March 2021 | ISSUE No. 313 | USRCC Business Newsletter
|
|
|
Join the USRCC’s HR Panel and learn from experienced HR professionals about how working and hiring processes changed during the COVID-19 pandemic:
- what are the best suggestions for online interviews?
- what skills are critical to learn to adapt to the new “work from home” reality?
- has the role of learning new areas and improving skills become more important during the COVID-19 pandemic?
- how are companies keeping employees motivated, engaged and connected with each other with social distancing?
These and other related topics will be discussed during this event.
|
|
EVENT REGISTRATION:
Thursday, March 25th, 2021
8:00 am– 9:30 am CST (Houston) | 16:00 – 17:30 (Moscow)
|
|
USRCC Members - free | Non-Members - $10
Simultaneous translation into Russian language is included.
Registration deadline: COB Wednesday, March 24th, 2021.
Refunds will not be issued after March 23rd, 2021.
Webinar details will be provided upon registration.
|
|
|
|
Leana Garipova
Corporate Associate,
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP;
Young Professionals Committee Vice-Chair,
U.S.-Russia Chamber of Commerce
To read the full bio click here
|
|
Renee Winter
Geo-Market HR Manager
for Arctic, North America Offshore & Europe, Africa, and Caspian,
Parker Drilling Company
To read the full bio
|
|
Meike Boekelmann
Head HR Chemtech
& Group HR APAC,
Head HR Information Systems,
Human Resources,
Sulzer Chemtech Ltd
To read the full bio
|
|
Kristin Valicevic
Senior Director –
HR Business Partner, Halliburton
To read the full bio
|
|
USRCC Standardization Conference is a specialized technical conference that addresses common issues and challenges of standardization, certification and conformity assessment.
USRCC in partnership with the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP) and its Committee for Technical Regulation, Standardization and Compliance Standard, Rosstandart, American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM International), American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), and the American Petroleum Institute (API) invites you to attend the 3rd Standardization Conference to discuss rules for obtaining licensed translations, standards development system, products certification rules, work in technical committees of U.S.A. standardizing bodies, and other related questions.
This Conference will provide attendees with a better understanding of the differences between the U.S.A. and Russian standardization systems, standards development processes and standards committees.
|
|
EVENT REGISTRATION:
Tuesday, March 30th, 2021
9:00 am– 11:30 am CST (Houston) | 17:00 – 19:30 (Moscow)
|
|
Cost: complimentary
Simultaneous translation into Russian language is included.
Registration deadline: COB Monday, March 29th, 2021.
Webinar details will be provided upon registration.
|
|
Andrey N. Lotsmanov
First Deputy Chairman,
Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, Committee for Technical Regulation, Standardization and Compliance Assessment
To read the full bio click here
|
|
Andrew A. Pidgirsky
Partner,
Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP
To read the full bio click here
|
|
Alexa S. Burr
Vice President,
Segment Standards & Services,
Global Industry Services,
API
To read the full bio click here
|
|
Christopher Mahler
Director,
Derivative Programs,
Conformity Assessment,
ASME
To read the full bio click here
|
|
Jim Rossberg
Managing Director,
Engineering Programs,
ASCE
To read the full bio click here
|
|
Anton P. Shalaev
Head,
Federal Agency for Technical Regulation and Metrology,
Rosstandard
To read the full bio click here
|
|
Sergey G. Muzychenko
Director,
Federal Autonomous Organization "Federal Center for Regulation, Standardization and Technical Assessment of Conformity in Construction" (FAA "FCS")
To read the full bio click here
|
|
Vyacheslav A. Burmistrov
Director,
State Policy Department
in the Field of Technical Regulation, Standardization
and Ensuring
the Uniformity of Measurements
of the Ministry of Industry
and Trade of Russia
|
|
Tricia Hock
Director,
Certification Operations,
Safety Equipment Institute
To read the full bio click here
|
|
Stephen F. Mawn
Director,
Technical Committee Operations,
ASTM International,
To read the full bio click here
|
|
Pat A. Picariello, J.D., CStd, FSES
Director,
Developmental Operations,
ASTM International
To read the full bio click here
|
|
Mary Mikolajewski
Manager,
Technical Committee Operations,
ASTM International
To read the full bio click here
|
|
The 11 Annual Welcome Reception Honoring Delegations
from Russia, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan
at the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC 2021)
|
|
|
|
The USRCC's OTC Reception is attended by more than 300 international business professionals, including, leading experts from oil and gas/energy industry, investors, suppliers, and government officials.
The USRCC’s OTC Reception provides energy professionals the opportunity to meet and exchange ideas and opinions to advance scientific and technical knowledge for offshore resources and environmental matters.
|
|
EVENT REGISTRATION:
Tuesday, August 17, 2021 | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm CST
Hotel ZAZA | Fountain Room
5701 Main Street, Houston, TX 77005
|
|
USRCC Members - $50 | Non-members - $100
"Pay at the Door" Option will be available at:
USRCC Members - $55 | Non-Members - $110
Registration deadline: COB Monday, August 16, 2021
Refunds will not be issued after August 13, 2021
|
|
PLEASE CONTACT US FOR SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: |
|
2900 Wilcrest Drive, Suite 133, Houston, TX 77042
P: (713) 429-4680
|
|
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!
|
|
Bashneft Spends 5.6 Billion Roubles on Environment-Oriented Projects in 2020
Rosneft.com, March 2, 2020: In 2020, Bashneft, a subsidiary of Rosneft Oil Company, invested 5.6 billion roubles in environment-oriented projects across the territory of its operation. The main investments were aimed at the implementation of programmes for pipeline reliability improvement, safe industrial waste disposal, an increase of associated petroleum gas utilization, reclamation, reforestation and replenishment of fish stocks. Read more...
|
|
ExxonMobil Outlines Plans to Grow Long-term Shareholder Value in Lower Carbon Future
Exxonmobil.com, March 3, 2021: ExxonMobil plans capital spending of $16-$19 billion in 2021 and $20-$25 billion per year through 2025 on high-return, cash-accretive projects. Spending plans can be modified to reflect market conditions, as illustrated by successful efforts to preserve the value of investment opportunities while reducing capital spending by more than 30 percent in 2020 as a result of the pandemic. The company also reduced cash operating expenses by 15 percent in 2020 and expects permanent structural savings of $6 billion a year by the end of 2023 versus 2019. Read more...
|
|
Government Delegations of Russia and Iraq Meet in the Oil Pavilion at Moscow’s VDNKh
Lukoil.com, March 3, 2021: Russian and Iraqi officials met in Moscow to discuss current situation on world oil market and prospects for cooperation in this field. The meeting took place in a landmark location, the OilPavilion at Moscow's VDNKh that had been reconstructed by LUKOIL. The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Alexander Novak, Minister of Energy of the Russian Federation Nikolai Shulginov, President of LUKOIL Vagit Alekperov, and Minister of Oil of the Republic of Iraq Ihsan Ismael. Read more...
|
|
◾ USRCC's Bilateral Trade Report
|
|
The Updated U.S.-Russia
Bilateral Trade Report
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.
|
|
The USRCC Member is seeking
business representative in Russia
Here are the key requirements:
- The company / individual should have the industry contacts in dealing with Sulphur plants, CO2 capture and/or academics;
- The representative should have a working knowledge of the amine industry;
- The representative should have the understanding of how business works in the Russian region;
- The company / individual could have represented tray vendors, solvent suppliers, other software, or Engineering, Procurement and Construction company.
For more details please contact: info@usrussiacc.org
Please indicate in subject line "Russian Representative"
|
|
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
call 713.429.4680
|
|
|
|
U.S. Department of Commerce Adds 14 Parties to the Entity List for Support of Russian Weapons of Mass Destruction Programs and Chemical Weapons Activities
Commerce.gov, March 2, 2021: The Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) is adding 14 entities located in Russia, Germany, and Switzerland to the Entity List based on their proliferation activities in support of Russia’s weapons of mass destruction programs and chemical weapons activities. This action supplements the addition of five Russian Government facilities to the Entity List in August 2020 for supporting Russia’s chemical and biological weapons programs. Read more...
|
|
Oil Market Has Not Fully Recovered, Many Uncertainties Ahead, but There are Positive Points - Novak
Interfax.com, March 4, 2021: The oil market has not fully recovered, but there are positive points, Deputy Russian Prime Minister Alexander Novak said. "A fair amount of time has already passed since the crisis that occurred in spring last year, when we saw a historically deep fall in demand for products. The market has not fully recovered, and yet we are in a far more favorable situation, although there are many uncertainties ahead," Novak said during the opening of the OPEC+ meeting. Read more...
|
|
Forbes Launches Eco-rating of Russian Companies
Intellinews.com, February 28, 2021: This year, Forbes Russia compiled a list of Russia’s 30 most eco-friendly companies for the first time, reported New Economy Observer February 26. This new environmental rating is based on methods used by Forbes America and Just Capital in their Just 100 ranking of the most ESG compliant companies in the US. It comes at a time when ESG (environment, social, governance) practices are becoming equally as important in assessing a company’s financial health as its profits and losses. Read more...
|
|
Organizers Says SPIEF-2021 to Take Place in Regular Format
1prime.biz, March 4, 2021: The St. Petersburg International Economic Forum will be held in a regular format in 2021, Director of the event Alexei Valkov said on Thursday. “The SPIEF will take place from June 2 through June 5 this year. It will be held in a format that we are used to with a regular number of days and activities,” he said. Read more...
|
|
Russian Government May Cut Borrowing This Year over More U.S. Sanctions Fears
Russiabusinesstoday.com, March 4, 2021: The Russian government discussed a proposal to cut borrowing this year by RUB0.5-1 trillion ($6.8bn-13.5bn) due to fears of more U.S. sanctions being imposed that could target sovereign debt, Bloomberg reported on March 3, bne IntelliNews reports.Russia hiked borrowing via the Russian Ministry of Finance ruble-denominated OFZ treasury bills program from its regular circa RUB2 trillion a year to RUB5.2 trillion in 2020 to raise funds to fight the corona-crisis shock to the economy, and plans to borrow RUB3.7 trillion this year, according to the 2020-2023 budget. Read more...
|
|
Opora Rossii Recommends Huge Tax Discounts for Russian SME’s
Russia-briefing.com, March 1, 2021: Opora Rossii, the Russian Trade Union representing SMEs in the country, are to make a proposal to the Russian State Duma this week with recommendations designed to help Russia’s SMEs recover and get back on track after the Covid-19 pandemic. Concerning easing the regulatory environment for businesses, Opora Rossii have suggested measures such as limiting the growth rate of tariffs and payments in all areas at the legislative level, increasing the criteria for including businesses in the SME category, drastically reducing the so-called cross-subsidization in the power industry, and the legal protection of company directors and shareholders from the collection of LLC debts. Read more...
|
|
Russia Completes Phase 2 Trials of Sputnik Light Single-Dose Coronavirus Vaccine
Sputniknews.com, March 5, 2021: Russia has completed phase 2 clinical trials of its single-dose coronavirus vaccine Sputnik Light, all data has been submitted to experts for assessment, Health Minister Mikhail Murashko said on Friday. In February, Moscow Deputy Mayor Anastasia Rakova said that the first volunteers participating in the Sputnik Light clinical trials had been inoculated. The Russian Health Ministry greenlighted the clinical trials and their advancement to phase three. Read more...
|
|
◾ Houston-Tyumen Sister Cities
|
|
Tyumen Region Increased Trade with Kazakhstan by $ 5 Million
Ria.ru, February 15, 2021: The foreign trade turnover between the Tyumen region and Kazakhstan in 2020 increased by $ 5 million and approached $ 70 million, according to the region's public relations department, citing data from customs statistics. Despite the difficulties of 2020, the share of exports to Kazakhstan remained at the level of 2019 - more than $ 50 million. Read more...
|
|
Azerbaijan among Europe's top five countries with improved economic freedom index
Azernews.az, March 3, 2021: Azerbaijan ranks first in the top five countries in Europe that have significantly improved their economic freedom scores in the 2020 Index of Economic Freedom report by the Heritage Foundation. It should be noted that this year, Azerbaijan was included in the European rather than Asia-Pacific regional rankings, and recorded a dramatic rise in economic freedom. Read more...
|
|
Kazakhstan Seeks to Attract $9.5 Billion in Agriculture Investment By 2025
Astanatimes.com, March 3, 2021: The Kazakh government plans to attract four trillion tenge (US$9.57 billion) of investments in its agriculture sector, said Kazakh Prime Minister Askar Mamin during a government meeting on March 2. Addressing the meeting, Kazakh Minister of Agriculture Saparkhan Omarov said the ministry plans to implement 380 investment projects, including 250 import substitution projects. Annually, it seeks to launch up to 80 investment projects. Read more...
|
|
Belarus Plans to Launch New Mechanisms to Improve Investment Climate
Eng.belta.by, March 5, 2021: Belarus plans to launch new mechanisms to improve the investment climate, Belarus' First Deputy Economy Minister Yuri Chebotar told the media ahead of the ministerial meeting in Minsk on 5 March, BelTA has learned. The first deputy minister noted that other changes also relate to reducing the financial burden during the implementation of an investment project, including in terms of income and property taxes. Another proposal is the launch a stabilization reservation, i.e. the extension of the taxation conditions for five years. Read more...
|
|
◾ US-Russia Related News in Russian
◾ Новости недели
|
|
Совет Директоров "Лукойла" ключил Алекперова в Кандидаты на Пост Президента Компании
Tass.ru, Март 5, 2021: Совет директоров "Лукойла" включил кандидатуру действующего президента компании Вагита Алекперова для нового избрания на эту должность. Кроме того, совет предложил кандидатуры в новый состав совета директоров, говорится в сообщении компании. Из 11 предложенных к выбору кандидатов 10 являются действующими, отмечается в сообщении. Читать далее...
|
|
Иностранные IT-компании Могут Обязать Платить НДФЛ с Зарплат Сотрудников из РФ
Iz.ru, Март 5, 2021: Иностранные компании, нанимающие российских разработчиков программного обеспечения (ПО), могут обязать платить НДФЛ с их зарплат. Об этом 5 марта сообщили «Ведомости» со ссылкой на план стимулирования развития IT-отрасли Минцифры. Соответствующий законопроект планируется подготовить к середине 2021 года. По словам источников издания, такая мера будет представлена на рассмотрение вице-премьеру Дмитрию Чернышенко. Читать далее...
|
|
Новак Рассказал о Перспективах Восстановления Спроса на Нефть в 2021 году
Ria.ru, Март 4, 2020: Вице-премьер РФ Александр Новак видит признаки восстановления мировой экономики и спроса на нефть и надеется, что 2021 год будет для этого ключевым. По итогам заседания 4 марта ОПЕК+ решил не наращивать добычу в апреле на 500 тысяч баррелей в сутки. Кроме того, страны альянса согласовали рост добычи нефти России в апреле на 130 тысяч баррелей в сутки. Читать далее...
|
|
США Запретили Правительственным Организациям Выдавать Кредиты России
Interfax.ru, Март 2, 2021: США в рамках санкций отказывают России в предоставлении кредитов, кредитных гарантий или другой финансовой помощи со стороны правительственных финансовых организаций США, в том числе со стороны экспортно-импортного банка США, говорится в заявлении Госдепартамента. Вашингтон прекращает любую помощь России в соответствии с Законом об иностранной помощи за исключением срочной гуманитарной помощи (продуктов питания или других сельскохозяйственных товаров), отмечается в заявлении. Читать далее...
|
|
Сенаторы Призвали Байдена Расширить Санкции по «Северному Потоку-2»
Kommersant.ru, Март 4, 2021: Группа из 40 сенаторов от Республиканской партии США обратилась к президенту Джо Байдену с просьбой немедленно ввести санкции в отношении организаций, участвующих в строительстве трубопровода «Северный поток-2» и еще не подпавших под ограничения. Сенаторы раскритиковали господина Байдена за то, что его администрация не расширяет санкции в соответствии с публичной информацией. Читать далее...
|
|
|
|
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.
Copyright 2017. All Rights Reserved.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
