December 1996

U.S. Department of Commerce/Commercial Service -- The U.S. Commercial Service and the American Business Center Program are organizing a one-day seminar and workshop, "Opportunities for Trade and Investment in Russia and the New Independent States," to be held in Frankfurt, Germany on January 21, and in Brussels, Belgium on January 23, 1997. ABC Directors will present up-to-date market information on trade and investment opportunities in their city/region. For more information about the two conferences, contact George Luff in Brussels at 011 32 (2) 508-2453; or Elizabeth Powell in Frankfurt at 011 49 (69) 95679-013.

European Bank for Reconstruction and Development--Uralpromstroybank, one of the largest banks in the Sverdlovsk Region, has been granted a $10 million credit line from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). The credit line will support lending to small- and medium-sized businesses in the Sverdlovsk Region. For more information, contact Dean Peterson, U.S. Department of Commerce Senior Commercial Officer at the EBRD, in London at 011 44 (171) 338-6569 (voice), or 011 44 (171) 338-6487 (fax).

European Bank for Reconstruction and Development � The EBRD has established a 10-year, $30 million equity fund which will cover the Black Earth region of Southeastern Russia. The Rabo Black Earth Regional Venture Fund (Rabo Black Earth RVF) will be managed by a consortium led by Rabobank International of the Netherlands. Once the fund has established the necessary track record, its managers and the EBRD will seek additional financing from new investors. The Rabo Black Earth RVF will focus primarily on the Belgorod, Kursk, Lipetzk, Tambov, and Voronezh oblasts. For more information, contact Dean Peterson, U.S. Department of Commerce Senior Commercial Officer at the EBRD, in London at 011 44 (171) 338-6569 (voice), or 011 44 (171) 338-6487 (fax).