July 2020 | ISSUE No. 282| USRCC Business Newsletter
◾ USRCC Upcoming Events
U.S.-Russia Chamber of Commerce  
participates 
in the  Summer NAPE 2020 .
Summer NAPE goes virtual this time on the new NAPE Network — the platform for connecting the energy industry online — and you’ll want to be front and center to it all. 
Access the oil and gas prospects / producing properties, education, networking and dealmaking opportunities found only at NAPE — all at your fingertips.

Please find U.S.-Russia Chamber of Commerce at the Virtual Summer NAPE.
 
The virtual attendee pass includes  2-week access  to all Summer NAPE content and NAPE Network features!
More information about Summer NAPE 2020 and registration for the event are available via link above.
Join us online and register now.
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 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 Enters Hydrocarbon Production Project in the Republic of Senegal

Lukoil.com, July 27, 2020: PJSC LUKOIL concludes an agreement with Cairn Energy PLC to acquire a 40% interest in RSSD (Rufisque, Sangomar and Sangomar Deep) project in the Republic of Senegal for $300 mln in cash. The agreement also provides for potential bonus payment to Cairn Energy PLC of up to $100 mln after the commencement of production. The transaction is subject to customary conditions, including the approval by the government of the Republic of Senegal. Read more...
CrossWind Wins Tender for Hollandse Kust (Noord) Wind Farm

Shell.com, July 29, 2020: The CrossWind consortium, a joint venture between Shell in the Netherlands and Eneco, is delighted to have been awarded the tender for the subsidy-free offshore wind farm Hollandse Kust (noord). The wind farm will help to meet the objectives of the Dutch Climate Accord and the EU’s Green Deal. Both companies have already taken their final investment decisions on the project. Read more...    
New ASTM International Standard Will Help Test Water Quality

Astm.org, July 24, 2020: A new ASTM International standard will help to measure organic compounds that can cause significant issues, including pollution and carcinogen generation, in water. ASTM’s water committee ( D19 ) developed the new standard, which will soon be published as D7936. The test method described in the new standard covers the catalyzed hydroxyl radical oxidation system for in-stream or laboratory analysis of total organic carbon, total carbon, and total inorganic carbon in drinking water, wastewater, industrial process water, and effluent water. The test method can be used in the field or in laboratory settings using the same sample procedure and method. Read more...
◾ This Week in Review
Russian Flag Carrier Aeroflot Will Demand Foreign Visitors Provide Negative Covid-19 Test Before Flying to Russia

Rt.com, July 30, 2020:  Russia's national airline has decided that if it's going to ferry international passengers into the country, they'll have to prove they are coronavirus-free first. What's more, the test must be performed within 72 hours of departure. Which, in some countries is trickier than you may think, given the demand for tests versus the capacity to perform them. Read more...
Hydrogen to Challenge Russian Gas at its Biggest Market within 15-30 years, Say Experts

Tass.com, July 30, 2020:  The development of hydrogen technologies has been increasingly put on the energy agenda recently. Europe’s ‘green’ initiatives are forcing natural gas suppliers to address improving environmental compatibility, and hydrogen may help them do that, experts polled by TASS believe. Read more...
Russia, U.S. Agree to Hold Regular Meetings of Working Group on Space Security - Russian Foreign Ministry

Interfax.com, July 30, 2020:  Moscow and Washington have agreed to hold regular consultations on space security following the expert consultations on strategic stability in Vienna, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Thursday. "Given the results of the meeting, the parties agreed to continue working with meetings of the working group on space security to be made regular," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement published on its website. Read more...
Russia's Novatek Says Q2 profit Down by 40% y/y

Reuters.com, July 29, 2020:   Novatek, Russia’s largest producer of liquefied natural gas, said on Wednesday its second-quarter net profit declined by around 40% year-on-year to 41.6 billion roubles ($573.1 million), due to the fallout from the coronavirus pandemic. Read more...
Russian Ministries to Present Tax Cut Options for Investors to the Kurils Before Fall

Tass.com, July 27, 2020:  Russian Ministry for the Development of the Russian Far East will prepare proposals on cuts of taxes and insurance fees for investors that implement project on the Kuril Islands, Ministry press service told TASS. Read more...
Russia Cuts Interest Rates to New Record Low

Themoscowtimes.com, July 24, 2020:   Russia’s Central Bank has cut its key interest rate to 4.25% in its latest move to help get the Russian economy firing after the coronavirus pandemic. The latest cut — from 4.5% — sets a new record low for Russia’s interest rates, and is the third consecutive downwards move from the Central Bank since it started cutting rates in mid-April in response to the economic impact of the pandemic. Read more...
◾ Houston-Tyumen Sister Cities
Gazprom Neft Starts Developing its New Production Cluster in Western Siberia

Einpresswire.com, July 30, 2020:   Gazprom Neft has begun its full-scale development of a major hydrocarbon cluster (with total potential resources estimated at 650 million tonnes of oil) covering license blocks in the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug and the Tyumen Oblast. One million tonnes of liquid hydrocarbons have been produced at the flagship asset on this project — the Alexander Zhagrin field, Yugra — in its first year under development. Peak production at this field is expected to be reached in 2024, at 6.5 million tonnes of oil per year. Read more...
◾ CIS Business News
E-Commerce Volume Expected to Hit Kazakhstan’s 2025 Targets

Astanatimes.com, July 28, 2020: The share of e-commerce in total retail during the lockdown has approached Kazakhstan’s 2025 target of 10 percent, said Minister of Trade and Integration Bakhyt Sultanov during a July 28 government meeting. According to Kazpost data, the e-commerce volume reached 435 billion tenge (US$1.05 billion), 9.4 percent of total retail, in the first half of 2020. The ministry forecasted that the volume will double by the end of 2020. In 2019, Kazakhstan’s wildest dream of increasing e-commerce volume was only $5.25 billion by 2025. Read more...
Belorusneft Siberia Acquires New-generation Drilling Rig

Eng.belta.by, July 27, 2020:   The northern branch of the Belarusian industrial group Belorusneft has acquired a state-of-the-art drilling rig, the company's press service told BelTA. The Belorusneft Siberia enterprise has commissioned a new-generation Russian drilling rig BU 6000/400. The rig will be used to perform services for Rosneft's daughter enterprise – AO Sibneftegaz. The project provides for drilling two pilot boreholes 4,655 meters deep. Read more...
Moody's Upgrades Azerbaijan's Financial Stability Rating

Azernews.az, July 29, 2020:   Moody's International Rating Agency has raised Azerbaijan’s financial stability rating from "a3" to "a2". According to the agency’s report, Azerbaijan’s credit profile reflects the country's "ba3" economic strength, which balances moderate wealth levels against the economy's significant exposure to hydrocarbons. Read more...
◾ US-Russia Related News in Russia
◾ Новости недели
«Роснефть» и «Норникель» Нашли Компромисс в Споре за Месторождение Газа  

Rbc.ru, Июль 29, 2020:   «Роснефть» и «Норильский никель» достигли договоренности о партнерстве в области топливообеспечения, говорится в сообщении обеих компаний. Они направили совместное письмо в Минприроды, в котором «Норникель» «выразил поддержку» проведению лицензирования Турковского участка (включая Ушаковское месторождение) в Краcноярском крае на условиях, предложенных «Роснефтью». Читать далее...
Помпео: Решение о Включении Трубопроводов РФ под Действие Закона о Санкциях Принял Трамп

Tass.ru, Июль 30, 2020:   Решение о включении трубопроводов "Северный поток - 2" и "Турецкий поток" в проекты, подпадающие под действие американского закона "О противодействии противникам Америки посредством санкций" (CAATSA), принял президент США Дональд Трамп. Об этом сообщил в четверг госсекретарь Майкл Помпео на слушаниях в комитете по иностранным делам Сената Конгресса США, посвященных бюджетному запросу Госдепартамента на 2021 финансовый год. Читать далее...
Каждое Третье Российское Предприятие Убыточно

Vedomosti.ru, Июль 26, 2020:   Доля убыточных организаций в России в январе – мае 2020 г. составила 36%. При этом прибыль российских предприятий упала более чем в 2 раза. Об этом свидетельствуют данные Росстата. В январе – мае 2020 г. сальдированный финансовый результат (прибыль минус убыток) организаций (без субъектов малого предпринимательства, банков, страховых организаций и государственных (муниципальных) учреждений) в действующих ценах упал на 51,6% и составил 3,246 трлн руб. по сравнению с 6,702 трлн руб. в январе – мае 2019 г., свидетельствуют оперативные данные статистического ведомства. Читать далее...
ЦБ Допустил, что Экономика Вернется к Уровню 2019 г. Только в 2022 г.

Interfax.ru, Июль 27, 2020:   Восстановление российской экономики к уровню 2019 года произойдет только в первом квартале 2022 года, считает первый зампред Банка России Ксения Юдаева. ВВП РФ в 2019 году вырос на 1,3%. Согласно недавно представленному прогнозу Банка России, в 2020 году экономика упадет на 4,5-5,5%, в 2021 году вырастет на 3,5-4,5%, в 2022 году покажет рост в 2,5-3,5%. Читать далее...
В России Готовят «план Б» для Бизнеса в Случае Второй Волны COVID-19

Gazeta.ru, Июль 28, 2020:   Замглавы Минпромторга Виктор Евтухов сообщил, что ведомство совместно с Роспотребнадзором готовит «план Б» для предприятий на случай второй волны коронавируса, передает РИА «Новости». По словам Евтухова, запасной план действий разрабатывается, чтобы не допустить нового закрытия бизнеса из-за пандемии. 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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