November 2020 | ISSUE No. 297| USRCC Business Newsletter
◾ USRCC Activities
Tuesday, November 10, 2020: The 5th Technology and Innovation Conference: "Digital Transformation Towards Industry 4.0 and Beyond"
On November 10, 2020, the USRCC was holding its "by invitation only" 5th Technology and Innovation Conference: "Digital Transformation Towards Industry 4.0 and Beyond." The Conference was moderated by Kenneth Scherwinski, President, U.S. Operations, Ctrl2Go! and U.S.-Russia Chamber of Commerce Technology & Innovation Committee Chair. 

The following speakers addressed their presentations on the above referenced topic:
  • “NOV Robotics and Automation,” Ben Lasher, Senior Brand Manager, Rig Technologies, National Oilwell Varco;
  • “Leveraging Extended Reality for Maintenance and Training,” Athicha “M” Dhanormchitphong, Immersive Technology Architect, and Kyle Daughtry, Immersive Technology System Architect, ExxonMobil;
  • “Deep Learning for Seismic Interpretation,” Manas Pathak, Ph.D., Global AI Lead for Oil & Gas, Intel Corporation;
  • “Implementing Digitalization and IoT,” Andrea Course, Venture Principal, Shell Ventures;
  • “Innovative Technologies and Start-Ups,” Valery Krivenko, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of the Board, Angara.

The audience included over 40 executives from Energy, Oil & Gas, and Technology industries, startup investor community and private equity.

The Conference was followed by lively Q&A session, where the attendees had the opportunity to discuss new technologies in Oil & Gas industry, energy demand prospectives, and the industry future development. 
◾ USRCC Upcoming Events
ENERGY DIALOGUE

“STATE OF ENERGY INDUSTRY AND ITS FUTURE”
Energy industry is facing multiple challenges from energy demand to decarbonization and the lowering of the investment interest. What energy companies are facing due to low energy prices and COVID-19? What are their strategies to prepare for the future? What steps governments are taking to support energy industry? C-level energy executives and government officials will address these and other current questions in a moderated webinar panel format.
EVENT REGISTRATION:
Tuesday, November 17th, 2020 | 8:00 am– 10:00 am CST
Members – complimentary Non-members - $35
 
Simultaneous translation into Russian language is included.

Registration deadline: noon (CST) Monday, November 16th, 2020.
Webinar details will be provided upon registration.
Refunds will not be issued after November 13th, 2020.
PANELISTS:
MARK GYETVAY

CFO & Deputy Chairman 
of the Management Board,
PAO NOVATEK

To read the full bio click here.
CEDERIC CREMERS

Executive Vice President 
and Country Chair - Russia, 
Shell

To read the full bio click here.
SANDY ESSLEMONT

President and CEO,
Parker Drilling Company

To read the full bio click here.
MATTHEW J. SAGERS

Executive Director, Oil and Gas, 
IHS Markit

To read the full bio click here.
MODERATOR:
JOHN W. GIBSON, JR.

President and CEO, Flotek Industries
Former Chairman of Energy Technology at Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Company
Honorary Consul of Kazakhstan

To read the full bio click here.


Informational Partner
◾ 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
Lukoil and Rostelecom Agree to Cooperate in Telecommunication Services

Lukoil.com, November 12, 2020: LUKOIL and Rostelecom have agreed to cooperate in the area of telecommunication services. The cooperation is based on the agreement of Rostelecom to buy a 50.1% share in LUKOIL-INFORM, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company which provides telecommunication and IT support services to Russian-based entities of the LUKOIL Group. The concluded agreements provide for sale of the remaining 49.9% share in LUKOIL-INFORM to Rostelecom in 2023. Read more...
Negotiations Launched on Gas Supply Conditions for Belarus from January 1, 2021

Gazprom.com, November 11, 2020: A working meeting between Alexey Miller, Chairman of the Gazprom Management Committee, and Viktor Karankevich, Minister of Energy of the Republic of Belarus, took place today in St. Petersburg. At the start of the meeting, the parties noted that the issue of repaying the debt owed by Belarusian consumers for Russian gas supplies had been completely settled. In this connection, negotiations have been launched to discuss the conditions of gas supplies to Belarus starting from January 1, 2021. Read more...
Lewis Brisbois Ranked Tier 1 Nationally for Insurance Law By U.S. News/Best Lawyers

Lewisbrisbois.com, November 9, 2020: Lewis Brisbois has once again been ranked Tier 1 nationally by U.S. News & World Report/Best Lawyers for ‘Insurance Law,’ as well as ranking Tier 1 in 10 different practice areas across 11 metro regions. Last year, Lewis Brisbois ranked Tier 1 nationally for 'Insurance Law' and in eight practice areas across 10 metro regions. Read more...
◾ USRCC Business Community Outreach
◾ USRCC - IRS Informational Collaboration

Please register for the Webinar "Sale of Partnership Interest" here.
◾ This Week in Review
Sberbank CEO Expects US Authorities to Maintain Practice of Sanctions Against Russia

Tass.com, November 12, 2020: The new US authorities may try to employ the practice of sanctions against Russia, Sberbank CEO Herman Gref said in an interview with Nailya Asker-zade for Russia-1’s Vesti news show. At the same time, he found it difficult to predict what kind of sanctions Russia could face. Read more...
Russia Extends Tax Holidays for Virus-hit Businesses for 3 mths

1prime.biz, November 612, 2020: The Russian government has prolonged tax holidays for businesses that were hurt by the coronavirus pandemic for three more months, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said on Thursday during a government meeting. “Under the president’s ruling, the government prolongs the tax holidays for businesses. This spring, small and medium-sized businesses and individual entrepreneurs from the sectors that suffered most (from the pandemic) received a delay of taxes and insurance payments for half a year,” he said. Read more...
US to Expand Sanctions Against Russia’s Nord Stream 2 Gas Pipeline

Russiabusinesstoday.com, November 11, 2020: Washington has reached an agreement to include additional sanctions against Russia’s natural gas pipeline to Germany in a must-pass defense bill, Bloomberg reported on Wednesday, citing sources familiar with the issue. According to the report, the fresh sanctions against Gazprom’s Nord Stream 2 pipeline would target insurance and certification companies working with Russian vessels on the completion of the project. Read more...
Russian Debt Highly Popular Due to High Real Interest Rate, US Investor Says

Sputniknews.com, November 9, 2020: Russian debt continues to be very attractive among investors because of its real interest rate, Navigator Principal Investors Director Kyle Shostak told Sputnik. Shostak said Russia's share in JPMorgan’s GBI-EM index, the main global benchmark for emerging market local currency bonds, has also grown to 8.3% from near 7% a couple of years ago and just 1.5% in 2007. Read more...
Russian Ruble, Stocks Surge on Vaccine Optimism

Themoscowtimes.com, November 9, 2020: The Russian ruble and stock market soared Monday, hitting their strongest levels in months as global markets cheered positive news from one of the frontrunners in the coronavirus vaccine race. American pharma giant Pfizer and German BioNTech said their vaccine, currently in Phase 3 medical trials, was 90% effective in preventing Covid-19 infections. It is the most detailed and promising public update yet published on vaccine effectiveness from one of the handful of vaccines which have undergone widespread testing among volunteers. Read more...
ISS Orbital Altitude Corrected to Prepare for Launch of Soyuz MS-18 in April 2021

Sputniknews.com, November 12, 2020: The altitude of the International Space Station's orbit was corrected on Thursday with the use of the engines of Russia's Progress MS-14 cargo spacecraft to prepare for the arrival of a Soyuz spacecraft this upcoming spring, according to the crew's communication with the Earth, broadcast by NASA. Read more...
Houston-Tyumen Sister Cities
Acting Rector of Tyumen State University on Education, Future and Employment

Tass.com, November 12, 2020: In an interview with TASS, Acting Rector of Tyumen State University Ivan Romanchuk told TASS what he sees as the meaning of customized higher education, how the scientific direction of biosafety is developing at the university, how things are with the employment of students during a pandemic and what is the university's "third mission". Read more...
CIS Business News
Kazakh Economy Records Growth in Real Sector, Says Economy Minister

Astanatimes.com, November 10, 2020: The real sector of the economy demonstrated growth dynamics in almost all sectors despite the global slowdown, said Minister of National Economy Ruslan Dalenov. The Kazakh economy observed the biggest growth in its automotive industry, which had 53.6 percent growth, pharmaceuticals – 39.7 percent, processed metal products – 19.5 percent, mechanical engineering – 16.5 percent, as well as in light industry – 16.4 percent. Read more...
Belarus' Government Approves OPEC Fund's $20m Loan on healthcare

Eng.belta.by, November 13, 2020: The government has approved the draft loan agreement between Belarus and the OPEC Fund for International Development (Public Healthcare Emergency Response Program, Phase I) as a basis for negotiations. Council of Ministers' Resolution No.638 of 11 November 2020 has been officially published on the National Legal Internet Portal, BelTA has learned. Read more...
Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan Mull ilateral Cooperation 

Azernews.az, November 9, 2020: Azerbaijan and Central Asian country of Uzbekistan have discussed the prospects of expansion of bilateral relations. During the meeting held between Azerbaijan Economy Minister Mikayil Jabbarov with Uzbekistan Ambassador to Azerbaijan Bakhrom Ashrafkhanov, the sides discussed the implementation of the Action Plan on development of cooperation between two countries. Read more...
◾ US-Russia Related News in Russia
◾ Новости недели
Второе Прочтение: Что Вошло в Поправки Минфина к Бюджету

Iz.ru, Ноябрь 10, 2020: Минфин предложил поправки ко второму чтению проекта бюджета на следующую трехлетку. Большая часть корректировок касается перераспределения средств между нацпроектами и в общенациональном плане выхода из кризиса. Наиболее существенная из них — перенос 638 млрд рублей из ранее зарезервированных на поддержку экономики. Читать далее...
Путин Провел Перестановки в Правительсве

Kommersant.ru, Ноябрь 9, 2020: Число вице-премьеров увеличено с девяти до десяти. Новым вице-премьером Михаил Мишустин предложил назначить главу Минэнерго Александра Новака. Согласно новому порядку формирования правительства, одобрять кандидатуры премьера, его заместителей и министров будет Госдума, а назначать — президент. Читать далее...
"Роснефть" Завершила Строительство "Роспана" на 96%

Tass.ru, Ноябрь 13, 2020: "Роснефть" рассчитывает получить первый газ с проекта "Роспан" уже в этом году, строительство завершено на 96%. Об этом в ходе телефонной конференции сообщил вице-президент "Роснефти" Эрик Лирон. По его словам, компания не изменила свои планы по объемам ввода мощностей в 2021 году. Читать далее...
Во 2-м Чтении Принят Законопроект о Прогрессивном НДФЛ

Finmarket.ru, Ноябрь 10, 2020: Госдума приняла во втором чтении законопроект о повышении с 2021 г. ставки НДФЛ до 15% на доходы свыше 5 млн руб. в год. Документ был доработан ко второму чтению с учетом правительственных поправок.Законопроект (N1022669-7) в рамках первого чтения предусматривал сохранение ставки НДФЛ в 13% в случае превышения планки по доходам в 5 млн рублей в год только для доходов от продажи недвижимого имущества и в случае его дарения. Затем Минфин по поручению премьера Михаила Мишустина подготовил предложения по пересмотру базы расчета повышенного НДФЛ. Читать далее...
«Транснефть» Решила Урезать Финансирование Инвестпрограмм на Два Года

Rbc.ru, Ноябрь 11, 2020: «Транснефть» собирается снизить финансирование инвестиционных программ на 2020 и 2021 год, сообщил РБК официальный представитель компании Игорь Демин. По его словам, «Транснефть» не смогла получить трехлетнюю рассрочку по дивидендам и вынуждена перейти к стресс-сценарию. Однако на сколько будут сокращены расходы, пока неясно. 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.

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