MARBC Month in Russia in March-April 2009

and the Pennsylvania Trade Missions to Russia

In March-April 2009, the Mid-Atlantic – Russia Business Council (MARBC) will present the MARBC Month in Russia. Due to the fact that MARBC traditionally organizes American participation at a number of major events every March & April in Russia, MARBC has combined all March & April events into the MARBC Month in Russia.  MARBC will coordinate the participation of the American delegations, including a significant number of companies from the Mid-Atlantic Region, and organize American programs and roundtables at the following events held in Moscow: Moscow International Salon of Innovations & Investment, Moscow International Congress “Biotechnology: State of the Art and Prospects of Development,” Moscow International Travel & Tourism Exhibition, Goszakaz, MosBuild, BIOEURASIA, and International Forum “High Technology of the 21^st Century”.  Further strengthening commercial ties between the U.S. Mid-Atlantic region and Russia, this past year Pennsylvania became the first American state to establish an Authorized Trade Representative in Moscow, and will arrange Pennsylvania’s second official Trade Mission to Russia.

The MARBC Month in Russia will begin with the participation of the MARBC delegation to the 9th Moscow International Salon of Innovations & Investment in March 2009, where the MARBC will also be organizing panel discussions concerning Russian-American innovation and entrepreneurship.  Displaying advancements in the Russian sciences, this Salon is a major annual event aimed at developing research and technology, stimulating entrepreneurship and innovation, and promoting achievements in the sciences and production.  The business agenda of the Salon will include scientific and technological conferences, seminars, roundtables, and business meetings in the main areas of investment and innovation development of Russia.  Combining the interests of inventors, developers and manufacturers, the Salon focuses in nanosystems and materials, information and telecommunication systems, energy, counter-terrorism and security technologies, venture projects, infrastructure development, finance and credit for innovation. 

Expanding upon the success of last years’ cooperation between American and Russian bio-industry firms, the MARBC Month in Russia will continue with the participation of the MARBC delegation to the  6^th Moscow International Congress “Biotechnology: State of the Art and Prospects of Development” in Moscow City Hall on March 16-20, 2009.  The Biotech World 2009 exhibition will highlight the entire spectrum of biological products for pharmaceutical, food and agricultural industry, veterinary medicine, geology and industrial enterprises, biological products for protection and recovery of environment, etc. MARBC will host the Russia-American symposium “Issues of current importance for Russia-USA cooperation in the field of biotechnology” and an American exposition at the exhibition. 

On March 18-21, MARBC will be assisting American participation in the largest travel and tourism exhibition in Russia, which is considered to be the third largest in the world - 16^th Moscow International Travel & Tourism Exhibition.  This event is a perfect opportunity for international tourism companies to come abreast with recent trends and developments in the Russian tourism industry, as well as to present their companies and establish new business relationships with Russian counterparts. In 2008 more than 3000 companies from 110 countries and regions participated in the exhibition.  At the 2007 exhibition, MARBC President, Val Kogan, along with former British Ambassador to Russia, Roderick Line, gave opening speeches while participating at the welcoming ceremony of the exhibition.  MARBC is working to attract leading U.S. tourism and travel companies to participate in the 2009 exhibition.

GOSZAKAZ, which is the government procurement forum-exhibition where companies may represent their products to budget holders of all levels of the Russian federal and regional governments, will be on March 23-25. 

MARBC Month in Russia will continue with BIOEURASIA, a new major biotechnology event, on April 13-17^th.  MARBC will be organizing an American delegation, as well as several discussants representing “US Contributions to World Biotechnology” in multiple panels, presentations and roundtables.  Offering an unparalleled opportunity for biotechnology, pharmaceutical and energy companies, academic research institutions, and investors from around the world to discuss business opportunities of mutual interest, the EurasiaBio Congress is the global event for Biotechnology and Renewable Energy in Russia and CIS countries.

The MARBC Month in Russia will then conclude in April with the 10^th International Forum: High Technology of the 21^st Century, April 21-24, where MARBC will also organize an American exhibition and the symposium “Opportunities for Russian-American Cooperation in the Field of Science and Technology,” on April 23^rd in the Expocenter, Moscow.  Technological achievements in the fields of space, electronics and communications, information, atomic science, mechanical engineering and metal-working, laser technologies, medicine and biotechnology, ecology, chemistry and new materials, alternative energy and energy-efficient technologies, and safety and security technology will be presented at this Forum.  Official representatives from various regions of Russia will actively participate in the conference.  Roundtables and seminars will be organized on the latest trends in science-intensive industries, especially regarding the problems of innovative activities and financing scientific projects.  Organizations specializing in the field of high technology production, including state science centers, academic institutions, financial companies, investment and venture enterprises, will make presentations on newly developed products as well as on the latest regional and inter-regional developments, and American companies will give presentations on the topic of Russian-American technological cooperation. Additionally, the Moscow Entrepreneurs Association in partnership with MARBC will co-host the innovation competition “Leader in the Field of High Technology,” as well as the award ceremony for the laureates of the Forum. There are several categories in the innovation competition, including: information technology and electronics; transport, fuel, and energy; ecology and natural resources; new materials; production technology; and consumer goods.

Considering this past year’s establishment of Pennsylvania’s Authorized Trade Representative in Moscow, the Pennsylvania Center for Trade Development, in cooperation with the World Trade Center of Greater Philadelphia, the US Commercial Service and the Mid-Atlantic – Russia Business Council, is organizing  Pennsylvania’s second official business-to-business Trade Mission to Russia.  

With the propitious participation of American businesses throughout the MARBC Month in Russia and during Pennsylvania’s Trade Mission to Russia, 2009 undoubtedly promises to manifest into an exceptionally momentous year.

For further information on the MARBC Month in Russia, please contact Val Kogan, President of the MARBC, by phone at: (215) 708-2628, by e-mail at: val@ma-rbc.org or visit the MARBC website: www.ma-rbc.org.