Nothing irks a Moscow-based
foreign executive like an alarmist report in the morning newspaper about an
anti-business or anti-Western measure by the Russian government. It doesn't
matter if the newspaper is foreign or local, and if the measure is real or
imagined. When the head office catches wind of it, precious time will go toward
offering reassurances to senior management halfway across the globe.
Alarmist reports have been plentiful in recent months as President Vladimir Putin's Kremlin moved to stifle dissent by cracking down on the Internet, nongovernmental organizations and public protests. The Pussy Riot case made the judicial system look like it had been transported from the Dark Ages.
An investor, of course, has to do his homework and consider risks like bureaucracy, corruption and the court system. But Moscow is not trapped in the Dark Ages. As the Kremlin seeks to showcase Russia at the APEC summit, which opened Wednesday, here are four positive developments that you might have missed in the headlines, or, if you live here, overlooked in everyday life.
1. Simplified travel visas. U.S.investors can rejoice over three-year visas, which will replace one-year visas next week. The groundbreaking agreement, initiated by Washington and two years in the making, is the envy of many countries. With the Kremlin keen to win eased visa rules for Russians, more visa deals may be in the offing.
2. Approachable officials. With Kremlin instructions to show that Russia is open for business, government officials are increasingly willing to listen to and act on suggestions and concerns. It helps, of course, to know the official's press secretary or another aide personally. If all else fails, catch the official at a business conference or social event, or ask a foreign business association for help.
3. Wired Moscow. Soviet-style lines still exist, but they often can be avoided these days thanks to technology and the e-government program. Utility bills, cell phone bills and Internet bills can all be paid at one of the thousands of payment terminals scattered across the city and via an increasing number of online payment options. Moscow also is one of the best Internet-connected cities in the world, with easy access in most every neighborhood, high speeds and low monthly payments for unlimited traffic. Government agency sites are amazingly simple and useful. At the Federal Tax Service's site, for example, you can enter your individual tax number to find out whether you owe taxes.
4. Eased transportation. OK, traffic jams are a big problem. But arriving in the city, getting around, and leaving is much easier. Domodedovo and Sheremetyevo boast new terminals, and Vnukovo is finishing construction on its own. All three are connected to central Moscow by high-speed trains.
The high-speed Sapsan train also links Moscow with St. Petersburg and Nizhny Novgorod, making it a favorite for foreigners who want to avoid the hassle of airports and, in many cases, save on travel time. Within Moscow, where the gypsy cab was once the only reliable taxi, many taxi companies have sprung up.
The list could go on to include Russia's entry into the World Trade Organization and the chance that soon the U.S. Congress will finally lift Cold War trade restrictions. But those developments have been well covered by the media - including those whose reports sometimes prompt that worried phone call from the head office.
Editorial
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