“Changing Face of Russia” Seminar Series of 2008

From January through December 2008, the Mid-Atlantic – Russia Business Council (MARBC) will present “The Changing Face of Russia” Seminar Series.  Addressing the changing business environment in Russia, this is a revival of a highly successful seminar series hosted by the MARBC after the financial crisis of 1998.  New seminars will be organized throughout the Mid-Atlantic States, including Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and New York.

The first four of these seminars will take place in Pennsylvania with the support of the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development.  This year Pennsylvania became the first U.S. state to establish an Authorized Trade Representative in Moscow, further strengthening commercial ties between the U.S. Mid-Atlantic region and Russia.  Featuring a Trade Representative of the Russian Federation in the United States and other distinguished speakers, the first seminar, organized by the MARBC with the World Trade Center of Greater Philadelphia and supported by DLA Piper, KPMG, and DHL, will take place on January 25^th at the DLA Piper office in Philadelphia.  The second seminar, organized by the MARBC with SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG), will be held at the Chamber of Business and Industry of Centre County at State College on February 20^th.  The subsequent seminar will be organized by the MARBC with the World Trade Club of the Lehigh Valley and Lehigh Export Network in the Lehigh Valley on March 25^th.  This will be followed on May 23rd in New York by another seminar. These seminars will serve to prepare for the MARBC Month in Russia in March-April 2008, and to assist Pennsylvania’s first official Trade Mission to Russia in late June.

This continuing series of half-day seminars will highlight and summarize recent trends and developments taking place in Russia and discuss their affects on Russian-American business interactions.  Analyzing major positive trends in the present Russian economy that have enabled the country to bounce back from the financial crisis of 1998 rapidly and stimulated the flow of foreign capital, experts and executives from the Russian-American business community will make presentations on the current commercial and economic environment in Russia.  Analyses will include such topics as the increased rate of economic growth, improved investment climate, structural changes and reforms of the tax system, and Russian integration into the global community.  In addition, presenters will specify a number of economical, political, technological, and other constraints that are preventing U.S. businesses from collaborating with their Russian counterparts.  Constraints to be evaluated will include structural problems and inefficient government regulations, administrative burdens, complicated taxation, barriers in service sector, bureaucracy, and etc.

 “The Changing Face of Russia” Seminar Series is an excellent means for the Mid-Atlantic business community to keep abreast of recent trends and improvements taking place in Russia, as well as to learn how to dynamically adjust to the current conditions for conducting business in Russia.  Moreover, the seminar series provides a great opportunity to meet those who have succeeded in their fields while going through the difficult period faced by Russia.  The changing environment in Russia has not only created new opportunities for business cooperation, but has also made the business climate in the country more favorable.  Successful performances by many U.S. and other foreign companies on the Russian market demonstrate an enormous potential for future U.S.-Russia business relations.

For further information on the “Changing Face of Russia” Seminar Series, please contact Val Kogan, President of the MARBC, by phone at: (215) 708-2628, or by e-mail at: val@ma-rbc.org or visit the MARBC website: www.ma-rbc.org.