Oct
  2019
ISSUE
No. 240

  USRCC Business Newsletter
USRCC Activities
We are very excited to announce that 2019 marks the USRCC's 10th anniversary !

The 10th Anniversary will be a year-long celebration commemorating the USRCC's 10 years of existence. Join us in celebration at our events and support us in continuing our mission! 

The 2019 events will feature high caliber speakers, bring together the most influential key business leaders, experts and decision makers, and will provide our members and stakeholders with the perfect educational and networking opportunities. 

We are looking forward to another successful year! 

The 9th Annual Welcome Reception  Honoring Russian and CIS Delegations to the 
Breakbulk Americas  2019

On October 9, 2019, the USRCC hosted its 9th Annual Welcome Reception Honoring Russian and CIS Delegations to Breakbulk Americas 2019. The event took place in Four Season Hotel, Houston TX. 

      
 
        
This year's event gathered more than 60 attendees from around the world and included executives from leading specialized ocean carriers, freight forwarders, ports/terminals, logistics providers, road, rail, and air transportation, export packers, financial institutions, equipment and chemical companies, executives from oil and gas industry, various international chambers of commerce, and Government officials. Among others, attendees included representatives from Port of Houston, NEK, Atlantic Ro Ro, Hapag-Lloyd, Volga-Dnepr, Airbridge Cargo, UNI International, Autico, UTC Overseas, ASSTRA, Sulzer GTC Technology, GAZPROM M&T, BBVA, Colos, JPMorgan Chase, Texas International Freight and Moody Rambin.  As a result of the USRCC partnership with the Breakbulk numerous representatives from the Breakbulk  team have also attended the event.
 
The event was opened by the USRCC and continued with remarks provided by Hon. Alexander Pisarev, Consul General of the Russian Federation. The USRCC's Annual Breakbulk receptions have always been  attended by the leadership of the Port of Houston, and this year the audience was greeted by Mr. John Moseley, Chief Commercial Officer, Port of Houston, who emphasized the role of the Port of Houston as the premier US port and key transportation hub.  Keynote remarks were made by Mr. Nikolay Belikov, Operations Director, JSC "NEK", who described NEK significant experience with supporting logistics and transportation operations in severe climates.  The event was concluded with the remarks from Rick Shannon, President, Atlantic Ro-Ro, who stressed the importance of this event and shared with the audience his 28 years of experience with the shipping and transportation operations between US and Russia.
 
The event concluded with the networking session where attendees had a chance to discuss breakbulk outlook, market trends and future opportunities, transportation connectivity and technology innovations.  
 
The event would not be possible without generous sponsorship of JSC "NEK".
 
To view the event pictures, please visit our  Facebook Page
 
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Members' News
Gazprom Neft Bids for Softer OPEC+ Deal

Russiabusinesstoday.com, October 11th, 2019:  The oil arm of Russia's state-run energy giant Gazprom,   Gazprom Neft , could rapidly increase production by 5% to 66 million tons in 2020, if output restrictions under the OPEC+ deal were lifted,   Kommersant  reports.  All Russian oil companies admit that the agreement, which is set until next April, is hampering their plans to increase production, the business newspaper writes. Therefore, Gazprom Neft is offering a "readjustment" of the agreement mechanism, which could make it possible to boost production. However, according to experts interviewed by Kommersant, this development is unlikely.  Read more...
Turkish Airlines / EVA Air expands codeshare partnership from Oct 2019

Routesonline.com, October 7th, 2019:  Star Alliance carriers Turkish Airlines and EVA Air at the launch of winter 2019/20 season plans to expand codeshare service. From 27OCT19, the codeshare partnership will become bilateral, as TK-coded flight numbers being placed on all EVA Air's service between Taipei Taoyuan and Japan (excluding seasonal service to Asahikawa).  Read more...
The Week in Review
Taxi Market in Russia Expected to Grow to $11bn in 2019

Russiabusinesstoday.com, October 11th, 2019:  The Russian government's Analytical Center expects the country's taxi market to grow by 5.6% to 709 billion rubles ($11 billion) in 2019,   RBC  reports.   The study also estimates the illegal taxi market in Russia grew by 6.3% compared to 2018, to about 100 billion rubles ($1.56 billion). In some regions up to 50% of all paid rides are delivered by unlicensed drivers. Obtaining a licence to drive a taxi is not mandatory, but the police are increasingly fining drivers without licenses. Read more...
RDIF Plans New Projects Worth $10bn with Saudi Companies

Russiabusinesstoday.com, October 11th, 2019: The Russian Direct Investment Fund ( RDIF) plans to implement 25 new projects worth $10 billion with Saudi companies, RDIF CEO Kirill Dmitriev revealed at a briefing on Thursday, according to   Reuters.
"We are working now on 25 new projects worth $10 billion. We have a focus on artificial intelligence; we will sign an agreement in the [artificial] intelligence sphere with Saudi colleagues," he reported . Read more...
Latest diesel-electric sub for Russia's Pacific Fleet wraps up state trials

Tass.com, October 11th, 2019:  The Project 636.3 latest diesel-electric submarine Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky built by the Admiralty Shipyard in St. Petersburg for the Pacific Fleet has completed its state trials, the Shipyard's press office announced on Friday.
"The Admiralty Shipyard has completed the state trials of the Project 636.3 first submarine Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky for the Pacific Fleet. The ship has fulfilled the program of trials, including planned submergences. All of the sub's systems operated in the normal mode, thus confirming its stated performance characteristics," the press office said in a statement.   Read more...
Russia can help India to be less dependent on oil, says Indian energy minister

Cnbc.com, October 7th, 2019:  India , the world's third-largest oil consumer and importer, wants to reduce its reliance on oil - and working with  Russia  could help it achieve that, said Indian Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan.
 The South Asian country imports around 80% of its oil needs, but Prime Minister  Narendra Modi has said he wants to bring that down to 67% by 2022. At the same time, the Indian government plans to raise the share of natural gas in the country's energy mix from 6% to 15% by 2030.
"Today, India is sourcing its energy requirement from a different part (of the) world, Russia is one among the important destinations for us," Pradhan told CNBC's Tanvir Gill at the World Economic Forum in New Delhi, India.  Read more...
Russia-Africa Economic Forum and Summit Organizing Committee Holds Meeting in Moscow

Summitafrica.ru, October 10th, 2019:  The Organizing Committee in charge of preparing for and holding the Russia-Africa Economic Forum and Summit in the Russian Federation in 2019 has held a meeting in Moscow. The meeting was chaired by Russian Presidential Aide Yury Ushakov and attended by Advisor to the Russian President Anton Kobyakov, Roscongress Foundation CEO Alexander Stuglev, Russian Deputy Minister of Finance Sergey Storchak, and Special Representative of the Russian President for the Middle East and Africa and Russian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Mikhail Bogdanov. The meeting was also attended by representatives of ministries and departments that are involved in preparing for the events.  Read more...
Russia's Mail.Ru and China's Alibaba Complete Deal to Team Up

Themoscowtimes, October 9th, 2019: AliExpress Russia is looking to grab a share of the growing e-commerce market. 
As Russian e-commerce  enters a new growth and concentration cycle , Alibaba, Mail.Ru Group, Russian telco MegaFon and sovereign fund Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) have finalized a deal to establish an e-commerce joint venture.
The joint venture will use the existing businesses of Alibaba's AliExpress Russia, which controls the bulk of e-commerce flows between China and Russia.  The joint venture will keep the name AliExpress Russia, and operate in both the cross-border and domestic segments. This will "create an unmatched value proposition for merchants, consumers and Internet users" across Russia and some other post-Soviet republics.  Read more...
Houston-Tyumen Sister Cities
Tyumen Plant Trees

Ijf.org, October 9th, 2019:  Representatives of the Tyumen Judo Center took part in the "Plant a tree" action. Young pupils led by their coaches, Irina Artemenko and Alexander Sesiashvili, judo veterans, as well as officials of the Tyumen Judo Center participated in the initiative of the International Judo Federation, "Plant a Tree", as part of the 2019 edition of the World Judo Day, which is celebrated annually on October 28, the birthdate of the founder of judo, Jigoro Kano.   Read more...
CIS Business News
Contracts worth $1.5bn signed at BelCCI business forums

Belarus.by, October 10th, 2019The Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BelCCI) has signed supply contracts worth roughly $1.5 billion at the business forums in the last three years, BelCCI head  Vladimir Ulakhovich  told the media ahead of the 11th congress of the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Minsk on 10 October, BelTA has learned.
"We have our own road map, it is called the BelCCI 2020 development strategy. We adopted it less than three years ago. It has four main priorities: to promote domestic export, to ensure easy access to services, to facilitate BelCCI digitalization, and to support our members," said Vladimir Ulakhovich.   Read more...
Baku-Ganja railway high-speed electric train route be extended to Aghstafa

En.trend.az, October 11th, 2019: Azerbaijan Railways CJSC plans to extend the Baku-Ganja railway high-speed electric train route to Aghstafa, the company's Chairman Javid Gurbanov told reporters,   Trendreports.  According to the chairman, the plans of the company include the construction of a railway line to Shahdag and Gabala, the reconstruction of the Baku-Balakan railway, the electrification of the railways and commissioning two new depots in the country . Read more...
Weichai Group's assistance sought for making BelAZ trucks in China

Belarus.by, October 11th, 2019: Chairman of the Council of the Republic  Mikhail Myasnikovich  suggested establishing a foothold in the mining equipment market in China as he met with  Chairman of China's Weichai Group Tan Xuguang, BelTA has learned.
Being the chairman of the supervisory board of the Belarusian automobile engineering company BelAZ Mikhail Myasnikovich suggested that Weichai Group become a reliable partner of BelAZ in China. "We could jointly establish a foothold to produce and market haul trucks in China for the needs of the Chinese market and Southeast Asian markets," Mikhail Myasnikovich said. He also called to consider joint projects as a window of opportunities to fill Chinese President Xi Jinping's Belt and Road initiative with real content.  Read more...
US-Russia Related News in Russian
Новости недели
В Москве открылась Российская агропромышленная выставка «Золотая осень 2019»

Ryazagro.ru, 10 октября 2019 г: 9 октября на ВДНХ открылась 21 Российская агропромышленная выставка «Золотая осень 2019» - крупнейший в стране смотр достижений сельского хозяйства. В торжественной церемонии приняли участие Председатель Правительства России Дмитрий Медведев, заместитель Председателя Правительства России Алексей Гордеев, генеральный директор Продовольственной и сельскохозяйственной организации ООН (ФАО) Цюй Дунъюй и Министр сельского хозяйства РФ Дмитрий Патрушев.  Рязанскую область на церемонии открытия представила делегация аграриев во главе с заместителем Председателя Правительства региона Дмитрием Филипповым и министром сельского хозяйства и продовольствия Рязанской области Борисом Шемякиным.  Читать далее...
Мантуров заявил, что на автомобили Aurus поступило более 600 предзаказов

Tass.ru, 11 октября 2019 г : Глава Минпромторга напомнил, что активные продажи автомобилей Aurus начнутся в 2021 году. Б олее 600 предзаказов поступило на российские автомобили представительского класса Aurus, сообщил глава Минпромторга Денис Мантуров в интервью телеканалу  "Россия-24" "Мы собрали большой объем предварительных заказов, (на Aurus - прим , ТАСС) их уже более 600", - сказал министр, отметив, что в 2020 году планируется продать порядка 50 машин бренда.  Читать далее...
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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  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 .