Fact Sheet: Russian-American Business Dialogue

Fact Sheet: Russian-american Business Dialogue

The Russian-American Business Dialogue is intended to give new impetus to U.S.-Russian trade and investment relations. By elevating involvement of the business community in bilateral discussions, the United States seeks to promote economic reform, a transparent and predictable business climate and the rule of law in Russia, while encouraging change that will help Russia to meet WTO standards. The Dialogue is also a vehicle to expand bilateral business opportunities and to bring new entrants into our trade and investment relations. It will seek to:

• Develop a common understanding between the American and Russian business communities of the investment and trade challenges in Russia;
• Identify areas where laws, regulations and practices impede or distort trade and investment in Russia; and
• Provide a forum for the U.S. and Russian governments to address business interests in a systematic manner.

Organized by the private sector, the Dialogue is open to interested American and Russian companies and business associations, both large and small.

• The American Chamber of Commerce in Russia, the U.S-Russia Business Council, the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, and the Russian-American Business Council have offered to steer the Dialogue.
• Large, medium, and especially small enterprises from a broad cross-section of industry sectors are being encouraged to participate.
• The business communities will set the pace and agenda of the Dialogue.

The United States and Russian governments have pledged Cabinet level representation to receive a first formal report of the Dialogue at a meeting early next year. Government officials may participate in other Dialogue events, as invited by business.

Commerce Secretary Evans and Treasury Secretary O��Neill will discuss plans for the Dialogue when they meet with American and Russian companies in Russia on July 26 and 27.