Message-ID: <MAC.961111133958@maine.maine.EDU> Date: Mon, 11 Nov 1996 13:39:58 EST From: Dennis McConnell - Maine Business School <mailto:mac@MAINE.MAINE.EDU> Subject: Far Eastern Center for Economic Development - Vladivostok To: Multiple recipients of list DEVEL-L <mailto:DEVEL-L@AMERICAN.EDU>
***************************************************************** I have today received from IREX an interesting profile of the new Far Eastern Center for Economic Development in Vladivostok. The Center is part of IREX's most recent initiative - the Centers for Corporate and Cultural Development Project (3CD). The Centers are training, research and professional resources dedicated to pro- moting the economic development in their localities through services to U.S. corporations, local government and industry. Corporate and Cultural Development Centers aim to link business, higher education and regional elites in an effort to facilitate regional economic growth and investment opportunities for foreign businesses.In the announcement below, I have provided information about the new Center in Vladivostok. I hope it will be of interest to members of the list. ***************************************************************** Far Eastern Center for Economic Development Vladivostok, Russia ***************************************************************** The Vladivostok Center opened its doors in April of this year. It enjoys support from a broad range of local policymakers, business persons and academics. Its founding institutions include the Administrative Committee of the Nakhodka Free Economic Zone (FEZ), the Far Eastern State University (FESU) and IREX. The Center's close ties with FESU and the Nakhodka FEZ should enhance its prospects for long-term sustainability.
Each of the founders has made initial financial contributions towards the Center's start-up. The university has donated prime downtown office space for the Center's operation, in the building which formerly housed the U.S. consulate. The facility boasts several large auditoriums wired for simultaneous translation and a library. A satellite-linked Internet node, which was recently installed in the building under the auspices of the Russian State Committee for Higher Education, will guarantee reliable real-time Internet access for the Center and its clients.
The Center's Director is Dr. Irina Boiko, who also heads the International Economics Faculty of FESU's Economics Department. Her team includes distinguished economics from the University as well as investment specialists from the Nakhodka FEZ.
The Center aims to be a unique training resource for U.S. corpo- rations working in the Russian Far East. Its staff and associates will design and administer practical courses in western economics and business practices for local Russian employees, as well as specially-tailored workshops and seminars for resident western businessmen and women in the culture, history, politics and regulatory environment of the region.
The Center will leverage the broad support it enjoys among business and policy making circles to provide its clients with access to high-level policymakers, government officials and regional specialists. Additionally, the Center aims to provide local policymakers and western investors with economic forecasts, analysis and targeted investment advice - services not usually part of the mandate of more traditional "business centers."
The Vladivostok Center has just been formally endorsed by the Russian Far East - U.S. West Coast Ad Hoc Working Group of the Gore-Chernomyrdin Commission. The Commission acknowledges the Center as an important initiative working to further mutual interests of the two countries, and has charged itself with the task of assisting the Center in realizing its goals and develop- ing a mechanism for financing its activity.
This fall the Center sponsored two seminars, in cooperation with the USAID-funded Business Collaboration Center. One seminar dealt with Internet access and training, and the other with Western financial management practices, including cash-flow analysis.
If you would like any additional information, please feel free to send inquiries to either of the contacts provided below. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Bernadine Joselyn IREX Senior Specialist for Professional Training Programs Email: mailto:bjoselyn@irex.org
Dr. Irina V. Boiko, Director Far Eastern Center for Economic Development Email: mailto:fecenter@online.marine.su *****************************************************************