November 2020 | ISSUE No. 298| USRCC Business Newsletter
◾ USRCC Activities
Tuesday, November 17, 2020: Energy Dialogue - "State of Energy Industry and Its Future"
On November 17, 2020, the USRCC held the Energy Dialogue titled "State of Energy Industry and Its Future." 

The Energy Dialogue was moderated by John W. Gibson, President and CEO of Flotek Industries, Former Chairman of Energy Technology at Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Company and Honorary Consul of Kazakhstan.

The following executives participated in the Energy Dialogue:

  • Mark A. Gyetvay, Chief Financial Officer and Deputy Chairman of the Management Board, PAO NOVATEK;
  • Cederic Cremers, Executive Vice President and Country Chair - Russia, Shell;
  • Sandy Esslemont, President and Chief Executive Officer, Parker Drilling Company; and
  • Matthew J. Sagers, Executive Director, Oil and Gas, IHS Markit.

The panelists discussed several topics, including, global LNG demand, energy sustainability, energy affordability and security, energy transition, OPEC+, and the future of the Oil and Gas industry.

Lively discussion among the panelists also centered around the following:
  • What can make energy industry stronger?
  • What will be the growth rate of alternative energy sources? 
  • How to bring investors back into upstream?

Over 120 registrants participated in a well moderated Q&A session. Representatives from the following companies were among the attendees: Shell, LITASCO, Gazprom Neft, Halliburton, Parker Drilling, Rosneft, ConocoPhillips, National Oiwell Varco, Volga-Dnepr, Caterpillar, NEK Group, Sulzer GTC Technology, Lummus Technology, Texas Governor Office, OGT Inc., Derrick Corporation, Marubeni Corporation, LYNDEN International, and others.

Testimonials:

"The subject is very relevant to the current times. It is just unbelievable that USRCC could hold such a successful panel discussion in the current environment of the pandemic. The panelists assembled are all leaders in their companies and fields and very informative. They provided a very positive view of the challenges and the resources that we have to meet the challenges. Please keep up the good work, USRCC." Nagraj Eleswarapu, Sugar Land Consultancy, Owner.

"Great and detailed presentations." Tom Ford, Moody Rambin, Vice President.

"Extremely useful." Tad Pilinski, AUTUS Corporation, President.
MARK GYETVAY

CFO & Deputy Chairman 
of the Management Board,
PAO NOVATEK
CEDERIC CREMERS

Executive Vice President 
and Country Chair - Russia, 
Shell
SANDY ESSLEMONT

President and CEO,
Parker Drilling Company
MATTHEW J. SAGERS

Executive Director, Oil and Gas, 
IHS Markit
JOHN W. GIBSON, JR.

President and CEO, Flotek Industries
Former Chairman of Energy Technology at Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Company
Honorary Consul of Kazakhstan
USRCC's Bilateral Trade Report
The U.S.-Russia
Bilateral Trade Report
is available here.
The Report includes statistics by years and states according to the United States Census Bureau for the years 2010-2019, as well as of exports and imports to Russia according to the United States Census Bureau for the January 2020-March 2020.
USRCC Membership
Are you taking advantage
of your USRCC Member Benefits?

The U.S.-Russia Chamber of Commerce provides a variety of Membership options to fit your business needs and goals. Renew your membership or join for the first time today!

For more information click here.
Member's News
Gazprom and Uniper Highlight Essential Role of Natural Gas in Achieving EU’s Decarbonization Policy Goals

Gazprom.com, November 19, 2020: A working meeting between Alexey Miller, Chairman of the Gazprom Management Committee, and Andreas Schierenbeck, Chief Executive Officer of Uniper, took place today via a video call. The parties reviewed the state and prospects of cooperation between the companies. Particular attention was paid to the role and significance of natural gas as a green energy source in the context of Europe's decarbonization policy goals. Read more...
UHD Ranks Most Affordable in Lone Star State

Uhd.edu, November 19, 2020: When it comes to looking for the perfect university or college, there are many factors that come to mind. For Texas residents, Best Value Schools helps make the search a bit easier with its latest rankings of the state’s Most Affordable College for 2020. UHD made the top 10 for one of the most affordable in the Lone Star State to help searching for the best school for your education and personal goals at an affordable cost that goes beyond what the institution’s year tuition rate. The site takes into account financial aid packages, grants, scholarships and more. Read more...
Sulzer Secures Contract for Danish Climate Protection Scheme

Sulzer.com, November 17, 2020: Nine Sulzer pumps are set to play a key role in new flood defenses around the town of Ringkøbing. Danish water utility Ringkøbing-Skjern Forsyning A/S has selected Sulzer as the primary pump supplier for a major flood defense project. Two new pumping stations are being constructed to mitigate the impact of rising water levels in the Ringkøbing Fjord over the next 40 years and beyond. Read more...
This Week in Review
Upper House Approves Bill on 15% Income Tax Rate for Annual Incomes of Over $66,000

Tass.com, November 18, 2020: The Federation Council, the upper house of the Russian parliament, has approved a law on raising personal income tax rate from 13% to 15% for incomes that exceed 5 mln rubles ($66,123) a year. The bill was initiated by the Russian government. The law was drafted by the order of President Vladimir Putin to create an additional source of funding for the treatment of children with severe life-threatening and chronic diseases, including rare ones. Read more...
JODI: Russia Keeps World 2nd Largest Oil Producer Position in September

1prime.biz, November 18, 2020: Russia retained its position of the world’s second largest oil producer after the U.S. in September, when its output grew 0.2%, on the month to 9.266 million barrels per day, the Joint Organizations Data Initiative (JODI) said in a report on Wednesday. The U.S. produced 10.737 million barrels per day, up 1.5%. Saudi Arabia’s output remained flat at 8.982 million barrels per day. Read more...
BIOCAD Announced Manufacturing of 1mn Doses of Sputnik V in December

Russiabusinesstoday.com, November 19, 2020: Biocad company plans to start producing 1 mln doses of the Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine in December 2020, Chief Executive Officer of the Russian pharmaceutical company Dmitry Morozov said on Thursday at the 13th St. Petersburg International Innovation Forum, TASS reported. “According to my estimates, we must produce 3-4 mln doses per month so that we could at least partly cover the demand. It is difficult for me to say when it will be possible. We now plan to reach the production level of 1 mln doses in December and will continue expanding it later on,” Morozov said. Read more...
Gazprom Neft Approves Sale of 50% of Subsidiary with Gydan Licenses to Shell

Interfax.com, November 18, 2020: The board of directors of Gazprom Neft has approved the sale of a 50% stake in Gazpromneft-Aero Bryansk LLC to Anglo-Dutch oil and gas major Royal Dutch Shell (SPB: RDS.A) (SPB: RDS.A), the Russian oil company said. Gazpromneft-Aero Bryansk holds the rights to the Leskinsky and Pukhutsyayakhsky blocks on the Gydan Peninsula. Gazprom Neft's board therefore approved the formation of a joint venture between Gazprom Neft and Shell for the Yenisei project, which will include the Leskinsky and Pukhutsyayakhsky blocks. Read more...
Russian Cosmonauts Conduct Spacewalk Outside ISS

Sputniknews.com, November 18, 2020: In mid-September, Roscosmos said the exit into outer space would be performed from Poisk, a new module in the space station's Russian segment. Before that, spacewalks were conducted from the Pirs module, which is due to be separated from the ISS and removed from orbit in 2021 to make space for another new module, Nauka. Read more...
Russia Starts Building $850M High-Speed Arctic Internet

Themoscowtimes.com, November 19, 2020: Russia has started building high-speed internet infrastructure in the Arctic to be used by large ports and oil and gas companies, the Federal Sea and River Transportation Agency announced Wednesday. The trans-Arctic underwater fiber optic cable will stretch across 10,000 kilometers from the northwestern port of Murmansk to the Pacific port of Vladivostok. Read more...
Houston-Tyumen Sister Cities
Russian Scientists Create New Technology to Make 'Smart' Fertilizers

Sputniknews.com, November 19, 2020: Scientists from Russia's Tomsk Polytechnic University (TPU) have created a new technology to manufacture so-called "smart" fertilisers that can be extracted from mining waste. The study was сonducted in cooperation with researchers from Russia's Tyumen State University and within the framework of a joint project of the Russian Foundation for Basic Research and the Indian government's Department of Science and Technology. Read more...
CIS Business News
EU and Central Asian Ministers Agree to Forge Closer Relations

Astanatimes.com, November 19, 2020: Kazakh Minister of Foreign Affairs Mukhtar Tileuberdi participated in the 16th EU-Central Asia ministerial meeting held Nov. 17, where European Union and Central Asian countries reaffirmed their commitment to forging closer ties. The virtual meeting also gathered the foreign ministers of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, first deputy foreign minister of Kyrgyzstan and the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Joseph Borell. Read more...
Novak, Belarus Deputy PM Nazarov Discuss Export of Belarusian Oil Products via Russian Infrastructure

Interfax.com, November 18, 2020: Russia's deputy prime ministers Alexander Novak and Alexey Overchuk have discussed bilateral cooperation in the oil sector with Belarus Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Nazarov, the press service of the Russian government said. The parties also discussed the possibility of using Russia's infrastructure to export Belarusian oil products, and the establishment of the appropriate economic conditions remains on the agenda of the two countries. Read more...
Azerbaijan, Georgia Sign Cargo Transportation Accord

Azernews.az, November 18, 2020: The Azerbaijani Railways CJSC and the Georgian Railway JSC have signed a document on bilateral cooperation in the field of cargo transportation, the Azerbaijani Railways company reported on November 17. Chairman of the Azerbaijani Railways Javid Gurbanov briefed participants in the meeting about current cooperation between the Azerbaijani and Georgia Railways, the transport and logistics capabilities of Azerbaijan, railway reforms and work to improve its efficiency. Read more...
US-Russia Related News in Russia
◾ Новости недели
Минэк Предложил Давать Вид на Жительство за Вложения в Экономику

Iz.ru, Ноябрь 20, 2020: Иностранные граждане смогут получить вид на жительство (ВНЖ) в РФ в обмен на инвестиции в экономику. Такой законопроект разработало Минэкономразвития. Чтобы получить документы, им нужно будет вложить в открытие ИП не менее 10 млн рублей, трудоустроив при этом хотя бы 10 человек, сделать взнос в капитал российской организации в 15 млн или 50 млн — в адрес иностранной (причем последняя должна работать в России не меньше трех лет). Читать далее...
РСПП Просит Выдавать Кредиты под Залог Интеллектуальной Собственности

Kommersant.ru, Ноябрь 20, 2020: Российский союз промышленников и предпринимателей (РСПП) просит Минэкономики создать условия для кредитования под залог интеллектуальной собственности. Сейчас банки фактически не выдают деньги под залог патентов, прав на кино или музыку, что сдерживает развитие творческого предпринимательства, считает РСПП. Там предлагают организовать эксперимент с вовлечением кредитных организаций. Читать далее...
Деловая Активность в России в Октябре Выросла до Максимума с Февраля 2020 года

Tass.ru, Ноябрь 20, 2020: Деловая активность в России в октябре 2020 года улучшилась по отношению к предыдущему месяцу, показав максимальный уровень с февраля текущего года. Об этом свидетельствует ежемесячное исследование настроений малого и среднего бизнеса, которое провели Промсвязьбанк (ПСБ), бизнес-объединение "Опора России" и агентство Magram Market Research. Читать далее...
Американский Бизнес Инвестировал в Экономику Москвы $2,7 млрд

Interfax.ru, Ноябрь 19, 2020: Объем накопленных инвестиций в экономике Москвы со стороны бизнеса из США составляет $2,7 млрд. Об этом сообщил заммэра столицы по вопросам экономической политики и имущественно-земельных отношений Владимир Ефимов. По его словам, Москва сегодня – одна из крупнейших городских экономик мира, и одними из значимых инвесторов столицы являются компании из США. Читать далее...
В Госдуму Внесли Продлевающий Отсрочку по Долгам Бизнеса Проект

Rbc.ru, Ноябрь 19, 2020: В Государственную думу внесли законопроект о продлении отсрочки по выплате долгов для пострадавшего от пандемии коронавируса бизнеса и пенсионеров с просроченными кредитами. Соответствующий документ опубликован в электронной базе данных нижней палаты. Читать далее...
GET INVOLVED

The USRCC is looking for new team members!

Volunteers play a key role and the contributions they make impact the day-to-day functions of the chamber and shape the future of the relationship between Russia and the U.S.

There are many ways you can get involved with the USRCC. Whether you are an experienced leader or a student, there is a place for you. By volunteering you can be at the very center of our high-profile events held in Houston, Chicago and New York City and interact with influential leaders in the U.S.-Russia trade and investment.
To learn more about the position 
or contact us directly at info@usrussiacc.org  
call 713.429.4680
 USRCC Executive Partners 
U.S.-Russia Chamber of Commerce
2900 Wilcrest Drive
Suite 133
Houston, TX 77042

713-429-4680
The U.S.-Russia Chamber of Commerce (USRCC) is a 501(c)(6) not for profit corporation with its headquarters in Houston, Texas, and offices in the Midwest and the Northeast. The USRCC was established in 2009 to promote trade and investment between the Russian Federation and the U.S.A.  
The information contained in this newsletter is provided for general information purposes only and does not constitute legal or other professional advice on any subject matter. USRCC does not accept any responsibility for any loss that may arise from reliance on information contained in this newsletter. The views and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors. They do not reflect the opinions or views of the USRCC or its members. Links within this newsletter lead to other websites, including those operated and maintained by third parties. The linked sites are not part of the USRCC newsletter. USRCC includes these links solely as a convenience to the newsletter subscribers, and the presence of such links does not imply a responsibility for the linked site and its operator. USRCC cannot certify the accuracy of the material provided by the original source.

Copyright 2017. All Rights Reserved.