The International Small Business Association (ISBA), based in St. Petersburg, is a non-profit grassroots organization that establishes contacts between Russian and Western business-people to "find collaborative solutions to common problems, and offer exposure to member companies through group visibility."

ISBA holds meetings on the third Thursday of each month on "the practicalities (or impracticalities) of running a small business in Russia." At the January 1994 meeting, held in St. Petersburg's Commodore Hotel, Michel Tchesnakoff of the Russian branch of Credit Lyonnais bank spoke about the difficulties of banking in a country with a soft currency and an underdevelped banking infrastructure. He also outlined Credit Lyonnais' plans to create a reliable and quick means of money transfer between Moscow and St. Petersburg. Credit Lyonnais is one of the few foreign banks licensed to deal with Russian entities and individuals.

In addition, ISBA offers a reliable mail pickup and delivery link between Russia and the world, and will soon begin a RelCom electronic mail discussion group for the convenient exchange of information between its Russian and foreign members.

Corey Klaasmeyer
or
Christian Courbois
International Small Business Association
Apraksin pereulok 3, kv.75
St. Petersburg, Russia
Tel/fax: 310-7914
Email: [email protected]

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