Jan
  2020
ISSUE
No. 254

  USRCC Business Newsletter
USRCC Activities
USRCC's Booth  #4513 at the Annual NAPE SUMMIT WEEK in Houston 

The annual NAPE Summit Week is an expo and networking event that brings together all the players necessary to forge, facilitate and close deals. In the upstream oil and gas business, it is the largest and most successful event of its kind in the world.

NAPE Summit Week is held February 3-7, 2020, in Houston, TX. This massive, week-long event offers prospects, producers and purchasers the unique chance to connect, reconnect and make deals. For those who seek to be successful in the upstream oil and gas business, NAPE Summit Week is the "must attend" event that has the potential to open up a myriad of opportunities. The oil and gas industry is fueled by deals. And NAPE is where deals happen:  http://napeexpo.com/summit

NAPE SUMMIT WEEK  
February 3 - 7 , 2020
GEORGE R. BROWN CONVENTION CENTER, HOUSTON, TX
Stop by the USRCC Booth #4513






The U.S. - Russia Chamber of Commerce invites you to attend 
Winter Business Networking Event!

 


When: Thursday, January 30, 2020, 
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Where:  The West End - A Public House
  5320 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77056 

           
Complimentary appetizers will be provided. Happy Hour prices will be available.

USRCC Members - free/Non-members - $10
 
 Contact Us:

The U.S.-Russia Chamber of Commerce
2900 Wilcrest Drive, Suite 133, Houston, TX 77042
Phone: 713.429.4680 Email:  info@usrussiacc.org

USRCC Membership
Are you taking advantage of your  USRCC Member Benefits?

Renew your membership or join for the first time today!

For more information  click here 
Members' News


TMK closed sale of 100% of IPSCO Tubulars Inc. shares to Tenaris

Tmk-group.com, January 13, 2020: PAO TMK announces that it has closed the sale of 100% of the shares of IPSCO Tubulars Inc. to Tenaris. Under the Stock Purchase Agreement with Tenaris signed on March 22, 2019, the transaction price amounted to US$ 1,209 million on an aggregate, cash free, debt free basis and included $270 million of working capital. In connection with the closing of the transaction, the parties entered into a 6-year master distribution agreement whereby, beginning on January 2, 2020, Tenaris will be the exclusive distributor of TMK's OCTG and  line pipe products in the United States and Canada . Read more...
Lukoil board of directors summarizes preliminary 2019 results

Lukoil.com, January 13, 2020: LUKOIL Board of Directors held a meeting in Moscow today to summarize the Company's preliminary 2019 results and set priorities for 2020 under the Strategic Development Program for 2018 - 2027.It was noted at the meeting that the Company successfully accomplished the second year's goals within the ten-year strategy and achieved significant progress in delivering on key projects and strategic initiativesRead more...
The Week in Review
Ruble grows against dollar and euro after Putin appoints Mishustin as Russian PM

Tass.com, January 16, 2020: The ruble and indices on Moscow Exchange accelerated growth after Mikhail Mishustin was appointed to the post of Prime Minister of Russia. Thus, the dollar slowed down growth to 61.55 rubles (+0.21%), and the euro - to 68.73 rubles. (+0.3%).  At the same time, the RTS index grew by 0.75% to 1,614.33 points, while the MOEX Russia Index (previously MICEX) rose by 0.71% to 3,154.75 points.  Read more..
Russia Ups Investment in U.S. Securities, Treasury Says

Russianbusinesstoday.com, January 17, 2020: Russia increased the volume of investments in U.S. government securities in November 2019 compared to the previous month by $794 million to $11.491 billion, the U.S. Treasury said on Friday, according to Interfax. 
Long-term bonds accounted for $2.979 billion, while Russia's holding of short-term Treasury securities stood at $8.512 billion.  The volume of investments by Russia in U.S. government bonds has been increasing for the fourth month in a row . Read more.. .
Russia's 'socially significant' websites should be accessible to everyone free of charge - Putin

Rt.com, January 15, 2020: Free access to key Russian websites will give people wider opportunities to communicate, learn new things, and be creative; this will give the country a competitive advantage, Vladimir Putin has said. The president's annual state of the nation address focused on improving demographics and finding ways of increasing the quality of life for the population. The internet has a huge part to play in this, and because the web is now "a daily life necessity" for most Russians, Putin suggested the "Accessible Internet" project should be launched nationwide.  Read more... 
India is prepared to invest into Russia's Vostok Oil Arctic project

Sputniknews.com, January 15, 2020: India is prepared to invest into Russia's Vostok Oil Arctic project, India's Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan said Wednesday."Very interesting. Yes. Categorically yes," Pradhan said when asked whether India would be investing in the project.  He added that the amount of India's investment would be determined at a later time.  Vostok Oil is a joint venture between Russia's state-owned Rosneft oil giant and Russian owned private oil producer Neftegazholding to explore oil reserves in the Arctic . Read more...
Putin proposes Federal Tax Service head Mishustin as next Prime Minister

Rt.com, January 15, 2020: Russian President Vladimir Putin has suggested the head of Federal Tax Service as a candidate for the post of Prime Minister after the government resigned earlier on Tuesday.  Putin has met with Mishustin and offered him the PM's position which he accepted, the Kremlin said.  Mishustin went to the State Duma straight from the Kremlin for an extraordinary meeting of the Parliament's Council, which includes the speaker and the heads of the factions.   During the meeting, it was agreed that the MPs will decide on the nominee for prime minister on Thursday.  Read more...

Russia's Putin seeks to stimulate birth rate

Bbc.com, January 15, 2020 : President Vladimir Putin has announced a series of plans to increase the number of children being born in Russia from an average birth rate of under 1.5 per woman to 1.7 within four years. Last year he promised tax breaks for bigger families.  On Wednesday he told parliament "the birth rate is falling again" before pledging state funding for new mothers. "Maternity capital" has until now only been paid to families with at least two children.  Welfare benefits will also be paid for children aged three to seven in low-income families, and free school meals will be provided for the first four years of school.   Read more...
CIS Business News

Young Kazakh entrepreneurs foster cooperation between Kazakh, South Korean medical centres


Astanatimes.com, 13 January, 2020: Place your own text here. Metafile high record infrared data patch encapsulated, proxy, transmission, harmonic. Cascading coordinated patch broadband distributed sampling connectivity recognition analog, element. Encapsulated data, arrray cache developer element. Record, fragmentation sampling remote phaselock ethernet services, sampling reflective. Developer sampling sequential indeterminate anomoly port femtosecond transponder. Device digital extended disk overflow resistor, capacitance. Encapsulated transmission harmonic echo dithering arrray system device high, bus backbone, debugged read-only indeterminate. Read more...
Lukashenko invited to visit Latvia on 3 April

Eng.belta.by, January 16, 2020: Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko is invited to visit Latvia on 3 April, Latvian Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins said as he met with the Belarusian head of state on 16 January, BelTA has learned. "A lot of preparatory work is underway to arrange your visit to Latvia. We suggest 3 April for the visit, if it is convenient to the Belarusian side. We will be very glad to see you," Krisjanis Karins said. He expects the Belarusian delegation to include business people, so that the parties will be able to discuss not only political, but also economic cooperation.  Read more...
President of Turkmenistan attends international conference on 25th anniversary of Turkmen neutrality

Bbc.comJanuary 15, 2020: An international conference titled "Turkmenistan and International Organizations: Cooperation for Peace and Development" was held in Ashgabat ahead of the celebration of the 25th anniversary of Turkmenistan's permanent neutrality later in 2020. President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov attended the grand opening of the conference.  The forum brought together top officials and representatives of the Government of Turkmenistan, regional heads of international organizations, including the UN, OSCE, EU, World Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Asian Development Bank, as well as heads of the diplomatic corps accredited in Ashgabat, local and foreign mass media Read more...
Houston - Tyumen Sister Cities


Gazprom Neft and Shell to expand their joint project to develop the Salym Group of fields in KhMAO

Einnews.com, January 17, 2020: Gazprom Neft and Shell have agreed to expand their JV Salym Petroleum Development. The company's portfolio of assets will include a license for the right to geological survey, exploration and production of conventional hydrocarbon reserves of the Salymsky 2 block in the Khanty Mansiisk Autonomous Region.  Read more...
US-Russia Related News in Russian
Новости недели
Медведев выделил 127 млрд рублей на строительство атомного ледокола

Iz. ru, Январь 17, 2020:Дмитрий Медведев перед отставкой с поста премьер-министра России подписал постановление о выделении из бюджета более 127,5 млрд рублей на строительство атомного ледокола «Лидер». Документ был подписан 15 января и опубликован на официальном правовой информации.  Читать далее...
Медведев и Мишустин провели встречу с членами правительства

Tass.ru, Январь 17, 2020: Новый премьер-министр РФ Михаил Мишустин и его предшеcтвенник Дмитрий Медведев в пятницу провели встречу с членами российского правительства. Мишустин приехал утром в Дом Правительства на Краснопресненской набережной. Он и Медведев более часа общались один на один в кабинете председателя правительства, а затем вместе вышли на встречу с кабинетом министров, который находится в отставке, но продолжает выполнять свои обязанности. На встречу было приглашено правительство в полном составе.  Читать далее...
Shell поддержала "Северный по - 2"

Mk.ru, Январь 17, 2020: Компания Shell заявила, что, несмотря на ограничительные меры Соединенных Штатов, поддерживает проект "Северный поток - 2", так как считает, что он очень важен для европейской энергетической безопасности. Об этом сообщил председатель концерна в России Седерик Кремерс . 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 centre 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  click here or contact us directly at info@usrussiacc.org   call 713.429.4680
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The U.S.-Russia Chamber of Commerce (USRCC)  is  a 501(c)(6) no t 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  Russia n 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 .