\
Despite the ever-changing nature of its political system, Russia’s economy and business opportunities have increased steadily since the fall of Communism in 1989. Current national GDP is at $1.67 trillion, yet the U.S. only does $25-30 billion in trade with Russia per year. This means that Russia has potentially exceptional business and investment opportunities.
Russia’s regulatory processes, however, are still heavily mired in old world bureaucracy. Recent ‘strategic sectors’ laws also make it more difficult for non-Russian businesses to invest in certain sectors of the Russian economy. It would be wise for any business to consult or partner with a Russian firm to help navigate the regulatory maze.
Population – 141,903,979 (1/1/09 est.)
Language(s) – Russian
Head of Government – President Dmitry Medvedev
Premier – Vladimir Putin
Current GDP - $1.671 Trillion; (from $280 billion in 2000); $11,785 per capita
Links to relevant pages
President Dmitry Medvedev and the Government of the Russian Federation
http://www.kremlin.ru/eng/
State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation
http://www.duma.gov.ru/ (note: in Russian)
Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation
http://www.council.gov.ru/eng/index.html
Embassy of the Russian Federation in the US
http://www.russianembassy.org/
US Department of State
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1006.html
http://state.gov/p/eur/ci/rs/
CIA World Factbook - Russia
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/rs.html
Accession to the World Trade Organization
http://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/acc_e/a1_russie_e.htm
Federal Ministries
Ministry for Atomic Energy; Ministry of Culture; Ministry of Defense; Ministry of Justice (in Russian); Ministry for Taxes and Duties (in Russian); Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Ministry for Economic Development and Trade; Ministry of Finance; Ministry of Health (in Russian); Ministry for Communications and Information (in Russian); Ministry of Industry and Energy; Ministry of the Interior; Ministry for Civil Defense, Emergency Situations and Disasters; Ministry for the Press, Television and Radio Broadcasting; and Mass Communications (in Russian); Ministry of Railways (in Russian); Ministry for Natural Resources
Ministry Sites not available:
Ministry for Affairs of the CIS; Ministry for Anti-Monopoly Policy and the Support of Entrepreneurship; Ministry of Education; Ministry for Matters of the Federation, Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Health and Social Development; National and Migration Policy; Ministry of Property Relations; Ministry of Agriculture
Links to groups specializing in Russian trade issues
U.S. - Russia Business Council
https://www.usrbc.org/
American & Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry
http://www.arcci.org/
Russian- American Chamber of Commerce
http://www.russianamericanchamber.com/
Russian – European Chamber of Commerce
http://www.ruscham.com/
Russia World Bank Site
http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/COUNTRIES/ECAEXT/RUSSIANFEDERATIONEXTN/0,,contentMDK:21054807~menuPK:517666~pagePK:1497618~piPK:217854~theSitePK:305600,00.html
US Department of Commerce Guide to Doing Business in Russia
http://www.buyusa.gov/russia/en/
Doing Business in Russia
http://www.doingbusiness.org/ExploreEconomies/?economyid=159
Russia Business Forecast Report (note: paid service)
http://www.businessmonitor.com/bf/russia.html
Russian Business Etiquette
http://www.cyborlink.com/besite/russia.htm
IMF Website – Russia
http://www.imf.org/external/country/RUS/INDEX.htm
UN Russia Profile
http://www.un.org/esa/earthsummit/rusia-cp.htm
UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs - Russia
http://www.un.org/esa/agenda21/natlinfo/countr/russia/index.htm
Major Russian Media
http://en.rian.ru/
http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/
Key Individuals
Hon. John Beyrle, U.S. Ambassador to Russia
http://moscow.usembassy.gov/
Edward S. Verona, President, U.S. – Russia Business Council
https://www.usrbc.org/aboutus/staff/person/436
German Oskarovich Gref, Minister for Economic Development and Trade
http://www.russiaprofile.org/resources/structure/ministries/economic/index.wbp
Sergei Viktorovich Lavrov, Minister for Foreign Affairs
http://www.ln.mid.ru/bl.nsf/062c2f5f5fa065d4c3256def0051fa1e/d2da2ea4fd6ac214c3256e530042edfd?OpenDocument
Government Structure in Russia
The 1993 reform constitution declared Russia a democratic, federative, law-based state with a republican form of government. State power is divided among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. Diversity of ideologies and religions is sanctioned, and a state or compulsory ideology may not be adopted. The right to a multiparty political system is upheld.
The constitution created a dual executive consisting of a president and prime minister, with the president as the dominant figure. Russia's president determines the basic direction of domestic and foreign policy and represents Russia in foreign affairs. The president has broad authority to issue decrees and directives that have the force of law without legislative review. Under certain conditions, the president may dissolve the State Duma, can schedule referendums (a power previously reserved to the parliament), and can submit draft laws.
The 628-member parliament, the Federal Assembly, consists of two chambers, the 450-member State Duma (the lower house) and the 178-member Federation Council (the upper house). Like the U.S., each legislative chamber elects a chairman to control internal procedures and form committees and commissions to deal with particular issues.
The two chambers of the Federal Assembly possess different powers and responsibilities but the State Duma is more powerful. Draft laws may originate in either chamber, or they may be submitted by the president, the Government, local legislatures, the Supreme Court, the Constitutional Court, or the Superior Court of Arbitration. Draft laws are first considered in the Duma, and, upon adoption, are then considered by the Federation Council, which has fourteen days to place the bill on its calendar. Conciliation commissions convene if consensus cannot be reached.
Things to Note
Strategic Sectors Law passed 5-7-08 which restricts or limits foreign investment in 42 areas of Russian economy. Sectors include defense, national security, geological study, military technologies, encryption, nuclear facilities, air safety and aviation, media, telecommunication, fisheries and more. In 2004, EU investment in Russia was 4:1 that of the U.S.; in 2008 it is 10:1. 80% of all U.S. investment goes towards Russia’s small to medium enterprises, which only comprise 15% of the Russian market.
Sources: www.theRussiaSite.org (no longer available); World Russian Forum (www.russiahouse.org); CIA World Factbook: Russia (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/rs.html)
