May 2020 | ISSUE No. 271| 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

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

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 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

New Tool Can Turn 50 Hours of Thermowell Design Time Into 15 Minutes Emerson.com, May 11, 2020: Emerson today introduced the Rosemount™ Thermowell Design Accelerator, a free online  thermowell design tool  that eliminates manual thermowell iterations facing process design engineers when sizing thermowells. It is easy to use and intuitively guides users through complex projects, saving hours of wasted labor and resources. Users will be able to automatically iterate up to 1,000 thermowell tags with a single click – all optimized for their process conditions. Read more...

New ASTM International Activity to Focus on Alternative Natural Rubber Sources Astm.org, May 12, 2020:   ASTM International’s rubber committee ( D11 ) has formed a new subcommittee that will focus on alternative sources of natural rubber and natural rubber latex. Polymer experts, as well as representatives from regulatory bodies, are encouraged to join in developing new standards within this subcommittee. Read more...

XTO Energy Inc. Extends Tender Offer to Purchase All Outstanding Units in Hugoton Royalty Trust Exxonmobil.com, May 13, 2020:   XTO Energy Inc. (“XTO Energy”) today announced that it has extended the offering period of its previously announced tender offer to purchase all outstanding units of beneficial interest (the “Units”) in Hugoton Royalty Trust (OTCQX: HGTXU, the “Trust”) at a price of $0.20 per Unit, net to the seller in cash, without interest and subject to any withholding of taxes. Read more...

Shell Invests in New Nigeria LNG Processing Unit Shell.com, May 13, 2020:   Shell Gas B.V., a subsidiary of Royal Dutch Shell plc, today announced that all conditions for its Final Investment Decision (FID) on a new LNG processing unit at Nigeria LNG (NLNG) have now been met. These conditions included formal commitment from the organisations providing financing for the project. Subsequent to the FID, NLNG has  announced  awards of engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contracts. Read more...

◾ This Week in Review Rosneft Starts Exploration Drilling at Vostok Oil Project in Arctic Tass.com, May 12, 2020:   Rosneft has initiated drilling of exploration wells as part of the Vostok Oil project in Arctic Russia, Chief Executive Officer of the Russian oil major Igor Sechin said at the meeting with President Vladimir Putin. "One of promising greenfield projects, which will also give new volumes to the market after its stabilization, as we expect, is the Vostok Oil project, where we have started exploration drilling," Sechin said. Read more...

Russia's International Reserves Up 0.45% to $566Bln in April Sputniknews.com, May 13, 2020:   Russia's international reserves grew to $566.012 billion by May 1 from $563.473 billion on April 1, the country's central bank said in a statement on Wednesday.Thus, the reserves grew by $2.539 billion, or 0.45 percent, last month. Russia's international reserves include foreign assets with the highest liquidity held by the Bank of Russia and the government. Read more...

Russian Government Approves Support Measures for Systemic Companies Russiabusinesstoday.com, May 11, 2020:   Russia’s government has approved the list of support measures for systemic enterprises and the order of their provision, according to a statement released on the website of the cabinet of ministers on Sunday,  TASS  informs. Read more...

Latest Package of Support Measures for Citizens and Economy is Largest in Terms of Funds Made Available - Mishustin Interfax.com, May 13, 2020:   The package of measures to support citizens and the economy proposed by Russian President Vladimir Putin was drawn up with the participation of the government, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said, indicating that this package was the largest to date in terms of funds made available. Read more...

Russian Investment Slumps to Pre-Crimea Levels Themoscowtimes.com, May 13, 2020:   Corporate dealmaking in Russia ground to a halt in the first three months of the year, figures from Mergermarket have shown. Russia clocked its lowest level of inbound merger and acquisition (M&A) activity since at least 2013 at just five foreign deals for a total value of only 54 million euros.  Read more...

Russian Aviation Industry Gets Government Lifeline to Stay Afloat During Pandemic-related Flight Restrictions Rt.com, May 14, 2020:   The Russian government has allocated 23.4 billion rubles ($316 million) to support domestic airlines, which are suffering tremendous losses as a result of coronavirus-related restrictions. The subsidies were unveiled on the government website early Thursday following Russian President Vladimir Putin’s call to support the troubled sector. Read more...

◾ Houston-Tyumen Sister Cities

In Tyumen Measures to Support Entrepreneurs Were Discussed News.megatyumen.ru, May 13, 2020:   In a May 11 address, President Vladimir Putin announced a series of business support measures. So, starting June 1, a special loan program will be launched to support employment in the affected areas and socially oriented NGOs with a preferential rate of 2% and a state guarantee of 85% of the loan, which will be calculated according to the formula 1 minimum wage per employee per month, based on six months (term repayment - April 1, 2021). Read more...

◾ CIS Business News

Almaty Airport Sold For $415 Million to Turkish TAV Airport Investment Company Astanatimes.com, May 12, 2020:   A consortium of Istanbul-based TAV Airports Holding and VPE capital, a Russian investment fund, purchased the shares of Kazakhstan’s busiest Almaty Airport and the related jet fuel and catering businesses for $415 million. Read more...

Foreign Investments in Belarus at $2.8bn in Q1 2020 Eng.belta.by, May 12, 2020:   Foreign investors injected $2.8 billion into the real sector of Belarusian economy (apart from banks) in January-March 2020, BelTA learned from the National Statistics Committee. Among the main investors in Belarus were economic entities of Russia (35.7% of the total), Cyprus (15%), and Austria (8.4%). Read more...

Revenues from VAT to Azerbaijan's state budget increase Azernews.az, May 10, 2020:   Azerbaijan’s State Customs Committee (SCC) transferred 356.9 million manat ($209.9 million) to the state budget in April 2020, which is 5.5 percent less compared to April 2019, Trend reports citing data of the SCC. In April 2020, the amount of customs duties amounted to 69.7 million manat ($41 million), or 19.5 percent of all revenues, VAT - 272.7 million manat ($160.4 million) or 71.5 percent, excise taxes – 43.8 million manat ($25.8 million), or 3.3 percent. The road tax is 2.01 million manat ($1.2 million), making up 0.1 percent. Read more...

◾ US-Russia Related News in Russia ◾ Новости недели

Правительство Утвердило Меры Поддержки Системообразующих Предприятий Rbc.ru, Май 10, 2020:   Системообразующие предприятия из перечня правительства, которые пострадали из-за эпидемии коронавируса, смогут рассчитывать на отсрочки по налогам, субсидии на возмещение затрат, льготные кредиты и государственные гарантии. Соответствующее постановление кабмина опубликовано на сайте правительства. Читать далее...

РСПП Подготовит Предложения по Выходу из Кризиса Ria.ru, Май 14, 2020:   Российский союз промышленников и предпринимателей на следующей неделе намерен завершить подготовку своих предложений в национальный план по выходу из кризиса, связанного с пандемией  коронавируса , сообщил в четверг глава  РСПП   Александр Шохин  в ходе Недель российского бизнеса. Читать далее...

Поэтапно. Минэкономразвития Составит План Восстановления Экономики Radiosputnik.ria.ru, Май 13, 2020:   В Минэкономразвития приступают к формированию плана действий по восстановлению экономики России, который охватит текущий и следующий год. Об этом сообщил глава ведомства Максим Решетников на встрече с представителями Общероссийского народного фронта. Читать далее...

"Газпром" и "Роснефть" Вошли в Составленный Forbes Список Крупнейших Компаний Мира Tass.ru, Май 13, 2020:   Американский журнал Forbes составил список крупнейших в мире 2 000 компаний, 23 из них являются российскими. Перечень опубликован в среду. В первую сотню крупнейших компаний мира вошли "Газпром" (32-е место), "Роснефть" (53) и "Лукойл" (99). Читать далее...

«Транснефть» Ответила на Просьбу Сечина Снизить Тарифы на Прокачку Нефти Vedomosti.ru, Май 13, 2020:   Советник президента «Транснефти» Игорь Демин прокомментировал просьбу главного исполнительного директора «Роснефти» Игоря Сечина снизить почти вдвое тарифы трубопроводной монополии,  пишет РБК . На встрече с президентом Владимиром Путиным 12 мая топ-менеджер нефтяной госкомпании объяснил соответствующую просьбу тем, что расходы на транспорт сейчас составляют около 32% от стоимости нефти. Читать далее...

NASA Заплатит «Роскосмосу» $90,2 млн за Доставку Космонавта на МКС Kommersant.ru, Май 12, 2020:   Стоимость контракта NASA c «Роскосмосом» на доставку американского космонавта на Международную космическую станцию (МКС) составил $90,2 млн (6,6 млрд руб.), сообщили «РИА Новости» в американском ведомстве. «Роскосмос» подтвердил ТАСС подписание контракта. 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  click here or contact us directly at info@usrussiacc.org    call 713.429.4680

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U.S.-Russia Chamber of Commerce 2900 Wilcrest Drive Suite 133 Houston, TX 77042 713-429-4680 info@usrussiacc.org http://www.usrussiacc.org

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 . Copyright 2017. All Rights Reserved.