May 2020 | ISSUE No. 270| USRCC Business Newsletter
The U.S.-Russia Chamber of Commerce 
Invites You to Attend
The 10th Annual Welcome Reception
Honoring Russian and CIS Delegations 
to the Breakbulk Americas 2020

Breakbulk Americas has been the established hub for the project cargo and breakbulk industry for more than 30 years. Based in Houston, it hosts more than 5,000 professionals from across the industrial supply chain based primarily in Canada, U.S. and Latin America, including the America’s largest EPCs and oil & gas companies. The conference provides shippers with the opportunity to meet and develop relationships with the leading specialized carriers, forwarders, ports, terminals and packers who have the expertise and resources to handle oversized cargoes with unique handling requirements.

U.S.-Russia Chamber of Commerce invites you to join the welcoming Russian and CIS delegations to the  10th Annual Breakbulk Americas Reception . This annual event draws decision makers in U.S.- Russia trade and investment, including senior representatives from major shipping and logistics companies, leaders in the oil and gas industry, government officials, elected officials and more. 

Wednesday, November 4, 2020 
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM 
Four Seasons Hotel, Whitney Room 
1300 Lamar Street, Houston, TX 77010

USRCC Members - $30/Non-Members - $60
Please note: Refunds will not be issued after November the 2nd, 2020
For sponsorship opportunities please contact: 

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

USRCC conducted the Survey about the COVID-19 pandemic impact on our Members businesses. 63% of the respondents were small-business representatives, the other 37% - from large companies. Energy, education, consulting, finance, insurance, legal, media companies were among the respondents.
Here are the results:
  • The vast majority of companies (75%) noted that they intend to apply for the Government assistance;
  • About 87% of our respondents expect from 50% to 100% business recovery in a year from now;
  • The main aspects our respondents are worried about are revenues, money matters, profit impact, and employees well-being and loss of talents;
  • All our respondents experienced a decrease in demand for their products or services in different proportion;
  • The following measures were enacted in our respondents' companies: 100% instituted work-from-home practices, 50% enacted a hiring freeze, 37% laid-off employees, reduced wages and shut down whole or partial operations.

USRCC thanks everyone who participated in the Survey!
◾ 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
LUKOIL Announces the Completion of the Issuance of US$1,500,000,000 of Eurobonds

Lukoil.com, May 6, 2020:  PJSC "LUKOIL" announces the completion of the issuance of US$1,500,000,000 of Rule 144A/Regulation S notes. The offering consists of 10-year notes with a coupon of 3.875% per annum.   Read more...
Emerson Declares Dividend

Emerson.com, May 5, 2020: The board of directors of Emerson (NYSE: EMR) today declared the regular quarterly cash dividend of fifty cents ($0.50) per share of common stock payable June 10, 2020 to stockholders of record May 15, 2020. Read more...
Shell Sells U.S. Appalachia Assets to National Fuel

Shell.com, May 4, 2020:   Royal Dutch Shell plc, through its affiliate SWEPI LP (“Shell”), has reached an agreement with publicly listed U.S. energy company National Fuel Gas Company (NFG), and its subsidiaries, Seneca Resources Company, LLC, National Fuel Gas Midstream Company, LLC, and NFG Midstream Covington, LLC (together “National Fuel”), to sell its Appalachia shale gas position for $541 million, subject to closing adjustments. The transaction has an effective date of January 1, 2020. Read more...

Exxonmobil.com, May 1, 2020:   Exxon Mobil Corporation today announced an estimated first quarter 2020 loss of $610 million, or $0.14 per share assuming dilution, compared with earnings of $2.4 billion a year earlier. Results included a $2.9 billion charge from identified items, or $0.67 per share assuming dilution, reflecting noncash inventory valuation impacts from lower commodity prices and asset impairments. Read more...
◾ This Week in Review
Lockdown in Moscow to Not Be Eased after May 12

Tass.com, May 6, 2020:   Moscow’s lockdown is not planned to be eased after May 12, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said Wednesday during the meeting on social and economic support measures with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The growth in the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Moscow suggests better detection, Sergei Sobyanin stated. Read more...
Russian Flag-Carrier Aeroflot Warns Air Travel May Not Resume Until Mid-Summer

Rt.com, May 4, 2020:   As the coronavirus pandemic has halted almost all travel around the globe, Russian’s biggest airline said that in the best-case scenario, international flights could be resumed in July. Even when most of the dangers of the deadly pandemic are behind us, the companies could change some flight rules, the representative said. Read more...
Titov Hopeful That Russian Businesses Will Continue Work Mid-May

Russiabusinesstoday.com, May 6, 2020:   Russian business ombudsman Boris Titov expects that enterprises, including restaurants, shops and museums that had to close due to the coronavirus pandemic to resume operations from mid-May, TASS reported. “I hope that starting May 12-15, part of the businesses will start to resume their operation. This applies to certain restaurants, shops, museums, exhibitions, sightseeing sites. They will be allowed to resume work on condition they observe special regulations,” he said. Read more...
Russia’s Economic Woes Continue to Mount During Coronavirus Outbreak

Themoscowtimes.com, May 6, 2020:   A third of the Russian economy has ground to a halt because of the coronavirus lockdown, the Russian government said Wednesday, as authorities continued to resist calls for bolder measures to support the economy, and unveiled a three-step plan to start easing virus restrictions. Read more...
Russia to Raise More Debt as GDP Seen Shrinking 5% - Siluanov

Reuters.com, May 6, 2020:   Russia plans to dig deeper into its rainy day fund and to double state borrowings this year as it expects a 5% fall in gross domestic product (GDP), Finance Minister Anton Siluanov told the Vedomosti business daily. Siluanov told Vedomosti that Russian budget revenues are expected to fall 4 trillion roubles below expectations. Read more...
US Interests Key To Russian-Saudi Oil Deal – OpEd

Eurasiareview.com, May 5, 2020:   The most important aspect of the OPEC+ oil deal is the US’ strategic interests in it and the personal stakes for President Donald Trump in its signing and its continuation. Many in Russia are not happy with the deal, especially those who want Moscow to have more independence in its oil production and pricing.  Read more...
◾ Houston-Tyumen Sister Cities
More than a Thousand Small and Medium-sized Companies of the Tyumen Region Applied for Subsidies

Fedpress.ru, Май 7, 2020:   The tax authorities of the Tyumen region began accepting applications from entrepreneurs for the provision of subsidies from the federal budget. Companies that are most affected by the restrictions associated with the spread of coronavirus infection can count on it. Read more...
◾ CIS Business News
Embassy of Kazakhstan Urges Russia and EAEU Countries to Double Down on Integration Plan

Astanatimes.com, May 5, 2020:   On April 29, at the initiative of the Embassy of Kazakhstan and the Trade Representation of Kazakhstan in Russia, a hands-on online conference was held with the participation of prominent experts from the two countries. The theme of the event was, of course, the state of the world economy and how to continue building trade and economic cooperation between Kazakhstan and Russia within the framework of the EEC going forward into the post-Corona period. Read more...
Belarusian-Russian Agreement on Interbudget Transactions in Oil Trade Nearly Ready

Eng.belta.by, May 7, 2020:   According to the source, the implementation of the Belarusian-Russian arrangement that the Russian state budget will compensate the remaining part of the premiums on oil deliveries is in the final stage. “The agreement is nearly ready. I think the finance ministries are about to finalize it,” Dmitry Krutoi said. Read more...
Azercosmos Inks Co-op Agreement with Company from UAE

Azernews.az, May 7, 2020:   Azerbaijani Azercosmos OJSC satellite operator signed a cooperation agreement with TheAngle, a company providing satellite network services in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). According to the agreement, the parties will jointly provide reliable communication services (internet, voice, video, mobile, etc.) in the regions of the Middle East and Europe, the source said. Read more...
◾ US-Russia Related News in Russia
◾ Новости недели
«Газпром» Продолжит Транзит через Польшу

Kommersant.ru, Май 6, 2020:   Польский газотранспортный оператор Gaz System опубликовал итоги квартального — с 1 июля по 1 октября — аукциона на доступ к мощностям газопровода «Ямал—Европа», проходящего через территории РФ, Белоруссии, Польши и Германии. Из выставленной на аукцион мощности примерно в 7,66 млрд кубометров выбраны оказались 80%, то есть около 6,1 млрд кубометров, следует из данных оператора. Читать далее...
Российские Банки в Марте Заняли у ЦБ Рекордную с Кризиса 2014 года Сумму

Rbc.ru, Май 2, 2020:   На 1 апреля объем средств, привлеченных банками у ЦБ, составил 3,19 трлн руб., следует из опубликованной отчетности кредитных организаций. За март, запомнившийся обвалом мировых и российских рынков, обязательства сектора перед регулятором выросли на 30,2%, или на 739,37 млрд руб. Читать далее...
Все и Сразу: Почему Дорожает Нефть и Сколько Это Продлится

Gazeta.ru, Май 6, 2020:   Благодаря сделке  ОПЕК + по ежесуточному сокращению добычи нефти до 9,7 миллиона баррелей с мая по июнь на рынок «черного золота» вернулась уверенность. Уже в первых числах месяца цены выросли на 100% от минимальных значений в конце апреля. При этом в ходе торгов 6 мая стоимость барреля Brent превышала $32 – впервые с 14 апреля.  Читать далее...
Штат Техас Отказался от Обязательного Сокращения Добычи Нефти

Vedomosti.ru, Май 5, 2020:   5 мая Техасская железнодорожная комиссия – регулятор отрасли в главном нефтяном штате США – решила не вводить обязательное пропорциональное сокращение добычи нефтяными компаниями штата. Комиссия приняла решение о приоритетной поддержке компаний, производящих до 1000 баррелей в день, снятии ряда ограничений на консервацию и открытие скважин, а также о хранении нефти в альтернативных хранилищах. Читать далее...
Правительство Рассмотрит Третий Пакет Мер Поддержки Экономики и Граждан

Tass.ru, Май 7, 2020:   На повестке дня - восемь вопросов. Ключевой темой станет рассмотрение нового законопроекта, направленного на урегулирование отношений, возникающих в связи с необходимостью экстренного реагирования на вызовы, связанные с распространением новой коронавирусной инфекции, вызванной COVID-19. Читать далее...
Банк России Спрогнозировал Дефицит Бюджета РФ на Уровне 5-6% ВВП

News.ru, Май 6, 2020:   По информации ТАСС, финансовый регулятор учёл в прогнозе расходы на господдержку граждан и бизнеса в условиях режима самоизоляции, а также доходы от продажи акций Сбербанка за 1,1 триллиона рублей. 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 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 .

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