The 2003 Tenth Annual CIS and Eastern Europe
Business Forum
focusing on "Success in the CIS and Eastern Europe"
Saturday, November 1, 2003
8:00 am to 6:00 pm
Sunday, November 2,
8:30 am to 11:30 am
and
Pre-conference Reception
Friday, October 31, 2003
7:30 pm
At The Hilton Tucson East,
7600 East Broadway Boulevard,
Tucson, Arizona
Organized by The University of Arizona
Department of Russian and Slavic Studies
SUCCESS IN THE CIS & EASTERN EUROPE
This symposium is designed for those who are planning to do business in countries of the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe or who are currently doing business there. The program includes case studies of successful businesses, presentations on support programs available, and analyses of current legal, political, cultural, and economic issues.
Saturday, November 1, 2003
Session 1. The political and economic scene.
Linda Wetzel, a consultant on international business and a visiting professor at The American Graduate School of International Management –Thunderbird. Professor Wetzel, who has been the opening speaker for this Symposium since its inception, was Chief of the CIA's Russia Leadership Branch before coming to Phoenix. She will make some introductory remarks about the regional political and economic scene. {Ms. Wetzel was unable to attend.]
Session 2. US Government support. A panel of US government representatives will provide information about the following programs:
US Department of Commerce, SABIT (Special American Business Internship Training Program), the internship program for CIS managers whom you can train here in the US to work for your business in the CIS. Represented by Erin K. Crouch, International Trade Specialist;
US Department of Energy, Nuclear Cities Initiative (NCI). Margot Mininni, Acting Director of NCI, has been with the project since the beginning (1998). NCI represents an unprecedented effort by the United States to help the Russian Federation to physically downsize and reduce the capacity of the nuclear weapons complex. NCI increases U.S. national and global security by removing functions and equipment from the weapons complex, reducing the physical footprint, and helping to create sustainable businesses in the closed cities, leading to the irreversible, transparent downsizing of the weapons complex. Ms. Mininni’s presentation is entitled "Five years of Conversion Efforts in the Closed Nuclear Cities of Russia: Lessons Learned and New Paths Forward."
Session 3. CIS and Eastern Europe. Presentations will be given by:
Agnes Kiraly-Vegi, PhD, Deputy Trade Commissioner, the Hungarian Consulate, Los Angeles, will provide information on the Hungarian economic and business environment, central and local government incentives for investors, investment and trade opportunities, matchmaking companies for joint ventures.
Vladimir Mironovich, PhD, Trade & Economic Counselor of the Embassy of Belarus to the USA. Before embarking on a diplomatic career at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus, Dr. Mironovich held several high-level positions at the Ministry of Economy, Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus. He is one of the authors of the "Investment Guide for Belarus." Dr. Mironovich will talk about investment and business opportunities in Belarus, the economic environment, government incentives for investors, free economic zones, possible cooperation between developers, users of knowledge-based technologies and potential investors, international partnerships in the field of innovation activity and technology transfer.
Fikret Pashayev, PhD, Economic Counselor at the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the United States of America. For the last decade Azerbaijan, in cooperation with international organizations and bilateral donors, has made remarkable achievements in developing a market economy, implementing economic reforms and creating favorable conditions for foreign investment. Mr. Pashayev will talk about business and investment opportunities in Azerbaijan, the government’s successful oil strategy, development of non-oil sectors of economy, agriculture, tourism, information and communication technologies.
Elitsa Panayotova, Commercial Counselor, Embassy of Bulgaria. In her presentation Mrs. Panayotova will concentrate on the current economic situation in Bulgaria, investment opportunities and success stories.
Kristjan Prikk, 3rd Secretary for Economic and Commercial Affairs Embassy of Estonia. During his presentation he will provide an overview of Estonia's recent development and of its success-story experience of radical economic reforms.
Session 4. Case Studies. Technology Transfer. Presentations will be given by:
Todd P. Dunivan, a Principal Member of Laboratory Staff and the Team Leader for the International Procurement Team (IPT) at Sandia National Laboratories.
Since 1949, Sandia National Laboratories has developed science-based technologies that support U.S. national security. Today, Americans depend on Sandia's technology solutions to solve national and global threats to peace and freedom. Through science and technology, people, infrastructure, and partnerships, Sandia's mission is to meet national needs in four key areas (nuclear weapons, non-proliferation and materials control, energy and critical infrastructure, and emerging threats). Todd Dunivan’s presentation will focus on his experiences negotiating and consulting in the CIS countries. Lessons learned will be discussed in the context of the changing face of Russian society. There will also be a discussion of how the changes in Russia are having an effect on the opportunities for commercial businesses looking to start or increase their international trade and partnerships in this part of the world.
Alan Felton, founder of Felton International, Inc., of Lenexa, Kansas. His firm has successfully transferred proprietary needle-free injection technology from CADB/Medequipment of Voronezh, Russia. Livestock models of the devices are being sold in the U.S. and internationally, and human applications are scheduled for commercialization in 2004. Mr. Felton will discuss the challenges, the lessons, the satisfaction and the fun that have all been part of getting this win-win business up and running.
Bill McNeil, manager of the BusinessMAP Software Division for ESRI, the world’s largest GIS or digital mapping company. For the past eight years his division has been using Russian programmers to create consumer software. To date over 140,000 copies of BusinessMAP programs have been shipped through such stores as CompUSA, Micro Center, and Fry’s. His division currently does business with companies in Novosibirsk, Taganrog, Penza, and Moscow. He will focus on methods for building effective software development teams in Russia, investment advantages and disadvantages compared to the USA, and companies (with list of contacts) and areas in Russia that are the most progressive and productive.
Doug Goodman, CEO of Ridgetop Group and Ardext Technologies, which are involved in the Semiconductor Tools business. He was named an Entrepreneurial Fellow by the University of Arizona’s School of Business Administration in 2002. Leveraging his direct knowledge of six countries of the former Soviet Union, Mr. Goodman later engaged in business relationships with principals in Ukraine, Estonia and Russia. He will discuss "Practical Product Development and Engineering in the CIS Countries," focusing on the business strategies that yielded the best results.
Session 5. Case Studies. Food Processing Industry. Presentations will be given by:
Bill Washburn, president of Foodpro International, Inc., a consulting engineering firm that offers a complete range of services to the food industry from concept development through the start up of new or expanded operation. Founded in 1974, Foodpro has completed more than 360 projects in 36 countries. Internationally, its personnel have specialized in working in developing countries. With extensive work in Russia and the NIS, it is in a good position to monitor change in the food industry. Mr. Washburn will share his views about some of the dramatic recent changes and just how you can both survive and profit by doing business in this exciting part of the world.
Sergei Shkurkin and Associates have a share ownership in two US registered LLC’s, Eno-Inves, which imported bulk wine into Ukraine from Hungary for champagne production, and Project Finance Development International, which established the first security hologram production facility in Ukraine. Mr. Shkurkin is currently involved in developing projects in Estonia, Russia and Ukraine. He will explain how conditions have changed in the last five years in regards to these issues in Ukraine and Russia.
Carrie McAlister, Director of Strategic Planning, Agland. Agland Investment Services, Inc., has over 27 years of experience working in the agriculture and agribusiness sectors in the U.S. and in 60 countries throughout the world. Agland provides a wide range of economic, financial, technical, farm management, and market consultation to governments,
agricultural producers, food processors, and public sector entities. Agland has worked with countries of the Former Soviet Union on projects with organizations including the US Agency for International Development, the World Bank, the US Trade and Development Agency, and the US Department of Commerce's SABIT program. Agland’s work has ranged from providing technical assistance in rural development and agribusiness to working with companies to develop business plans and structure new business ventures. Agland also specializes in providing international tours and specialized training for the food and agriculture industries.
Ms. McAlister’s presentation will provide an overview of Agland's work and focus on its recent work with the US Department of Commerce's SABIT Program.
Session 6. Investment and Finance. Presentations will be given by:
William Edwards, President of Edwards Global Services, Inc. (EGS), a consulting firm that assists small to mid-sized companies to ‘Go International’. William Edwards has 30 years of successful international operations, development, executive and entrepreneurial experience in the oil & gas, information technology, management consulting and licensing sectors. He has lived in China, the Czech Republic, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Iran, Turkey and the USA. He has worked on projects in 62 international markets and has personally directed projects on-site in Alaska, Asia, Eastern Europe and the Near East. Mr. Edwards will share EGS’s ranking of countries as related to investment and development projects.
Emmett McLoughlin, President of the Fair Winds Trading Company, has been a licensed Arizona Real Estate Broker for 27 years. His specialty has been commercial investments. He has been working in Kazakhstan and Georgia since 1990. Today he will describe his present work with the Bazalt Dairy in Atyrau, Kazkhstan, and will introduce us to the International Business Club - Gaussig. This internet supported networking organization, based in Tucson and Gaussig, Germany, brings us literally to the threshold of the CIS and Eastern Europe.
Tim C. Bruinsma, a transactional business attorney, provides legal representation in connection with mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, commercial transactions and project finance, with an emphasis upon international transactions. He is a partner and the head of the International Practice Group in the Los Angeles office of Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P. His expertise includes representation in connection with distribution and license agreements and development, supply and requirements contracts in Europe, Asia, Central and South America, as well as establishment of offshore corporate structures to facilitate global transactions. Mr. Bruinsma has special expertise in representing clients in transactions involving developing countries such as Russia and the former Soviet states, China and African countries. Mr. Bruinsma will focus on new opportunities for project finance in Russia and the Commonwealth States.
Sunday, November 2, 2003
Session 6, Continuing. Investment and Finance. Presentations will be given by:
Steven L. Johnston, an Investment Insurance Officer with the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) in Washington, DC, will discuss how OPIC can help investors mitigate the political risks associated with investments in the CIS and Eastern Europe. OPIC, one of the most experienced political risk insurers, has reserves exceeding $4 billion and can insure up to $250 million per project. It offers political risk insurance coverage for equity investments, parent company and third-party loans and loan guaranties, technical assistance agreements, cross-border leases, capital markets transactions, contractors' and exporters' exposures, and other forms of investment. OPIC, a U.S. government agency, offers special insurance programs for small businesses, infrastructure development, financial institutions, and natural resources and oil and gas projects. Mr. Johnston will also describe OPIC's new Small Business Center and its programs tailored specifically for US small businesses.
Gulbarshyn Bozheyeva, PhD, Technology Commercialization Specialist and Ali U. Demirci, Project Financing Specialist, U.S. Industry Coalition. Founded in 1994, the U.S. Industry Coalition, Inc. (USIC) is a non-profit association of American companies who are active partners in our nation’s long-term nonproliferation efforts with the former Soviet Union. USIC acts as the commercialization agent for Initiatives for Proliferation Prevention (IPP), a program sponsored by the National Nuclear Security Administration of the U.S. Department of Energy. IPP supports development of non-military technologies and the creation of long-term jobs in the high-tech commercial marketplace for scientists and engineers in three of the Newly Independent States (NIS): Russian Federation, Ukraine and Kazakhstan. Dr. Bozheyeva will focus on commercialized technologies and Mr. Demirci will give an overview of venture capital financing, using examples and experiences from the Initiatives for the Proliferation Prevention Program.
Ileana Boza, one of Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) – World Bank Regional Managers, has extensive experience working in emerging markets and has spent a great deal of her career working oversees in the USA, Eastern Europe, Central Asia and Latin America. MIGA is a member of the World Bank Group. Its purpose is to promote foreign direct investment by providing political risk insurance (guarantees) to investors and lenders, and by helping emerging economies attract private investment. MIGA offers coverage against expropriation, breach of contract, transfer restriction, and war/civil disturbance. Ms. Boza will explain how MIGA can protect your investments and secure your success.
Session 7. Environmental Technologies.
Thomas J. Suchoski, Senior hydrologist with EarthFax Engineering, Inc.. Mr. Suchoski's presentation will focus on two project completed by EarthFax for coal mining companies in the Russian Far East.
John G. Aronson, President and Founder of AATA International, Inc. including AATA branch offices AATA Eurasia (Moscow) and AATA Kazakhstan (Almaty and Atyrau). Mr. Aronson has 29 years of experience as a professional environmental consultant and has served as principal environmental management consultant and Principal-In-Charge for a wide variety of projects in Russia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and the Former Soviet Union, as well as for complex natural resource development projects around the world. He has worked extensively over the past 10 years in the Russian Far East, and for nearly 7 years in Kazakhstan. In his presentation Mr. Aronson will describe environmental challenges in Russia and former Soviet Union.
Cameron Peron, Marketing Executive, Ecodom Corp, an environmental technology company which is in the process of introducing a technology that reduces vehicle emissions. Since his tenure with Ecodom, he has been assisting in the marketing research in all of Ecodom’s target markets on local, domestic and international level. The focus of his presentation will be the environment of Eastern Europe - including a view into the present situation of the environment, the roles of the European Union, governments, local populations and other parties, and issues of enforcement.
Session 8. Discussion and Marketing led by
Emmett McLoughlin, President of the Fair Winds Trading Company, with two decades of marketing experience in Germany, Georgia, Kazakhstan and Japan. He will facilitate a general meeting of participants, helping to identify "haves" and "wants" and attempting some "matchmaking."
The 10th Annual CIS & Eastern Europe Business Forum
The symposium will take place on the premises of The Hilton Tucson East, 7600 East Broadway Boulevard, Tucson, Arizona. It will open with a reception on Friday, October 31, at 7:30 pm. The schedule for Saturday, November 1, and Sunday, November 2 is as follows:
Saturday, Nov. 1
7:30 Registration
8:00 Session 1
8:30 Session 2
9:30 Session 3
12:00 Lunch Break
1:00 Session 4
3:00 Session 5
4:30 Session 6
Sunday, Nov. 2
8:30 Session 6, continuing
10:00 Session 7
11:00 Session 8
The registration fee of $135 is to be paid by October 15, 2003. Full-time student registration fee is $25. You are encouraged to register early, as space is limited.
Reservations for accommodations at the Hilton Tucson East hotel may be made by calling nationwide 1-800-445-8667, or on www.tucsoneast.hilton.com by October 1. When calling for reservations, ask for the CIS group rooms to receive a special rate of $89. Rooms not reserved by October 1, 2003 may not be available. The Hilton Tucson East welcomes you to sunny Tucson! We invite you to enjoy world class service at our award-winning hotel. Our atrium style hotel affords you the comfort of indoor corridors with the pleasure of stunning mountain views unique to Tucson, Arizona.
Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation, such as a sign language interpreter, by calling 520-626-4007. Requests should be made as early as possible to allow time to arrange the accommodation.
For further information, please call 520-621-7341 or 520-298-6599 at the University of Arizona Department of Russian and Slavic Studies and ask for senior lecturer Roza Simkhovich or department head Dr. George Gutsche. Last minute program changes can be found on the conference Web site: go to http://russian.arizona.edu and follow the link to Business Forum 2003. You also may e-mail Roza Simkhovich at roza@dakotacom.net
Partial support for this symposium has been graciously provided by:
Foodpro International, Inc., Loews Ventana Canyon Resort,
Fair Winds Trading Company, Ridgetop Group and Ardext Technologies,
International Affairs of the University of Arizona
Registration Form
CIS & Eastern Europe Business Forum
October 31, November 1-2, 2003
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____Yes, I will attend lunch on Saturday for an additional $15.00 (to be paid together with registration fee). Please indicate your choice____Marinated Breast of Chicken, ___Tomato & Mushroom Tortellini
____Yes, I will attend dinner on Saturday for an additional $25.00 (to be paid together with registration fee). Please indicate your choice: ____Roast Breast of Turkey, ____ Salmon Fillet
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Please send this form with registration fee to:
The CIS Business Forum
Department of Russian & Slavic Studies
University of Arizona, LSB 305
PO Box 210105
Tucson, Arizona 85721-0105