Mr. Millian (left) signs the memorandum with Mr. Beskurnikov. CLICK HERE for a short video of the ceremony. Video courtesy of the Russian-American chamber.

Wayne Lord, a Russia expert and the newly appointed president of the Southern Center for International Studies, discusses how partnerships like the one between the chambers can help investors overcome current political tensions. CLICK FOR VIDEO

The Atlanta-based Russian-American Chamber of Commerce in the USA signed an agreement Aug. 22 with the U.S. representative of Russia’s largest chamber of commerce to cooperate on future business events and exchanges.

That organization, the Russian Federation Chamber of Commerce and Industry, is a government-sponsored entity that established its U.S. branch in San Francisco in 2005.

Dmitry Beskurnikov, the office’s executive director, signed the memorandum of understanding with Sergio Millian, president of the Georgia-based chamber, at an event held at the Atlanta offices of law firm Miller & Martin PLLC. 

The pact formally commits both organizations to work together on informational, economic and educational exchanges and the promotion of market opportunities, joint seminars and international conferences, Mr. Millian told GlobalAtlanta.

The expected collaborations won’t be the first between the Atlanta chamber and Mr. Beskurnikov, a diplomat whose career includes postings in trade-related positions in the Kremlin, the Ministry of Foreign Trade and the Russian Embassy in Washington.

Since his appointment in 2005, Mr. Beskurnikov has visited Atlanta at least twice, once to participate in a business seminar and once for an event discussing Russia’s role in the World Trade Organization.

Mr. Millian said the formalization of the longtime friendship between his organization and Mr. Beskurnikov’s will help the Atlanta chamber’s members on a variety of levels.

“The biggest benefit is going to be access to Russian regions,” said Mr. Millian. 

While the Atlanta chamber has focused on certain areas of Russia, the country’s huge landmass spans seven times zones, making it difficult to cover, Mr. Millian said. 

Mr. Beskurnikov’s affiliation with the national chamber’s 156 regional chambers of commerce within Russia will extend the reach of member companies looking to do business in the country’s more remote areas.

His extensive government and business connections will also provide equally important diplomatic access for the Atlanta chamber as it seeks to build business ties in Moscow and beyond, Mr. Millian said.

“We are working on trade mission to Moscow.  We do it to encourage our members to be actively involved in doing business in Russia,” Mr. Millian said, making clear that he’d like to see a Georgia office open in the Russian capital. 

Mr. Millian wants the trip to be a high-level delegation, so the chamber will plan it at a time when leaders from Atlanta corporations like Coca-Cola Co. can attend.

Former Coke CEO Neville Isdell is the chair of the U.S.-Russia Business Council.  He led the beverage giant’s expansion into Russia before the end of the Cold War and has spoken optimistically about the company’s future there.

The Southern Center for International Studies, an educational organization in Atlanta, hosted an event in March where Mr. Isdell shared his experiences and projections for business there.

While Mr. Millian and his chamber are trying to promote bilateral trade in the state of Georgia, Russia has come under international scrutiny for its invasion the former Soviet republic of the same name in the Caucasus region.

Wayne Lord, the Southern Center’s new president, is a Russia expert and has conducted business there for nearly three decades. 

He told GlobalAtlanta that as icy political rhetoric flies from one hemisphere to another, it’s unclear what the political environment's long-term effect will be on the economic relations between the countries.

“Foreign investment has gone up tremendously in Russia until recently,” he said.  “Every time you have some political attention, then all companies will have to call into question what they're going to do and how they're going to continue to position for investment in Russia and I suppose vice-versa.”

Mr. Millian said the chamber has not yet felt any ill effects from the ongoing conflict in the country of Georgia.

“Currently there is no direct impact but it might be an afterward chilling effect that we don’t see right now,” he said. 

Mr. Lord said collaborations like the new pact between the chambers can play an important role in introducing companies to the Russian market. 

The Russian chamber can “represent them as a trade association so that a large company doesn't have to go to the Russian government on its own, but rather go under the umbrella and under the banner of the chamber of commerce.  This is a very important role,” Dr. Lord said.

According to Mr. Millian, Mr. Beskurnikov will be substantially involved in the planning of the chamber’s trade mission.  

He has pledged to set up meetings for the Atlanta businesspeople with Yevgeny Primakov, a former prime minister of Russia and the current president of the national Russian chamber, which has 20,000 companies and public institutions as members.