Founded in 1994 in California, the American-Russian Business Council (ARBC) is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting trade and investment among business members and business-oriented entities in Russia. We are committed to assisting our members in developing strong and profitable business relationships with Russia. Based on the principals of integrity, good faith, and fairness, the organization also provides a forum to acquaint its members with unique and practical insights into trade and marketing tools in Russia. The membership is comprised of corporations, chief executives, presidents, entrepreneurs, directors of international operations, and others that are involved in international business ventures. Currently, ARBC has offices in Los Angeles, and in Moscow.
The Council's activities have gained momentum and importance and much has been accomplished since the inception of the organization. ARBC has held approximately 50 events, designed to create a setting conducive to increasing business relations between Russia and the United States, and which have resulted in a number of trade agreements. The following describes some of the major events in which ARBC has been involved.
On May 5-6, 1998, ARBC and the Academy of National Economy of the Russian Federation hosted an American-Russian conference entitled "Russia--An Emerging Market for the 21st Century." Russian participants included high-ranking Russian government officials and business executives from twelve regions of Russia. Attendees from the United States received a better understanding of the differences of the regions of Russia, and the Russian participants came away with a better understanding of the partnership possibilities available with American companies. A similar conference will be held May 10-11, 1999, in San Diego, hosted by ARBC and Academy of National Economy, called "Regions of Russia--A New Shift of Power."
In March 1998, ARBC, together with World Affairs Council and San Diego-Vladivostok Sister Cities Society, hosted the Honorable Yuriy Popov, Consul General of the Russian Federation. A dinner reception was held in his honor, which was attended by government officials, business representatives, and those interested in Russia.
The "San Diego-Tijuana - A Growth Market For Business Relations With New Russia" conference, organized by ARBC in May 1996 was a great success. The event was sponsored by ARBC and World Trade Center Association, with the Trade Representative of the Russian Federation, the Russian Consul General and the Mexican Consul General in participation.
In January 1996, ARBC took an active part in organizing the "Current Issues in City Management" American-Russian Conference, held in San Diego, California. 250 participants from Russia and the United States gathered to discuss issues of urban and housing development, privatization, and environmental concerns in both countries, and to share ideas on future cooperative efforts in these areas.
It is our goal to create an environment in which American and Russian companies may negotiate agreements and make arrangements for doing business. Through our membership services and various meetings and events, we strive to assist businesses from Russia and the United States to find trading partners, create joint ventures, and locate direct investment opportunities.
Another way in which we are working towards this goal is by increasing our presence in Russia. It is our objective to create a network of ARBC offices in Russia, which will provide Russian government agencies and businesses access to our professional services and knowledge pertaining to the U.S. market. Through this network of offices, more companies in Russia can be contacted regarding business opportunities with the U.S., and conversely, U.S. companies may establish a presence across the many regions of Russia. We currently have three representative offices in Russia, located in Moscow, Vladivostok, and Irkutsk.