Russia Business Directory

Independent business associations emerged in Russia in the 1990s as a result of the liberalization of the economy. Also in 2007 their main goal is to ensure a dialogue between the business and the authorities, lobby interests of their members and work for better business conditions.

Virtually, every Russian region has several business associations, hereunder branches of all-Russia associations. Some of All-Russia Associations are listed below in the Links section.

Chambers of commerce emerged in Russia only in 1920s, after the Socialistic Revolution. The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Soviet Union as it was called, has in the course of time opened its branch offices in the main cities and regions. Within this vertical structure all regional chambers were ruled from Moscow.

Perestroika has resulted in the liquidation of the All-Union Chamber. However, the new Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation established in 1991 has de jure taken over the old chamber's liabilities and de facto become the most powerful structure in the new system of the chambers. Representatives of the Russian Federation Chamber are participating on a regular basis in various committees of the Russian Duma, as well as other governmental structures. Presently, the Chamber is headed by former Russian prime-minister Evgeny Primakov.

Presently, there are 151 Chambers in Russia, so that the chamber network covers all the Russian territory from Murmansk to Vladivostok. Some regions may even have two chambers - one for the capital of the region and one for the rest of the region, such as St.Petersburg having St.Petersburg Chamber and Leningrad Oblast Chamber. Every regional chamber is considered to be an independent structure, keeping, however, good cooperation with each other exchanging information, inquiries and services.

Membership in the Russian chambers is voluntary. A standard set of services offered by Russian chambers include issueing certificates of origin, control of goods, practical business support, exhibitions, arbitrage etc.

Chamber of Commerce (selection)

The Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry - Russia's most powerful chamber, led by former Russian prime-minister Evgeny Primakov. Here you also find all-Russia exhibition centre "Expocentre", Arbitration Court, Expertise etc, committees, addresses of the regional chambers, accreditation of foreign rep offices (eng)

Arkhangelsk region  Chamber of Commerce and Industry (rus)

Kaliningrad region Chamber of Commerce and Industry (eng)

Leningrad region Chamber of Commerce and Industry (eng)

Moscow Chamber of Commerce and Industry (rus)

North (Murmansk region) Chamber of Commerce and Industry (rus/eng)

St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce (eng)

Contact information of other regional chambers in Russia can be obtained from the NRCC.

Russian business associations

The Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs – Russia’s most profiled association, an independent public organization of the national businesses, is aimed at consolidating the efforts of industrialists and businessmen in Russia in order to improve business environment and elevate the status of ’s business both within the country and abroad. English version is updated with delays. (eng/rus)

Opora – one of Russia’s biggest and influential business associations. Opora unites small- and medium-sized businesses (rus)

Delovaya Rossija – one of Russia’s biggest business associations, also pariticipating in the legislative process with consultations and advice (rus)

Russian Managers Association - independent non-government organization uniting Russian executive managers’ community, with over 1000 member companies (eng).

Union of industrialists and entrepreneurs in Murmansk Region - English version is under construction.

Moscow Association of Entrepreneurs is actually a nationwide organization working with the government and other organizations to support Russian business in Russia.  They also publish a corporate journal and a how-to guide on opening and operating a small business (published in 25 volumes and known as the Small Business Encyclopedia) (eng/rus). 

Moscow International Business Association (MIBA), presided by the Major of Moscow Yury Luzhkov, more than 150 member companies. The assistance to the foreign companies working in Moscow (rus)

NRC Business Center in St.Petersburg - information from and about the Business Centre, St. Petersburg (eng)

Union of Entrepreneurs of St. Petersburg – independent public organization for businessmen in St.Petersburg (rus)

Union of Entrepreneurs in the Textile Industry – association of companies working in the Russian light industry; news, relevant legislation, names of companies (rus).

Association of Russian Banks – Russia’s biggest bank association established in 1991, enrolling almost 700 members, promoting interests of private banks (eng/ger/rus)

St Petersburg International Business Association for North-Western Russia– non-profit organization providing networking services in the North-West Russia, with about 100 member companies and organizations (eng).

World Trade Centre Moscow - supports of the community trade objectives in international business and trade, creation of an objective notion of the business resources and goals of the region, consulting centre, WTC business library, trade and economic information, comfortable temporary offices and conference rooms for work, fitness club (eng)

Murmanshelf - association of suppliers for oil and gas industry in Murmansk Region (eng)

Foreign and bilateral business associations represented in Russia

Norwegian-Russian Chamber of Commerce - Norway's leading business network on Russia uniting more than 110 Norwegian and Russian companies, from major investors in Russia to individual enterprises (eng/rus)

The American Chamber of Commerce in Russia - the largest of the foreign business organizations with membership open to all companies regardless of country of registration.

Association of European Businesses in the Russian Federation – a non-commercial association, promoting the interests of the companies from the EU and the EFTA conducting business in Russia (eng)

Center for Citizen Initiatives (CCI) - an American NGO providing training to Russian entrepreneurs and other programs to help improve the business climate in Russia for Russians (eng). 

Council for Trade and Economic Development – a non-profit organization supporting and facilitating trade between the U.S. and the CIS (eng) 

Danish Business Club in Moscow (eng/dan) – association for Danish living in the Russian capital. Some useful information about Russia, including culture, language, and everyday tips.  

Finnish-Russian Chamber of Commerce - one of the oldest foreign chambers of commerce, and has been monitoring economic activity and conducting market surveys since 1946, with regional offices in St. Petersburg, Ekaterinburg and Nizhny Novgorod.

German Business Association Moskow provide comprehensive support to small and medium-sized German companies in order to establish their own bases in promising markets (ger/rus)

Russian-European Centre for Economic Policy (RECEP) - is a research and policy advice centre in the fields of economics and law. It consults, primarily, Russian legislative and executive authorities, providing them with analysis and research-based recommendations, web-site contains publications, press-releases, activities and requests (eng/rus)

Swedish-Russian Business Club (eng/swe) – bilateral networking association, located in Moscow. Information about Russia and Sweden, information about setting up business in Russia and Sweden

US-Russia Business Council - trade association that represents the interests of 300 member companies operating in the Russian market, provides services that fall into the following categories: company-specific assistance and industry-sector efforts; Russian and U.S. government policy work; information products; Russian business relationships; briefings, conferences and formal/informal networking opportunities (eng).