OREANDA-NEWS. November 06, 2012. The 20th Annual Meeting of the U.S. – Russia Business Council (USRBC) took place in Atlanta, GA, the USA. Deputy Head of the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS Russia), Andrey Tsyganov addressed the Forum, the main theme of which this year was integration of Russia in the global economy, reported the press-centre of FAS Russia.  

The Annual Meeting was attended by the heads of the key Russian and American companies actively operating on the Russian market, representatives of the U.S. Government, as well as experts and analysts in the field of Russian – American relations, entrepreneurs, researchers and politicians from the two countries. At the Meeting participants exchanged opinions and forecasts with regard to the future of Russian – American relations after the presidential elections in the USA and in view of the new economic policy of the Government of the Russian Federation.

Participants also discussed the areas of developing economic policy in Russia, new opportunities in agriculture and food industry, new achievements and approaches in the oil-and-gas industry, the issues of global integration of Russia and attracting investments, intellectual property rights and Russia’s compliance with WTO standards.

Andrey Tsyganov made a report on the “Latest Changes in Competition Law and Enforcement in the Russian Federation” included in the Special Programme of the Annual Meeting. The Programme reflects the novelties of the “third antimonopoly package” and the priorities of FAS efforts, in particular, the following issues: control over economic concentration, combating cartels, abusing market dominance, regulating activities of holders of natural monopolies, introducing competition principles in the industry law, control over the authorities, as well as possible steps towards improving competition law and enforcement.

Andrey Tsyganov also made a presentation on “Improving the Law of the Russian Federation on Foreign Investments” at the session “Oil-and-Gas Industry: New Achievements, New Approaches”. Mr. Tsyganov discussed the latest changes to the Federal Law “On the Procedures for Foreign Investments in Economic Entities of Strategic Importance for National Defence and State Security” as well as enforcing the amendments and new proposals, currently drafted by FAS, towards improving No.57-FZ Federal Law. These proposals simplify the procedures for control over foreign investments in strategic economic entities and clarify the norms of the law on foreign investments to eliminate ambiguousness of their enforcement. Both reports generated considerable interest of the audience.

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The U.S. – Russia Business Council (USRBC) is a non-governmental organization, combining around 240 American firms, companies and financial groups that have business interests in Russia. The Council was formed in 1993, soon after the dissolution of the U.S. – Soviet Trade and Economic Council.

USRBC provides drafting and adopting measures that facilitate expanding American private investments in the Russian economy and establishing business cooperation between American and Russian firms and enterprises. The Council disseminates official and business information on Russia – U.S. trade-and-economic cooperation and encourages direct dialogue between American and Russian official and business circles; and organizes workshops and conferences.