April 2020 | ISSUE No. 265| USRCC Business Newsletter
Dear USRCC Members!

We hope you are staying safe and healthy during these challenging times.

The USRCC’s the most important assets are its members. Now, everyone is trying to adjust to these unprecedented circumstances. Our events are moving to the online format until the "stay home" orders are lifted. Even so, the U.S.-Russia Chamber of Commerce is continuing to work diligently to find ways how we may support our members and their businesses, while hopefully becoming an even stronger community together in the process. 

The COVID-19 pandemic is a complicated situation that requires concerted efforts on both national and international levels. We are committed to promoting trade and investments between the United States and Russia and seeking constructive solutions that protect and facilitate the interests of our member companies. We do so with integrity and respect for both countries. On behalf of our entire team, we thank you for your continued support and trust you put in USRCC for your needs.

USRCC Team
USRCC Membership
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Member's News
ExxonMobil Joins Global Center to Expedite Medical Innovation for Personal Protective Equipment

Exxonmobil.com, April 2, 2020:  ExxonMobil and the  Global Center for Medical Innovation (GCMI)  said today that they have initiated multi-sector and joint development projects to rapidly redesign and manufacture reusable personal protection equipment for health care workers, such as face shields and masks, which are in short supply as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more...
Shell Exits Proposed Lake Charles LNG Project

Shell.com, March 30, 2020:  Shell will continue to support Energy Transfer with the ongoing bidding process for the engineering, procurement, and construction contract and then plan a phased handover of the project’s remaining activities.“This decision is consistent with the initiatives we announced last week to preserve cash and reinforce the resilience of our business,” said Maarten Wetselaar, Director, Integrated Gas and New Energies, Shell. “Whilst we continue to believe in the long-term viability and advantages of the project, the time is not right for Shell to invest. Through the transition, we will work closely with Energy Transfer.” Read more...
Turkish Airlines Flight Update

Turkishairlines.com, April 1, 2020: As part of the coronavirus outbreak measures, our international and domestic scheduled flights, which were previously suspended until 17th April, are now suspended until 1st of May 2020. During this period, only domestic flights will be available on limited basis. Please visit our website for limited domestic schedule details. Read more...
Lewis Brisbois Has Formed a COVID-19 Attorney Response Team

During this unprecedented time, businesses need a law firm they can trust to provide the most accurate and up-to-date information on the legal issues they are grappling with. To assist clients in benefiting from Lewis Brisbois’ multi-disciplinary, coordinated expertise, we have formed a COVID-19 Attorney Response Team for the specific purpose of addressing the needs of businesses that are facing issues arising from the COVID-19 outbreak. Read more...
This Week in Review
The Anatomy of the $2 Trillion COVID-19 Stimulus Bill

Visualcapitalist.com, March 30, 2020:  The unprecedented response to the COVID-19 pandemic has prioritized keeping people apart to slow the spread of the virus. While measures such as business closures and travel restrictions are effective at fighting a pandemic, they also have a dramatic impact on the economy. To help right the ship, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act — also known as the CARES Act — was passed by U.S. lawmakers last week with little fanfare. The act became the largest economic stimulus bill in modern history, more than doubling the stimulus act passed in 2009 during the Financial Crisis. Read more...
How to Get a Small Business Loan Under the $349 Billion Aid Bill

Washingtonpost.com, April 2, 2020:  A network of financial institutions is gearing up for one of the most ambitious economic relief programs in U.S. history as small businesses across the country weather the coronavirus and its fallout. The $2 trillion federal coronavirus relief package signed last week, officially known as the CARES Act, includes nearly $350 billion for a small business loan program called the Paycheck Protection Program. The program is designed to get cash into the hands of suffering small businesses quickly, with less red tape and fewer guardrails than the SBA’s existing loan programs. It is designed to incentivize business owners to keep employees on the payroll by offering them loan forgiveness. Read more...
Russian Government Allocated 1.4 Trillion Rubles to Support Economy

Tass.com, April 1, 2020:   Russian Finance Ministry reserved funds in the amount of 1.2% of GDP for measures to combat coronavirus and to support the economy, said Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin on Wednesday, while speaking at a meeting with the Russian President Vladimir Putin with members of the government. "In total, the Russian Finance Ministry reserved 1.4 trillion rubles (1.2% of GDP) for the purpose of combating the spread of coronavirus and implementing anti-crisis measures," Mishustin said. Read more...
Oil Recovers from Decades' Lows as Russia & US Agree Energy Talks

Rt.com, March 31, 2020:   The price of crude rebounded on Tuesday from an 18-year low after Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart Donald Trump have agreed talks to stabilize energy markets. International benchmark Brent rose 1.5 percent to $23.15 per barrel, as of 08:06 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) was up six percent at $21.19 a barrel. Both Brent and the WTI closed the previous session at their lowest levels since 2002. Read more...
Russia Won’t Boost Oil Output Amid Oversupply, Official Says

Bloomberg.com, April 1, 2020:   Russia doesn’t plan to increase crude production given the huge oversupply in the global market, according to a government official, a potentially dovish signal in the price war with Saudi Arabia. But Russia isn’t yet holding talks with Saudi Arabia on the situation, he said, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss matters that aren’t yet public. Read more...
Worst Recession in Decades Threatens Russia, Analysts Warn

Russiabusinesstoday.com, April 3, 2020:   The coronavirus crisis could cause Russia the worst recession in decades with millions of workers set to lose their jobs, analysts have warned, according to the Moscow Times. President Vladimir Putin extended an unprecedented shutdown of the Russian economy on Thursday, ordering non-essential businesses to stay closed until the end of April. But despite the drastic measures, which came as Russia’s number of coronavirus cases climbed to 3,548, the president refrained from offering any kind of economic stimulus package or support to businesses. Read more...
Russia’s Ozon Secures Largest Western E-commerce Investment Since Sanctions

Themoscowtimes.com, April 3, 2020:  Russian e-commerce major Ozon has secured a fresh $150 million round of financing, in one of the largest tech investment deals involving Western backers since 2013. The money, in the form of a loan which can be converted into equity, comes from three investors bringing equal contributions: the Moscow-based private equity firm Baring Vostok, the corporate venture capital fund of Russian conglomerate Sistema, and a new Western investor, the U.S. venture capital firm Princeville Capital.  Read more...
Houston - Tyumen Sister Cities
Russian Government Adds Large Regional Airports to "Strategic enterprises" List

Rusaviainsider.com, April 1, 2020:   The Russian government has added the three key airport holdings that manage the country’s largest regional airports to the list of "strategic enterprises". The new version of the document now includes the three Russian-oligarch-owned airport holdings which manage the bulk of the country’s larger regional airports. They are Novaport, which is owned by Roman Trotsenko, and which runs 16 airports, including Novosibirsk, Mineralnye Vody, Kaliningrad, Volgograd, Chelyabinsk, Barnaul, Kemerovo, Tyumen, Astrakhan and Murmansk... Read more...
CIS Business News
Coronavirus, Oil Prices Push Kazakhstan Toward Recession

Eurasianet.org, April 1, 2020:  The government in Kazakhstan has, in the light of the unfolding coronavirus pandemic and the concomitant fall in global oil prices, revised its economic projections for this year to forecast a 0.9 percent contraction. Before the current crisis hit, gross domestic product, or GDP, had been expected to expand by 4 percent. Read more...
Belarus Expects to Get 2m Tonnes of Russian Oil at $4 per Barrel in April

Eng.belta.by, April 2, 2020:  Belarus expects to receive two million tonnes of Russian oil at about $4 per barrel, Belarusian Prime Minister Sergei Rumas told reporters on 2 April, BelTA has learned. “I think today Belneftekhim will conclude talks with Russian companies on oil supplies for April. We expect to receive two million tonnes,” the premier noted. Read more...
Azerbaijan's Mining Company Invests $9.5m in Exploration Drilling, Research

Azernews.az, April 2, 2020:   AzerGold CJSC has signed a $9.5 million-dollar-contract with AT-Geotech LLC for exploration drilling, geotechnical research, laboratory analysis, monitoring of results and report preparation work in the country. AzerGold CJSC secured the contract via a tender, the official website on public procurement, tender.gov.az, reported. Read more...
US-Russia Related News in Russia
Новости недели
Путин Продлил Нерабочие Дни до Конца Апреля

Tass.ru, April 2, 2020:   Президент России Владимир Путин объявил о продлении нерабочих дней в РФ из-за коронавируса до конца апреля. Говоря о развитии ситуации, Путин поднял вопрос о дальнейших действиях властей. "Принимая их, нам надо понимать, что угроза сохраняется", - подчеркнул президент. Читать далее...
Путин Подписал Закон о Защите и Поощрении Инвестиций в России

Rbc.ru, April 1, 2020:   Президент России Владимир Путин подписал закон о защите и поощрении капиталовложений. Документ опубликован на портале правовой информации. Цель закона — создание «предсказуемых и благоприятных условий» для инвестиционных проектов, а также для ведения бизнеса. Он действует в отношении компаний, которые заключили с государством договоры на реализацию отдельного инвестиционного проекта (СЗПК). Читать далее...
8 проектов Одобрены Инвестиционным Советом Республики Татарстан

Tida.tatarstan.ru, Март 31, 2020:   Заседание Инвестиционного совета Республики Татарстана состоялось сегодня под председательством Президента Татарстана Рустама Минниханова. Мероприятие прошло в формате видеоконференции. Инвестсоветом было рассмотрено 8 инвестиционных проектов, из которых 2 планируется осуществить с использованием механизмов государственно-частного партнерства. Так, генеральный директор ООО «Техно Про» Айдар Нигматуллин представил проект по производству сельскохозяйственной специализированной техники, а также спецтехники для людей с ограниченными возможностями здоровья (ОВЗ). Читать далее...
Совфед Одобрил Кредитные Каникулы для Граждан и Бизнеса из-за Коронавируса

Gazeta.ru, Апрель 2, 2020: Совет Федерации на внеочередном заседании одобрил законопроект о предоставлении гражданам и бизнесу кредитных каникул из-за кризиса на фоне распространения коронавируса, передает РИА «Новости». Согласно документу, отсрочка предоставляется гражданам, малому и среднему бизнесу, а также индивидуальным предпринимателям, доходы которых упали более чем на 30% по сравнению с прошедшим годом. Заемщики обязаны подтвердить изменения справкой о доходах, выпиской из реестра или иным документом. Читать далее...
Новак Рассказал об Оценке Россией и США Рынка Нефти

Ria.ru, Апрель 2, 2020:   Оценка ситуации на рынке нефти у России и США совпадает, страны договорились вырабатывать совместные меры для стабилизации рынка, заявил в эфире "Эха Москвы" министр энергетики РФ Александр Новак. "Мы обменялись в первую очередь оценками ситуации на рынке, и они у нас абсолютно одинаковы, у нас даже цифры совпадают по поводу снижения объёмов спроса, ... перспектив по оценке того перепроизводства, который сегодня на рынке, заполнения хранилищ как в танкерах, так и наземных хранилищ нефти..." Читать далее...
Кредиты Бизнесу на Зарплату Оказались не Бесплатными

Vedomosti.ru, Апрель 2, 2020:  В ласти и банки уточнили финальные параметры госпрограммы кредитования бизнеса и индивидуальных предпринимателей под 0% для выплаты зарплат, передала пресс-служба слова зампредседателя правления Сбербанка Анатолия Попова. Эту программу правительство прорабатывало вместе со Сбербанком и ВТБ, ЦБ выделил на нее 150 млрд руб.  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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