I. Mission Description
The Russian-American Chamber of Commerce in the USA is organizing a Trade Mission to Moscow, Russia, in September, 2009. The business development mission will focus on establishing direct business contacts between U.S. and Russian companies, for both export and investment. Companies with interests in the real estate, construction and development as well as companies representing the oil and gas industry are encouraged to participate. The mission will provide participating U.S. companies an opportunity to meet with key officials from the Russian Government, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Trade and Economic Development, the US Embassy in the Russian Federation, the Russian Olympic Committee, the Russian Federation Chamber of Commerce and Industry and other business groups, and Russian companies executives in the real estate and oil and gas industries. The participants will also have an opportunity to visit key commercial sites in Moscow.
II. Commercial Setting
This mission will take place in the midst of an economic and investment boom occurring in the region in the last 9 years. Russia is established as a member of the G8 group of countries, accepted by both the EU and the USA as a fully fledged market economy. It is the largest country in the world geographically, and has the world's 8th largest population (143 million). Rising real incomes and real Russian ruble appreciation have boosted Russia's imports which have tripled over the past 5 years. Russia is becoming more westernized, with a pent up consumer demand and preference for western products. US exports to Russia reached 4.7 billion in 2006, double from 2002. Russia is expected to become a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2009 which should encourage further liberalization of the improving business environment.
According to data compiled by Bloomberg agency, Russia's market capitalization on Aug. 16 reached a record $946.2 billion, 15 percent larger than South Korea, the next biggest emerging market.
Russian companies, fueled by the rapid growth and profitability of its energy sector, are rising through the ranks of the top ten companies in the emerging markets index and the exchange-traded funds that track it, such as the iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Index (amex: EEM). Russia's Gazprom is first on the list of top-ten holdings.
Meanwhile, the real estate market has been growing in Russia steadily attracting interests of foreign investors including such prominent names as the Trump Organization. On the other hand, wealthy Russians have been buying high end properties worldwide. They first began scooping up luxury properties in Britain, and now are increasingly looking to other worldwide destinations including the United States.
III. Mission Goals
The trade mission will facilitate business-to-business meetings between U.S. companies and their counterparts in Russia, as well as improve U.S. industries' understanding of the commercial opportunities in Russia. The mission aims to:
• Improve U.S. industries' understanding of the commercial opportunities in Russia, and in Moscow in particular.
• Facilitate business meetings between U.S. and Russian businesses, to expand U.S. exports to Russia and U.S. investment in Russia.
• Introduce U.S. industry to the Russian business and government leaders.
IV. Mission Scenario: In Russia, Russian-American Chamber of Commerce in the USA will:
• Organize roundtable events, networking events, and matchmaking meetings between the delegation and key US officials, key officials of the Russian government and business circles.
• Arrange for selected site visits to key commercial sites and companies.
V. Proposed Mission Timetable*
The trade mission will last for five days with the proposed agenda:
Day 1 • Arrive, lunch time
• Evening trade mission briefing from U.S. Government (the US Embassy in Moscow) representatives
Day 2 • Morning reception with the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation, and representatives from other Ministries.
• Luncheon roundtable with Neville Isdell, Chairman, Board of Directors of the Coca Cola Company.
• Afternoon – tour of the city.
• Evening dinner with the representatives of leading Moscow real estate and developer companies.
Day 3 • Morning meeting with Yevgeny Primakov, the President of the Russian Federation Chamber of Commerce, followed by networking and meeting time.
• Afternoon meetings with the representatives of the Olympics Organization Committee (Winter Olympics in Sochi-2014, Russia).
Evening – attending a show at the world famous Bolshoi Theatre
Day 4 • Meeting with the representatives of the Russian oil and gas companies, visits to commercial sites.
Day 5 • One-on-one meetings with companies' representatives at their companies' sites
• Leave afternoon
VI. Participation Requirements
All parties interested in participating in the Business Development Mission to Moscow, Russia, must complete and submit an application form available online. This trade mission is designed for a minimum of 8 and a maximum of 15 qualified companies.
After a company has been selected to participate on the mission, a payment to the Russian-American Chamber of Commerce in the USA in the form of a participation fee is required. The participation fee will be $2,500 per company. Participating companies will be restricted to two representatives. Additional representatives from a single company will be considered only as space permits. The fee for an additional representative will be $1,500. The participation fee does not cover ground transportation; business receptions; shipment of brochures and any samples; payment to interpreters (as needed); or travel and hotel expenses. The Chamber can assist with obtaining the Russian visa, booking flights, transportation and accommodation in Moscow, translation services as well as any additional logistics requests that may occur for an additional charge.
VII. Timeframe for Recruitment and Applications
Mission recruitment will be conducted in an open and public manner, including publication in the RACC Newsletter, posting on the Chamber's events calendar (http://www.russianamericanchamber.com/en/events.htm) and other Internet web sites and press releases to general and trade media.
The application deadline is extended to September 1, 2009. Completed applications should be submitted to the Russian-American Chamber of Commerce in the USA, 970 Sidney Marcus Boulevard, Suite 1504, Atlanta, GA, 30324.
Please, contact:
e-mail: [email protected] or [email protected]
Fax:+1 678-559-0418
* The order of planned activities might change to accommodate the availability of government official and business executives involved in the Mission from the US and Russian side.