Jan 31, 2011: AmCham Russia Weekly Bulletin: January 31, 2011

AmCham Strategy Memo
 
On Friday, AmCham issued a memo to its membership outlining its initial strategy for 2011 to support Russian accession to WTO, PNTR, and the abrogation of Jackson-Vanik’s applicability to Russia. To view the memo, please click here.

AmCham at Davos
 
Last week, AmCham participated in a CEO roundtable at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, with RF First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov and organized by the Foreign Investment Advisory Council (FIAC). AmCham also took part in additional side meetings with CEOs and Russian and U.S. government officials on a range of issues. On Wednesday, February 2, AmCham’s President and CEO, Andrew Somers, will discuss the meetings and roundtable in Davos with AmCham members. To find out more or to register, please click here.
 

National Payment System Working Group Meets
 
On January 17, AmCham convened another meeting of its working group to review a draft law on a national payment system and to prepare recommendations to the Duma regarding the legislation.

Legal Practice Review in St. Petersburg
 
On Tuesday, January 25, the AmCham Regional Office in St. Petersburg held its annual seminar, entitled Legislation and Legal Practice Review 2010-2011, to discuss major changes to the legislation and legal practices in Russia in 2010 and trends for 2011. For a full review of the program, please click here.

HR Committee Elections
 
On Tuesday, the AmCham Human Resources Committee met to elect two co-chairs for 2011.

Taxation Committee Discussion
 
On Wednesday, the AmCham Taxation Committee met to discuss tax-law changes, the Bloomberg tax case, transfer-pricing reform, and committee goals and priorities for 2011.
 

Environment, Health & Safety Meeting
 
Also on Wednesday, the Environment, Health & Safety Committee of AmCham’s Regional Office in St. Petersburg met for a presentation by Alexey Britsun (Deputy Chairman, Leningrad Oblast Committee for Labor and Employment, the Department of Labor Protection Organization), who discussed the development and improvement of labor-protection management systems in Leningrad Oblast.

Joint Committee Meeting in St. Petersburg
 
On Thursday, there was a joint committee meeting of AmCham St. Petersburg’s Manufacturing and Automotive Committees, with a presentation by Kirill Soloveychik (Deputy Chairman, St. Petersburg Committee for Economic Development, Industrial Policy & Trade).

Customs & Transportation Committee Meets
 
Also on Thursday, the AmCham Customs & Transportation Committee met to discuss recent amendments to the new customs regulations to implement the Customs Union Customs Code.