Sep 27, 2010: AmCham Russia Weekly Bulletin: September 27, 2010

AmCham in Washington D.C.
 
AmCham’s President and CEO, Andrew Somers, was in Washington last week, where he met with U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke, National Security Council Advisor Michael McFaul, Under Secretary of Commerce Michelle O’Neill, and congressional leaders to discuss Russia’s bid to join the World Trade Organization (WTO). Prospects for WTO accession by Russia in 2011 are favorable and a vote on Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) is likely next year. The Russian heads of John Deere and Honeywell also participated in several of the meetings.

Andrew Somers will be discussing this and other issues with AmCham members at a briefing on Wednesday, September 29. To find out how to register, please click here.

AmCham Launching Customs-Court Initiative
 
AmCham is launching an initiative to work with the Russian Government to create a customs-court regime to provide an independent judicial body to resolve customs problems. AmCham meetings with the U.S. Court of International Trade, the U.S. International Trade Commission, and commissioners with Homeland Security’s customs-border department have already taken place, as have AmCham discussions with RF Minister of Economic Development and Trade, Elvira Nabiullina.

Andrew Somers will also be discussing this with AmCham members at the upcoming briefing on Wednesday, September 29. To find out how to register, please click here.

AmCham Finalizes Lists of Speakers for Upcoming HR and Tax Conferences
 
AmCham has finalized the list of guest speakers for its upcoming HR Conference (on Friday, October 1, 2010) and Tax Conference (on Wednesday, October 6, 2010).

To find out more about the HR Conference or to register, please click here.

To find out more about the Tax Conference or to register, please click here.
 

AmCham St. Petersburg’s Environment, Health & Safety Committee Meets
 
On Tuesday, AmCham St. Petersburg’s Environment, Health & Safety Committee met to discuss issues regarding the transfer of waste-ownership titles. The Committee also held its election for co-chairs.

AmCham ICT Committee Meets
 
On Friday, the AmCham ICT Committee met, during which Igor Agamirzian (CEO, Russian Venture Company) gave an update on Russian venture capital and innovation; Jonathan Sparrow (Adviser to the President of the Northern European Region, Nokia Siemens Networks) spoke on Nokia Siemens Networks' Skolkovo initiatives; Denis Kondrakhin (Investment Manager, Rusnano) gave an update on Rusnano's activities; and Julie Stufft (First Secretary and Consul, the U.S. Embassy) gave a presentation, entitled "U.S. Visa Processing: News and Updates, Current Processing Times, Tips and Pitfalls for Visas for Technical People."