Throughout 2008-2009 the Mid-Atlantic – Russia Business Council (MARBC) is presenting 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 are being organized throughout the Mid-Atlantic region, including Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and New York.

The first three of these seminars took 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, in coordination with the World Trade Center of Greater Philadelphia and supported by DLA Piper, KPMG, and DHL, was conducted on January 25th in Philadelphia.  The second seminar organized by the MARBC with SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG) was held at State College on February 20th.  The third seminar, organized by MARBC and the World Trade Club of the Lehigh Valley and Lehigh Export Network, took place on March 25th at Brookside Country Club in the Lehigh Valley.  These seminars have served to prepare for the MARBC Month in Russia in March-April 2008, and to assist the first Pennsylvania Trade Mission to Russia in late June.  The first “Changing Face of Russia” seminar outside of Pennsylvania was a part of New York City's World Trade Week events on May 23rd in New York at DLA Piper US LLP; MARBC organized this seminar with the U.S. Department of Commerce, New York State Bar Association, Manhattan Chamber of Commerce and Trade Representation of the Russian Federation in the USA. MARBC will be conducting further seminars in Pennsylvania and along the East Coast.

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.  With experts and executives from the Russian-American business community discussing the current commercial and economic environment in Russia, 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. 

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.  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, presenters will discuss 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 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, via e-mail at: val@ma-rbc.org or visit the MARBC website: www.ma-rbc.org.