MOSCOW-(October 17, 2001) Small, medium and large U.S. companies on a business development mission to Russia led by U.S. Commerce Secretary Don Evans, achieved impressive successes this week. In addition to launching discussions on potential business partnerships with dozens of Russian businesses and government leaders, mission participants celebrated specific achievements as the mission concluded today. Among them, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (TDA) announcement of $2 million in grants for feasibility studies for the following three projects with the potential to generate $150 million in U.S. exports to Russia:

• Funding to VTI, a large commercial agribusiness enterprise, for a feasibility study on establishing an agricultural services enterprise in Krasnodar Russia to be completed by American Agribusiness Equipment of Washington, D.C.

• Funding to SIBUR, a major Russian petrochemical producer, for a feasibility study on the modernization of three ethylene plants in Perm, Tomsk and Kstovo to be completed by ABB Lummus Global of Bloomfield, NJ.

• Funding to Lidesm, a Russian design and engineering firm, for a feasibility study on developing the first utility-scale wind power plants in northwest Russia to be completed by ABB Power T&D; Company Inc. of Raleigh, NC.

These grants are an indication of the ongoing U.S. government support for U.S. companies doing business in Russia and helping that country in its continued economic transformation.

TDA was represented on the mission by Carl Kress, Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor to the Director, and Daniel Stein, Regional Director for Eurasia. Mission participants met with Russia's Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov, Minister of Trade and Commerce German Gref and other leaders of President Putin's administration, members of the Duma, U.S. Ambassador to Russia Alexander Vershbow, leaders from the American Chamber of Commerce in Russia, the U.S.-Russia Business Council, and the Russian-American Business Council. In addition, each participating business held individual discussions with potential Russian business partners.

The U.S. Trade and Development Agency promotes American private sector participation in foreign markets by helping U.S. companies pursue business opportunities in developing and middle income countries. Through the funding of feasibility studies, orientation visits, specialized training grants, business workshops, and various forms of technical assistance, TDA helps American businesses compete for infrastructure projects in emerging markets. In addition, the agency promotes capacity building initiatives and supports U.S. government trade, economic policy and development objectives around the world.

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