(BLUEFIELD)--Three Russian entrepreneurs spoke to Bluefield State College students during their visit to the region. Galina Belkina (who operates a small business development consulting company), Svetlana Shislova (who owns a fabric retail store) and Victor Komarov (who operates a retail grocery store group) came to observe business practices in this region through a visit arranged by Dr. Sudhakar Jamkhandi, Director of the Center for International Understanding at BSC for the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

Speaking to students in Dr. Steve Bourne's International Management class, the Russian guests detailed challenges and opportunities residing in modern day Russia. "The tax structure is different," Ms. Shislova said. "If Americans came to Russia and tried to start a business, they would probably be bankrupt soon after they started. You need to be able to find legal ways to reduce costs and increase profit. That comes from knowing where to get the answers and where to seek the help."

Komarov, whose educational training included a concentration in information technology, described his grocery business as "a series of small shops, not nearly as big as American supermarkets. Our products are very inexpensive," he continued. "I can work as a retailer and wholesaler at the same time."

Ms. Belkina discussed the emerging importance of marketing and public relations in Russia. "There is competition and now businesses need to be able to identify a market and appeal to that market," she stated.

The Russian entrepreneurs followed previous CIU guests--Mr. Anton Kuzovlev (an educator from Russia) and Mr. Toni Bozinovski (a furniture manufacturer from Macedonia)-- who had addressed Dr. Bourne's International Management class.

November 19, 2003