As from August 2008 the Norwegian-Russian Chamber of Commerce in cooperation with the High North Center for Business at the Bodoe Graduate School of Business is launching a Matchmaking Program for Norwegian and Russian Small- and Medium-sized Enterprises (MMP).

What is MMP?
The Matchmaking Program for Norwegian and Russian SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) shall seek to establish direct business links and cooperation between participating Norwegian companies with matching Russian partners. Such cooperation may include investment projects, joint ventures, trade operations, hereunder import and export, etc.

The Matchmaking Program is implemented by the Norwegian-Russian Chamber of Commerce (NRCC) and the High North Center for Business at the Bodoe Graduate School of Business (HNC). Financial support is provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway, Nordland County, the NRCC and participating Norwegian SMEs.

Who can apply?
The MMP is open for small and medium-sized Norwegian enterprises located in Nordland County and Norwegian companies which are members of the Norwegian-Russian Chamber of Commerce (irrespective of their geographical location in Norway). Application is to be sent to the Norwegian-Russian Chamber of Commerce.
Other Norwegian counties may join the MMP by providing financial support for the program. Interested parties may contact the NRCC for more detailed information.

Why MMP?
• Easy and qualified partner search in the North-West District of the Russian Federation and the Moscow Region;
• Open for SMEs from all branches and sectors;
• Specially developed and tailor-made for small and medium-sized Norwegian companies;
• Includes free partner search and advisory services provided by MMP consultants with broad experience, contact network and good knowledge of Russian business, culture and language.

How does MMP work?
Phase 1. Applicant (with assistance from MMP Coordinators) submits a company profile to the NRCC.
Phase 2. The company profile is sent to the Program’s National Contact Point in Russia. Search for matching Russian companies is started.
Phase 3. Applicant receives a feedback with profiles about from two to four candidates. After evaluation, the applicant is to select one potential partner.
Phase 4. MMP advisers with competence in Russian business, culture and language execute a pre-feasibility study and prepare a market visit for the applicant.
Phase 5. Applicant visits the selected Russian company/-ies (at own cost) accompanied by an MMP adviser. The goal is to establish cooperation formalized by a Memorandum of Understanding between the two parties.

What is the Participation Fee?
• Participation fee is only NOK 15 000 per Norwegian SME.
• Applicant is responsible for covering his/her own expences in connection with the market visit to Russia.
• All advisory services offered by the MMP, as well as the advisors’ expenses in connection with the market visit to Russia, are covered by the MMP.

Other requirements
• Applicant must be registered in the Norwegian Register of Enterprises (Foretaksregisteret) and have established activities in Norway.
• Activities planned by an applicant in connection with the project in selected geographical areas of the Russian Federation should be related to the applicant’s present business activities.
• Applicant should dispose a product/service which has a potential in the Russian market.
• Applicant shall be able to allocate necessary financial, personnel and time resourses for the implementation of the project at his/her own costs.
• The participation fee shall be paid up front at the time of the submission of the application.

How to register
If your company meets the participation criteria and you wish to participate, please take contact with the NRCC to discuss your project and receive all details about the program. You will also be instructed about the payment procedure, rights and obligations of the parties etc. After the preliminary discussion, you will be asked to fill in the MMP Company Profile (a Word-document will open in a new window). This profile which serves as your formal registration for the MMP, has to be sent to the NRCC. You will be kept informed about the various stages in the partner-finding process directly from the MMP Coordinator in Norway (NRCC).

If you have any questions about the MMP, please take contact with the MMP Project Manager Joern Tverseth:
Tel. +47 22 00 29 60; Fax + 47 22 00 29 61; Mobile: +47 90  91 49 64.
E-mail: tverseth(at)nrcc.no

Download the brochure about MMP (in English)