newsplus
U.S.-Russia business affairs
Look for the news and materials worth your time in:
Latest and Most Important
Russians bet on U.S. Steel
Russia's steel elite, with cash to burn from record profits, has accumulated almost 10 percent of U.S. steelmaking capacity as it bets big that demand in the world's largest economy will ride out a global credit crunch.
Russian Parliamentary (Duma) Elections: "Keep your "snotty noses" out!"
That's what Putin said to all Western leaders and media, who have publicized the well known lavish preferences "United Russia" had during the campaign, the pressure on all Russian big business, the vote-rigging... And that's exactly what the Western world did! The West no longer dares to poke the nose in the Russian domestic affairs and, increasingly, in Russia's foreign policy. Europe's main observer body boycotted the polls! Great idea! Some 300 unknown observers "looked over" the elections instead... (Just for reference, Russia has a population of 130 million spanning over 11 time zones). "Early reports from Russia include allegations of election-day violations. We urge Russian authorities to investigate these claims," said Gordon Johndroe, a spokesman for White House national security council. OK! What ya gonna do about it, hah? Putin's team IS the "Russian authorities"! This statement is just another demonstration that U.S. foreign policy continues to seriously lack understanding of what's going on outside of the U.S. national borders!
Putin's power team won by a landslide - as expected by the vast majority of the Russian people, who associates Putin with the improved quality of life, which has become obvious for everybody in Russia and all those, who have visited it in the last 4-5 years. Who cares that the improvement is being paid for by the flourishing Russian commodity exports? Who cares how much this and the upcoming presidential campaign cost? The voting Russians have been trained for the political apathy by the Communist rule, the hick up years that followed, the "prihvatization times" (Russian expression combining "privatization" and "to grab (equity)"). Russian people just want to have a life! And life is better now!
What does the United Russia's victory mean for business? Stability! Financial markets have rejoiced at the resounding win by the Putin's power team, and ...remained quiet. Business has already factored the election results into their strategies and tactics! Business feels better and investors will keep on crowding as the Russia Trading System index continues to far outpace most stock indices in the world.
Despite all the kicks and giggles of the Western leadership, media, and pro-Western movements in Russia itself, nothing can stop Putin's power team for many years to come. Whether you like it or not! Boycotting elections, irrelevant jokes from Washington are laughable! The change of power in Russia is not expected until after all commodity prices are back down (thanks to alternative energy sources and technology advances); Putin's buddies have enjoyed a few years of sheik-like life, nationalized companies have been robbed of cash, innovation and sane management, and oligarch's children wasted the better parts of their parents' fortunes. What ya gonna do about it? Hah?
U.S. Companies Still Like Russia
Russia still attracts a lot of attention from U.S. businesses, despite Moscow's unwelcome intrusions in the private sector. The Kremlin's latest economic diktat is a law working its way through the Parliament, or Duma, that will restrict foreign direct investment (FDI) in various strategic sectors, including energy, metals, shipbuilding and aircraft manufacturing.
Противоречивые взгляды и подходы к российско-американским отношениям
...В частном секторе значительна доля тех, кто вполне положительно оценивает Россию и хотел бы принимать большее участие в ее деловой жизни. Предпринимательское сообщество в целом заинтересовано в российском фондовом рынке, потребительском секторе и сфере недвижимости. Оно также заинтересовано и в энергетическом секторе, хотя недавние шаги российского правительства...
Archive
Beyond the latest news and with analysis
Notable Publications
U.S. Owned New Manufacturing Plant Deep in Russia
This project shows what is possible when an American company takes the time to research and understand the Russian emerging market and to work with local city and regional governments and private sector vendors.
Russian Farmers Like to Learn More about U.S. Agribusiness
Russia is far behind the United States in farming practices, but they are eager to learn more. U.S. agriculture companies like Bourgault Industries recognize the need for up-to-date machinery in Russia.
Russian Businesses Eyeing Silicon Valley
Like every other part of the world, the Russians want partnerships with valley tech companies and venture capitalists. They offered up their version of a road show during a two-day conference in Mountain View last week, making a pitch for investment in the oil-rich country that's also full of smart scientists and technologists.
U.S. Boatbuilder Enters Russian Waters
Trade Marine, headquartered in the northwest Russia port city of St. Petersburg, has ordered four boats for exhibition at the Moscow International Boat Show in January and 10 more for a similar event in St. Petersburg in June.
Oil & Gas Services: Weatherford’s Man in Russia
The fast pace of this growth is fostering a rebirth of Russian manufacturing. For global oilfield service and supply companies, it is an opportunity to plant their flag in Russia or to take their existing Russian and CIS operations to a new level.
Saving Russia
Russia needs a new public relations manager. We hear the depressing news about the state's growing role in the economy and President Putin's machinations to retain control when his term ends, but we never hear the one story that could really give us hope about Russia's future: the successful development of Russian entrepreneurs.
Russians Are Interested in South Florida Real Estate
New wealth of Russians that have come to the forefront in the past 10 years and are looking to diversify their portfolio. Most of them are in their late 30s, and some of the billionaires are under 40. Some buyers already own places on Fisher Island and in New York. Strong Russian interest in U.S. real estate, in particular in signature locales like Miami and New York, also has been noticed by real estate lawyers.
International Paper and Ilim Complete Formation of 50:50 Joint Venture
International Paper (NYSE: IP) and Ilim Holding S.A. have completed the previously announced formation of a 50:50 joint venture, the largest foreign- domestic alliance in the Russian forest sector. The joint venture will operate as Ilim Group (Ilim).
Northwest Passage Reopens Shipping Routes With Global Economic Impact
It started with a Russian expedition planting the Russian flag in a polar seabed. Though largely symbolic, it touched off a scramble among a handful of nations, all trying to lay claim to the Arctic. Among these claimants: the U.S., Canada, Russia and Denmark.
Foreign Investors Eye Sochi Deals
SOCHI - Looking out over the Caucasus mountains from his busy construction site, British property developer Tom Rawlins has reason to feel more than a little pleased with himself. "If you know what you're doing, you can make a lot of money here," said Rawlins, who is selling dozens of luxury condos and chalets as fast as he can build them in the Sochi ski resort of Krasnaya Polyana.
Starbucks opens its first store in Russia
With the hiss of an espresso machine and a note in Russian explaining the meaning of tall, grande and vente, Starbucks opened its first coffee
shop in Russia on Thursday in a mall outside Moscow.
Russia Trade Environment - 2000 and Beyond — Doing Business in Russia Today
When viewing the events that have shaped today's Russian economy, key facts about the events following the 1917 Revolution provide a good perspective. Within three years of the Revolution, the Russian economy was in shambles after a Civil War and the application to economy of a political ideology incompatible with the natural instincts of a predominantly agrarian populace.
Investing in the Future: By Buying Up Foreign Companies, Emerging Economies Show their Power
The Russian oil industry, in particular, is in need of technological know-how and acquisitions in this area should be forthcoming. Russian steel and metal companies are also venturing abroad. Evraz, in particular, has acquired U.S. downstream transformers such as Oregon Steel Mills as well as plants in the Czech Republic and Italy. Norilsk Nickel has also made U.S. acquisitions and has become a shareholder in companies as far apart as Australia and Finland.
Oilfield services market is worth $10-15 billion annually
The future of the Russian oil and gas industry, its competitive strength in the international market is getting increasingly dependent on efficient technologies, exploration and production methods.
Today, against the background of the growing domestic and world consumption, substantial depletion of traditional fields and reduced hydrocarbon production, Russia faces a strategic need to develop new prospective territories of East Siberia, Yamal Peninsula, the shelf of the Russian Federation and deep horizons of the West Siberian petroleum province.
From factories to chateaux: Russia bids for wine fame
Investment is finally beginning to come to the rolling hills of Russian wine country, named after the local Kuban river and centred around the resort of Anapa on the Black Sea coast.
Russia enters the beauty food market
A Russian producer of healthy food products has announced the release of its first beauty drink aimed at improving skin using a blend of antioxidants and minerals.
A Tale of Two Business Schools
What have the medieval towns of Leuven and Gent in Belgium got in common with Russia’s northern capital? Until last year you could have looked for many answers, such as a common European culture and many tourist attractions, but now they all have campuses of Vlerick Leuven Gent Management School. At the end of 2006, the famous Belgian business school opened its third campus in St. Petersburg, the fruit of years of collaboration between Vlerick and the International School of Management (ISM) in St. Petersburg.
Wiser Students Make Higher Demands
In Russia, over 60 business schools compete for the opportunity to educate managers. According to estimations by Begin Group company, in value terms the Russian business education market is worth 1.29 billion rubles.
What is a typical MBA student like? And what do students normally expect from a business school?
Putin's 11th-hour dilemma
Russian President Vladimir V. Putin faces a stark and fundamental choice that will affect his personal future
and that of his nation. He can choose a weak successor who will not threaten his influence when he steps down
in six months nor stand in the way of his becoming president again in 2012. Or Putin can choose a
strong successor and risk his own political future.
Putin has been vilified by the West - but he is still a great leader
I had expected to find Vladimir Putin cold, sinister and aggressive.
Waiting to meet the Russian President at the Valdai discussion club, an annual meeting of academics and journalists who specialise in Russia, I recalled the tasteless pictures of him published this summer, showing him bare-chested and wearing a gold chain on a fishing trip to Siberia.
World potash prices could rocket on Sibur plan
One of the world's largest plays in consolidating mineral and chemical fertilizer assets is under way in Russia.
The outcome of this almost unrecognized, and unreported, contest could wind up restricting the flow of mined potash to major international consumers. And because Russia has become the swing producer and international market-maker in the commodity, what is happening now could light a rocket under the price of potash in the coming year.