American-Russian Business Dialogue
Mission Statement
Develop an association-to-association interaction, grounded in the partnership between the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, that addresses the challenges of 21st century global economic integration.
Objectives
- Reflect the needs and concerns of respective members to help develop the commercial, trade, and investment relationship between the United States and Russia.
- Act as one of many mechanisms to allow the business community to have substantive policy input, both in Washington, DC and Moscow, as governmental policy makers enter into more encompassing levels of engagement.
Structure
- An association to association relationship that is built on the principles set forth in a Memorandum of Cooperation between the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, led by Tom Donohue, president and CEO of the Chamber and Alexander Shokhin, president of the RSPP.
- The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is partnered with the American Chamber of Commerce in Russia to provide a seamless relationship between Washington and Moscow.
- Each institution is able to lend its full support as necessary with its respective expert staffs and resources to best address the pending challenges faced in today's market.
- The U.S. Chamber and the RSPP, both together and unilaterally as necessary, will interface with all appropriate governmental bodies in both the U.S. and Russia.
Participation
- Participation is open to all companies, institutions, and business associations that share a common goal of advancing the U.S. Russia relationship.
Key Policy Objectives
- Ensure the incoming U.S. Administration and the new Russian Administration understand the priorities and objectives of the U.S. and Russian business communities.
- Support a broad based industry perspective as the government to government dialogue continues on the path to negotiation of a Bilateral Investment Treaty between the U.S. and Russia.
- Develop an association to association dialogue with an understanding of the national priorities of the Russian Federation in areas such as innovation, investment, infrastructure, institutions and intellectual capital.
- Develop an ongoing and sustained working level interaction at the association level to enhance trade and investment between the U.S. and Russia.
- Focus areas include but are not limited to: investment climate issues; economic policy; energy; environment and natural resources; critical infrastructure; and nurturing innovation and intellectual capital.
Draft Time Line "Look Ahead"
- September 2008: Dialogue meeting in Moscow or Sochi to coincide with the International Investment Forum-Sochi 2008.
- September-October 2008: Dialogue meeting integrated into the Foreign Investment Council meeting with RSPP in Moscow.
- November 2008: Draft ideas for private sector priorities and objectives for thenext Administration.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce announces a new program focus on Russia.