm

Director: Anne Grey

Deputy Director: Trevor Gunn

Search for Partners Managing Editor: Joan Morgan