hat can we do for you?

There are more than enough examples of the cooperation between Western and Russian companies which went sour. Undoubtedly, the Russian side shall be blamed in the majority of cases, when private or government officials completely violate the previously reached agreements. It happens on any level of private or government authorities, including the top cabinet officials of the Federal Government. As a result of such violations the Western companies incur big losses.

We think that large companies are capable to do the real in-depth analyses of the Russian situation before making any business moves. There is an old business rule: "The timely rejection is much more important then untimely acceptance." The firms that came to grief in Russia do understand this rule today very well.

We have worked, or work, in the managerial positions in the former USSR for many years and accumulated very valuable business experience. have first hand knowledge of that environment and this let me say that the business relations not only possible but also could be profitable in the event of clear understanding and daily control over the status of the Russian partners.

Today Russia is a country clearly lacking the system of laws, and having the political and economic chaos instead, but it doesn't mean that productive business is impossible.

Here is our approach:

1. Before starting any new venture we always try to understand not only the expediency and profitability of this undertaking, but what's more important, the security of this deal, in terms of ANY possible GUARANTEES, existing under above mentioned conditions. And we will not begin any project, doesn't matter how profitable it appears to be, unless WE have these guarantees IN PLACE.

2. After the security is established we begin to think how to explain this deal to our potential Russian partners and make special accent on profitability of this deal to them, so some times it may look like charity, while it is absolutely not.

3. After all terms of cooperation discussed and accepted, WE start this venture following a very important rule in any contacts with Russian partners: WE never suppose to look like an Western businessmen, trying to take advantage of poor, collapsed country, which used to be superpower just seven short years ago.

If WE have enough intelligence to comply with all these details, our business works successfully.

Before you start any business in Russia, you have to be able to find the right people to work with. Many Western companies make the next mistake. They hire in Russia the former high ranking officials as consultants, in order to use their knowledge and their connections. Nevertheless it backfires, because many retired officials still sympathize communism ideology and hate capitalism system. NO MATTER HOW MUCH YOU PAY - they will deceive you. When you get in trouble, it is always their fault and they will never help you to get out. Only one thing they care about it's how to get as much cash from you as possible. It is important to understand that in many cases in contemporary Russia these people not just incapable to perform the expected duties, but very often they could be representatives of completely opposite structures, which only looking at your business as a cash cow.

We represent very different human resources, and we absolutely do not mean to induce CRIMINAL or CORRUPTED elements, as alternative partners or helpers. But at the same time people whom you are dealing with have to be able to control such forces, if necessary. You always have to remember that unless civilized law is in place, you never will be able to escape them.

In summary, we would like to offer confidential help to those Western companies who are about to enter the Russian market, or those who have being burned and looking to find solutions for their difficult problems.

We would be glad to offer this kind of help to any serious corporation, and if the given problem will not demand a considerable investment of time and money, we will solve it for free, at no charge to a client.

Thanks for the opportunity to share with you these thoughts and ideas.

Sincerely,
Bjorn Hammarback