elcome to a short tour of Moscow/Russia.
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Russia

Russia has for many years been a land of mystery and intrigue to the people of the West. For hundreds of years it has been an enigma, friend, or enemy, as the political winds here and there blew in changing directions. As in any situation where new relationships are being formed we have found that we didn't know at least as much as we did know. That being said we have found that people everywhere have much in common. We found that Russians as a people are interested in many of the same things as any other people. They wish a better life for themselves, self determination, and pride in self and country.

New freedoms in most areas of life are bringing new opportunities for Russians, as well as visitors, for business and pleasure. Russian society and culture have opened up bringing the opportunity to visit and do business. For the first time there is freedom of employment, religion, and opportunity for all citizens. These changes allow opportunity for unprecedented success and failure. The changes have been wrenching, the control of government over all aspects of life did not start in 1917, but had been the case for centuries. Not all of the changes have been of benefit to all of the people.

One of the largest problems facing Russian business and people and business is inflation. While there is relatively little inflation in dollar terms, in Ruble terms it is amazing. This has caused hardship

Due to the extraordinary political changes in Russia, and changing attitudes in the West, it is now possible for individuals and companies to do business in Russia and Eastern Europe. This is the story of how RussThai Consulting Co., Ltd., have done so. We think you will find our story interesting. This article is not a substitute for good research and preparation, but we think that you will find it interesting at least.

If you are planning on visiting Russia, and you are a citizen of most countries you will need a valid Passport, and an entry VISA. To get an entry VISA you will have to have an invitation from a registered Russian entity. If you do not have contacts in Russia to help you, you may use your travel agency or Moscow Guest House. Moscow Guest House will issue an invitation for a small fee. Email to Moscow Guest House.

The Cathedral of Saint Basil the Blessed has become a symbol of Russia to those in the West. This colorful 16th century church sits on the north side of the Kremlin on what is commonly known as Red Square. Interestingly, Red Square is not named for the red bricks which pave it, but for the Russian word meaning beautiful, literally "Beautiful Square".

On a sunny fall afternoon Red Square is crowded with families, tourists, and vendors selling stacking dolls, shish Kebabs, and other small goods. The prices here, as in any area in the world frequented by tourists, will be higher than elsewhere. If you have the time the best place to do your souvenir shopping is at Izmailovsky Park. Izmailovsky Park has a large flea market with hundreds of vendors selling everything under the sun, it is open on weekends only. To get there by METRO take the Blue line, follow the crowd for about three blocks, entry costs about 10 cents. On the left (North) side you can see the old GUM department store. At one time this was the worlds largest department store, but now it is more of a mall type site with hundreds of small stores selling Russian and western goods. The South side of Red Square is bounded by Lenin's tomb (now closed to the public) and the wall of the Kremlin.

The church above has beautiful bells which are rung on weekends and other times. It is well worth the time to soak in the sites and sounds of Red Square on a sunny day. Weekends are best as there are few official events. Remember that the Kremlin is the seat of government, so during the week Red Square may be closed when officials or visiting dignitaries are arriving and leaving. If you get a chance you may want to visit at night. The buildings are lit up with spotlights and look very nice, bring your camera too.

The south side of Red Square is the north side of the Kremlin. The Kremlin is a fortress that is surrounded by a high brick wall and many towers. The towers are lit up at night. Most of the towers still have an illuminated red star at the top of them. The fortress here has been rebuilt many times, starting in the 1300s. The first fort was built with wooden walls and was burned down. It is possible to visit the museums inside the Kremlin's walls during some days and hours, your Russian hosts can help you if you are interested in visiting.

Also in the area are the state library, similar to the Library of Congress, and other museums. If you come when the weather is nice it is a great idea to spend a weekend day walking around looking. It is interesting to stand where generations of newscasters have stood with their microphones.

The city of Moscow is the center of political, social, and business in Russia. If you will be visiting Russia for any purpose Moscow needs to be on your list of places to explore. However for business keep in mind that EVERYONE will be there. This means vendors, your competition, from every country will be there as well. Moscow is a busy cosmopolitan city. Most of the services, including INTERNET email, western style restaurants, hotels, etc. are easy to find in Moscow. You will find many bright entrepreneurs busy making there way in the world. We have found that the average aggressive growing company is headed by people in their 20's and 30's.

Everywhere through out the streets of Moscow, and other cities, in Russia you will find thousands of small self standing shops called Kiosks. These kiosks sell foodstuffs, cigarettes, small electronics, and other goods. The economy of Russia is rapidly moving from that of a command economy to a market driven economy. This rapid change has not been without considerable pain to many of it's citizens. Indeed I wonder how Westerners' would have done if faced with similar changes. An example of this is the GUM Department store mentioned above. The "Old School" thought was that it was easier to build a fewer number of very large installations. These were easier for a centrally planned economy to build and manage. The problem of course is that by doing this the needs of the user were not always met. Also because of the large investment in the projects, failure could not be admitted, too much capitol and effort were involved to admit a mistake was made. This large project school of thought was not confined to retail stores but to all means of production.

We like to call Russia "The land of the big project.", because it still is in many ways. Because of the rapid changes in the economy, it is still easier to find capitol, Russian partners, and good management for a big project than a small one. However this is beginning to change and will continue to do so as more and more of the economy is market driven, and as the pool of local management and capitol grows.

Jobs in the private, market driven, economy are in very high demand, as well as those for western companies. I have met college professors who had a Ph.D., and were making the equivalent of $135.00 a month. Even with free rent and utilities, and some subsidies of basic foodstuffs this is not enough to live on. The average wage rate in Russia is stated at about $200.00 per month. However, if you need to hire a person who speaks English, and has good skills and motivation, expect to offer in the range of $1.000 per month.

Westerners' who visit Russia for the first time will be amazed at how expensive it is. A good quality hotel room will cost from $250 to $400.00 per night. Restaurant meals are on par with those in big capitals in the west in cost, but not necessarily in quality. A taxi ride is similar in cost to those in any major city. While there are dispatched taxis, most any car headed in your direction will give you a ride. To get a taxi step to the curb on the side of the street going in your direction and wave your arm at your side, it is rare to have to wait for more than 30 seconds on a busy street in Moscow, but it can take all day in St. Petersburg! Agree on the fee ahead of time, and if at all possible have a Russian do the talking and negotiate the price. Remember even the taxi drivers are beginning to understand the market economy!