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[New York, NY -- March 14, 1995] -- Roger H. Madon, the American attorney who serves as an advisor and liaison on behalf of American corporations seeking to do business in Russia, says that American companies ought not to deter themselves from entering the Russian marketplace now, while the new economic infrastructure is being formed. "If you want to be a major player ten years hence, get in now, keeping your sights on the future and less on the ups-and-downs of current events," said Mr. Madon, because "whatever problems exist now are not going to stay."
"We're dealing with an enormous land, 160 million people strong, encompassing 11 time Zones, the world's greatest repository of natural resources and a highly educated and intelligent labor force. The fact that it is under developed and needs money, technology and ability to learn how to deal with that technology, presents tremendous opportunities to American business," said Madon.
The attorney and business advisor said that the manufacturing technologies have most to gain. "For example," he said, "the delivery of medical service in Russia is a shambles. The reason is not because doctors are incompetent; they're very fine practitioners. But they do not have any of the new technology." Madon also pointed to the emergence of a whole new class of entrepreneurs in Russia who are investing in and developing private medical centers. "That's probably the only way good medical care is going to be delivered to the Russian people," he said. And who can afford such centers? According to Madon, while many Russians cannot afford modern medical care, there are quite a few who can. "Did you know," he said, "that in Moscow, a city with a population of nine million people, nearly a million earn $30,000 or more annually ?' While some of these dollars may be earned semi-legitimately," Madon argues that officialdom look the other way in order to allow the system to stretch and to build. "The democratic spirit is being given breathing room via a deterination on the part of Russia's new class of citizen capitalists to make their own choices outside of government, "he said.
"Something important and hopeful about Russia's future must be seen by America's Fortune 500, many of which are already in the country," the attorney / advisor said.
"If PepsiCo, a beverage and bottling company, can come to Russia with the intention of investing in and building medical centers, they must perceive that now is the time to make strategic choices about investing in Russia's new infrastructure for the purpose of gaining a significant and influential position in the country's economic future," said Madon.
Are there other positive indicators confirming Russia's upward growth and development that may be of potential import to American companies? Madon points to the following:
For those Americans concerned about the battles in Chechnya, Madon says that one of the most significant things to remember is that there is sizable dissent in Russia about Yeltsin's policies -- and what's happening to the people dissenting? "Nothing," says Madon, "which indicates that democracy is working in Russia."
"I don't excuse the violence, and the international community is right to object to any inhumane treatment of people anywhere in the world," says Madon, "but we must remember that Chechnya is between two inland seas, the Caspian Sea and the Black Sea, and the latter has quite a number of vital warm water ports. Nor must we forget that there's oil in Chechnya. If the U.S. could go to war over Kuwait about oil, or fight a major war in Vietnam over a policy based on the specious 'Domino Theory', should we be overly critical towards Russia about struggling to keep a sovereign part of her country to protect her vital interests?"
"American companies, large, middle-sized and small, need to keep their sights on the larger realities and on Russia's future, which I believe," says Mr. Madon, "points to a horizon of considerable light, hope and opportunity."
Copyright 1995, All rights reserved.