### Search For Partners, May 24, 1999

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 distributed via this biweekly e-mail broadcast, and a limited selection of these leads are published in a monthly newsletter.  Previous e-mail broadcasts are available through the BISNIS home page, at: http://www.mac.doc.gov/bisnis.  To receive the biweekly report, e-mail BISNIS at [email protected] 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 of Investment Opportunities
1.	Armenia - Footwear2.	Armenia - Services3.   Georgia - Business Park4.	Kazakhstan - Construction5.	Kazakhstan - Tourism6.	Kyrgyzstan - Textile7.	Kyrgyzstan - Textile8.	Moldova - Machinery9.	Altay Region, Russia - Machinery10.	Krasnoyarsk Region, Russia - Oil and Gas11.	Moscow Region, Russisa - Construction12.	Moscow Region, Russia - Food Products13.	Moscow Region, Russia - Footwear14.	Novosibirsk Region, Russia - Pharmaceuticals15. Sakhalin, Russia - Health Industry; Food Supplements16.	Tomsk Region, Russia - Food Processing17.	Vladivostok Region, Russia - Apparel18.	Vladivostok Region, Russia - Tourism19.	Turkmenistan - Chemicals20.	Ukraine - Machinery21.	Ukraine - Telecommunications22.	Uzbekistan - Hospitality Services/Tourism23.	Uzbekistan - Real Estate
 

***  Armenia  *** 

1.

Industry:  Footwear

Company: Yeghvard Athletic Shoe Factory 

Yeghvard Athletic Shoe Factory (YASF) was founded in 1986 as a state enterprise and privatized in 1996.  The company specializes in producing a variety of athletic shoes for men and women.  The factory owns 26,800 sq. ft. of land and 16,000 sq. ft of production and storage space.  Its equipment was supplied by ADIDAS (Germany).  Prior to 1992, YASF held manufacturing and marketing licenses for the ADIDAS brand as well as for German DESMA, SHON, BAYER, PURA, British ASTRO and Austrian TECH companies.  YASF exported its products to France and other European countries.  Many of the company's trade alliances were terminated after the collapse of the USSR, however YASF continues to export to Russia and other NIS countries.  The factory is the only quality sport footwear producer in the Caucasus Region. The company has the capacity to produce 250,000 pairs of athletic shoes annually.  It employs 140 people, among them highly qualified designers, workers and management staff.	

The company seeks a U.S. partner to establish a joint venture to expand production and develop new markets.  An American company would provide new technology and marketing assistance.  YASF will contribute its equipment, valued at 

US$9 million, its production and storage facilities, and its qualified low cost workforce.

Contact: Tigran Ghahramanian, Director of Marketing (speaks English)

Yeghvard, 378414, Armenia

Tel: +374-2-252-015

Fax: +374-2-151-766

E-mail: [email protected]
Source: BISNIS Representative in Armenia

2.

Industry: Services

Company: Ega 

Established in 1987 as a private company, Ega specializes in advertising services, including billboards, wall stands, and transport advertisements.  The company owns office space 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.  Ega employs 20 people.  In addition, the company develops housing projects and builds custom villas and residences in Yerevan. 

Ega seeks a U.S. partner to jointly provide advertising services.  The U.S. company is expected to provide new technologies 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 workforce, and partial financing up to $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

***Georgia***

3.

Industry: Business Park

Company: Electroaparati

Electroaparati was established in 1971 as a state company and includes four plants, three of which are located in Tbilisi and one is located 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 plant 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's project, The Center for Enterprises Restructuring and Management Assistance (CERMA), is working with this enterprise and has prepared Electroaparati's business overview, which is available on the BISNIS Web site:   http://www.mac.doc.gov/bisnis, 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: [email protected]
Source: BISNIS Representative in Georgia

***  Kazakhstan  *** 

4.

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, 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: [email protected]

Source: BISNIS Representative in Kazakhstan

5.

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 area and 1,000 sq. m. of warehouse area.  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 U.S.

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 in English is available upon request.

Contact: Raushan Abilmazhinova, Director

158 Bogenbay Batyra Street,  #101 

Almaty, Kazakhstan

Tel/Fax: +7-3272-674856

E-mail: [email protected]
or U.S. Embassy Commercial Service: 

531 Seyfullin Prospect, 3rd Floor 

Almaty 480091, Kazakhstan 

Tel: +7-3272-587920 

Fax: +7-3272-587922 

E-mail: [email protected]

Source: BISNIS Representative in Kazakhstan

 

***  Kyrgyzstan  ***

6.

Industry: Textile.

Company: Tekstilshchik 

Tekstilshchik, a joint-stock company, was established in 1967 and privatized in 1992.  Tekstilshchik is the largest industrial enterprise in the Osh Region.  In the past, the company employed 9,000 people.  Recently, the company has undergone a substantial restructuring program, including job cuts, streamlining the company's operations, and expanding customer markets.  Its facilities include spinning, twisting, weaving, dyeing and finishing departments.  The enterprise has the capacity to produce 120 million meters of fabric per year.  Its equipment was imported from Russia and East European countries.  The enterprise purchased new Japanese finishing equipment in 1995, which allowed improving product quality and increasing production of fabric wider than 150 cm.  The company specializes in manufacturing cotton greige and finished fabric.  Tekstilshchik owns 95,445 acres of land, including 33,025 acres of industrial, office, store, shop and commercial space.  The company's annual sales total US$2.9 million.

The company seeks a U.S. partner to establish a joint venture to manufacture cotton yarn and fabric.  The company offers equity, industrial space, a utilities system, its workforce, and technical support.  A future business partner would supply modern technology, equipment, and managerial expertise.  The company will consider transferring a controlling block of shares to a U.S. partner.

Contact: Kakhramon Islamov, Technical Director

8-a, Ulitsa Kasymbekova

Osh 714024, Kyrgyzstan

Tel: +996-3222-30339, 30165

Tel/Fax: +996-3222-30272

or Commercial Section of the U.S. Embassy-Bishkek

171, Prospect Mira, 

Bishkek 720016, Kyrgyzstan

Tel: +996-312-551241

Fax: +996-312-551264

E-mail: [email protected]
Source: BISNIS Representative in Kyrgyzstan

7.

Industry: Textile

Company: Kasiyet

Kasiet was established in 1977.  In 1998, the company was bought by a British-

American company CAMC Corporation, Ltd.  Kasiet specializes in producing wool and wool/acrylic blended yarn in a variety of colors.  The company has 1200 employees and owns 17 hectares of land with 65,000 sq. m. of office space.  Kasiet's annual output is 2,000 tons of yarn.  Camco has already invested US$6 million in Kasiyet's yarn production and this year Camco will invest an additional US$4 million.

Camco seeks a U.S. sales agent who will sell Kasiet's yarn to weavers/knitters on a commission basis.

Contact: Dennis Clark, President of Camco Corporation, Ltd

382, Jibek Joly Str.

Bishkek 720033, Kyrgyzstan

Tel: +996-312-610066, 610162

Fax: +996-312-610258

E-mail: [email protected]
or Commercial Section of the U.S. Embassy-Bishkek

171, Prospect Mira, 

Bishkek 720016, Kyrgyzstan

Tel: +996-312-551241

Fax: +996-312-551264

E-mail: [email protected]
Source: BISNIS Representative in Kyrgyzstan

 

***  Moldova  ***

8.

Industry: Machinery

Company: Uzina de Tractoare, Tracom S.A.

The tractor manufacturing company, Uzina de Tractoare, Tracom S.A., was established in 1945 and privatized in 1995.  Currently, 90 percent of the company's stock is owned by the Moldavian holding company Agromehanica and the remaining 10 percent is publicly owned.  The company specializes in manufacturing tracked and wheeled tractors (up to 120 horsepower capacity) and parts.  Tracom S.A. uses 71.1 acres of land for manufacturing and storage facilities and employs 1,888 qualified specialists.  In 1997, Tracom S.A. manufactured 940 tractors and 640 parts, of which 16 percent were exported to Russia, 20 percent to Ukraine, and the remaining 64 percent were sold locally.  The company has extensive experience working with foreign partners.  In 1995, Tracom signed a cooperation agreement with the Iranian company Motorsazan and in 1997, exported 24 tractors to Iran.  Tracom S.A. would like to expand its business, increase production volume, upgrade technology and design of wheeled tractors, and develop new markets.  

Tracom seeks an American partner to jointly produce tractors.  In addition, the company expects a U.S. partner to provide training on financial management and business development.  In 1998, Tracom developed a business plan in English.

Contact: Vitalii Pavlenco, Technical Director

Alexandru Oleinic, General Director

170 Columna Str.

Chisinau, 2004, Moldova

Tel: +3732-752410

Fax: +3732-752933

E-mail: [email protected]
Source: BISNIS Representative in Moldova

 

***  Altay Region, Russia  ***

9.

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 ship-repairing and ship-building enterprises, companies involved in oil and gas, wood-working, 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 Region, Russia  ***

10.

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 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 thermo-chemical 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, 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 works 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 3 to 8 times. Profitability of the technology is from 50 percent 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, fifty 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 the estimations of 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, technology of well cleaning using  thermo-chemical elements.  The partner is expected to 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: [email protected]

Source: BISNIS Representative in Novosibirsk

 

***  Moscow Region, Russia  ***

11.

Industry: Construction

Company:  ROSS

The private limited partnership company ROSS was established in 1990 as a construction project development company and a whole seller 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, decorative materials from NDM (Germany), and exports lumber to an Austrian company Hormag.  

ROSS seeks a U.S. partner for joint construction of a trading center (5,460 sq. m. total).  ROSS will provide financial support of 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: [email protected]

Source: BISNIS Representative in Moscow

12.

Industry: Food Products

Company: Slaveks-STK

The closed joint stock company Slaveks-STK was established in 1994 and currently employs 125 people.  Slaveks-STK is a wholesale trading company and a direct distributor that supplies to 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 Russian company has established a dealer network; owns up-to-date sales technologies; has a truck fleet; signed long-term contracts with large supermarkets and stores.  Slaveks-STK has also developed its own trademarks.  The company sells Russian-made food stuffs and is the official distributor for Heinz, Danone, and Nestle (Slaveks-STK was created on the basis of the company Slaveks, official distributor of baby foods for Gerber and Nestle.)  Slaveks-STK operates primarily with Moscow city and the Moscow Region, the wealthiest consumer markets in Russia.  Because 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 UK.  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

13.

Industry: Footwear

Company: Eurotime LLP

Eurotime LLP was established in 1995 as an importer of shoes and footwear from India, China, and Makedonia.  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 8 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, which enables the company to compete effectively with western footwear producers. 

Eurotime is looking for an American footwear manufacturer/distributor to establish a joint-venture to produce footwear.  Eurotime will produce and distribute products through its dealership network.  An American company would provide 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: [email protected]

Source: BISNIS Representative in Moscow

 

***  Novosibirsk Region, Russia  ***

14.

Industry: Pharmaceuticals

Company: Novosibirsky Serpentary

Novosibirsky Serpentary was established in 1989.  The company specializes in producing 9 types of crystal snake venom.  The company employs 22 people, and its annual production of crystal snake venom totals from 0.4 to 1500 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***

15.

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 pharmacist 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 including anti-cancer.

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

E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.modifilan.com

Source: Pacific Standard Distributors Inc.

 

***  Tomsk Region, Russia  ***

16.

Industry: Food Processing

Company: Tugan Poultry Factory

The Tugan Poultry Factory is a state-owned enterprise, and was 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 re-equip 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 Region, Russia  ***

17.

Industry: Apparel

Company:  Nadezhda Trade Manufacturing Company

The Nadezhda Trade Manufacturing Company was established in 1932 to manufacture synthetic heaters, glue padding, clothes for women and children, and fleecy jersey fabric. It employs 418 people, owns 4.53 hectares of land and 25,000 sq. m. of production facilities, warehouses, shops, an administrative building, and stores. Its annual sales are US$250,000 - 1 million.  Since 1994, Nadezhda has manufactured goods for a South Korean company Mijin, and was a contractor for GAP and Chaps (USA). The company's main buyers are firms in Siberia, the Russian Far East, Japan, Belgium, Canada, and the U.S. 

The company seeks a U.S. partner to jointly produce clothes. 

Note: Principal Commercial Officer of the U.S.& Foreign Commercial Service in Vladivostok Richard Steffens visited the company in March 1999 and was impressed with its operations.

Contact: Victor Solntsev, Manager

44 Sholom-Aleikhema Street

Birobidzhan 682200, Russia

Tel: +421-62-693-03, 684-55

Fax: +421-62-690-22

Source: BISNIS Representative in Vladivostok

18.

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:  [email protected]
Source: BISNIS Representative in Vladivostok

***  Turkmenistan  ***

19.

Industry: Chemicals

Company: State Foreign Trade Company Energokhimmashexport

The Ministry of Energy and Industry supervises three major production companies, including the State Electrical Power Generation Company Kuvvat, the State Chemical Production Company Turkmenkhimsenagat, the State Machine Building Production Company Turkmenmashingurlyshik, and the State Foreign Trade Company Energokhimmashexport.  Energokhimmashexport was established in 1995, and is the main trading dealer for the above listed production companies.  The company exports the products manufactured at these companies and imports food, consumer goods, and raw materials.  The company employs 55 people and has an annual turnover of US$30 million.

Energokhimmashexport is looking for investors interested in providing technology, equipment, and expertise to upgrade and operate three chemical enterprises, including the Karabogazsulphate Enterprise, the Nebitdag Iodine Production Plant, and the Cheleken

Chemical plant.  These three enterprises are supervised by The State Turkmenkhimsenagat company and are located in the Balkan Region of the Western Turkmenistan.  The Karabogazsulphate Enterprise, situated in Karabogazgol gulf of the Caspian Sea, plans to upgrade its production capacity up to 300,000 tons of sodium sulphate; 100,000 tons of bishofit (magnesium chloride); 30,000 tons of epsomit (magnesium sulphate); 50,000 tons of glauber's salts (sodium sulphate); and 50,000 tons of sea salts.  The Nebitdag Iodine Production Plant plans to increase its capacity up to 255 tons of iodine and begin production of 500 tons of tetrabrominedifenilolpropan, a by-product of iodine production used as raw material in the plastics industry.  The Cheleken Chemical Plant, situated at the Cheleken Island in the Caspian Sea, is also interested in increasing its capacity

to 220 tons of iodine and 5,150 tons of ferric bromine a year.  The company will consider project finance and/or joint-venture as a mode of cooperation with the U.S. business partners.

Contact: Abdurakhman Berkeliev, Deputy Minister of Energy and Industry, Director

General (speaks Russian and Turkmen)

6 Nurberdy Pomma Street

Ashgabat, Turkmenistan 744000

Tel: +993-12-396039, 350210

Fax: +993-12-350210, 350211

or Meylis Ataev

Head of Information and Advertising Department

(speaks Russian and Turkmen)

Tel: +993-12-387263, 396039

Fax: +993-12-350210

Source: U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service, U.S. Embassy, Turkmenistan

 

***  Ukraine  *** 

20.

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 equipment, 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 U.S. partners to expand production.

Contact: Vasyl Bibik, Project Manager

41, Dekabrystiv Vul.

Kiev, Ukraine

Source: BISNIS Representative in Ukraine

21.

Industry: Telecommunications

Company: Asteria

Founded in 1994, Asteria, a private Odessa-based company (number of employees -26) has been  involved in producing Yellow Pages directories (including CD-ROM version) for Odessa city and Odessa region and as a creator of the most reliable and complete information for that type of directory in a four-year period turned to become second to none in Ukraine in this area of business.  In 1998 Asteria, along with Infonet, Odessa, its subsidiary, set up Internet center whose equipment and 10 MB channel had been acquired from Taide Network AS, Norway.

Approved by Odessa Municipal Council Executive Committee in 1998 as the principal contractor in implementation of long-term large-scale Information Network Development Program for the city of Odessa, Asteria at the same time has come into very important multilateral agreement with Central government telecommunications organization "UkrCosmos", regional center of information network and communications technologies and technical facilities "OdessaTelecom", large regional private bank institution (Bank "Pivdeny", and some other local organizations dealing with telecommunications on creating Odessa fragment of all the Ukraine Satellite Information Transmission System. 

To fulfill obligations stemming from the contract with the local government on participating in the implementation of long-term large-scale Information Network Development Program for the city of Odessa the company seeks a U.S. investor (vendor credit line or postponed payments) for acquiring equipment consisting mainly of Polywell Alpha533LX System (USA), Polywell 500QX7 Pentium System (USA) computer hard ware and Redhat Linux (USA) computer soft ware, 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 a Yellow Pages type directory in Odessa and other regions of Ukraine the company also seeks a U.S. company for establishing long-term cooperation on a basis of a partnership or agency agreement.

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: [email protected]

Note: (a) Market demand for Asteria's product in Odessa is considerable, the company's business has adequate financial standing, and its management is sound.

(b) The Odessa region is being considered by the Central government as the main test site for introducing modern telecommunications and information network technologies in Ukraine.

 

***  Uzbekistan  *** 

22.

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 young 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

23.

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 a 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 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

*********************************************************************

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 which 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 9 am -6 pm) 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.

***This report is provided courtesy of the Business Information Service for the NewlyIndependent States (BISNIS)***