Russia Business Guide
The Comprehensive Reference-Book

This edition is a fruit of the joint efforts of many different institutions and organizations. Governmental offices, research institutes, and the publications of the main periodicals have contributed to its compilation. Among those, whose efforts are gratefully acknowledged, are: the State Statistics Committee, the Ministry of Economy, the State Property Committee, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of International Economic Relations, the State Customs Committee, the Central Bank of Russian Federation; departments and committees of the Moscow city administration; the Institute of National Economic Development at the Russian Academy of Sciences; the Centre of Economic Research at the Government of Russian Federation, and the Institute of the Goods Flow and Wholesale Market Research.

The book aims to assist both Russian and foreign businessmen; specialists in the fields of economy and foreign trade; students of the respective institutes as well as the general reader interested in the outcome of economic reforms in Russia.

The book is published in the form of a periodical, where each issue explains a particular problem in the fields of economy, trade, privatization, investments, as well as the aspects of the current legislation and the details of its practical application in certain areas of business.

The changes in the Russian economy during 1991-1998 are presented in dynamics with the thorough review of the trends of 1994-1998.

Each following issue of the "Business Guide" offers the readers' attention considerable amount of new sections, columns, and supplements. The current issue has been expanded on privatization and investments, including foreign investments. The new sections "Insurance Services Market in Russia" and "Banking" have been added to this edition as well.

The "Useful Addresses" section presents contact information on government and administrative offices.

The authors of the "Guide" sincerely hope that this reference book will become a useful companion to the business people - Russian and foreign alike.