Country Profile

Russian federation or russia, with total 17,075,200 sq km is the largest country in the world, with a land area of 16,995,800 sq km and 79,400 sq km water area, russia shares its international borders with norway, finland, latvia, estonia, china. The country is blessed with the largest mineral and energy resources. Embedded with the world's largest forest reserves and lakes, russia is acknowledged as the superpower in the global arena. Seen as a promising economy in the world market, russia has recorded a GDP rate at 8.1%, in which industry and service sectors share 39.1% and 56.3% respectively. Russia shares friendly exporting relations with netherland, italy, germany, china, turkey, switzerland and ukraine. Russia has recorded a total export of $365 billion.

Snapshot

Economic Overview

• Russian economy experienced a dramatic transformation in the 1990s.
• Russia has shifted from the Soviet Union era focus on heavy industry to the development of service sector.
• The economy relies on commodity exports, especially crude oil, natural gas and coal.
• Oil, natural gas, metals, and timber account for over 80% of exports.

International Trade
Major Export Items
Petroleum and Petroleum Products, Natural Gas, Wood and Wood Products, Metals, Chemicals, Wide Variety of Civilian and Military Manufactures.

Main Destinations of Exports
Netherlands, Germany, Ukraine, Italy, China, US, Switzerland, Turkey

Major Import Items
Machinery and Equipment, Consumer Goods, Capital Goods, Medicines, Meat, Sugar, Semi Finished, Metal Products.

Main Origins of Imports
Germany, Ukraine, China, Japan, Kazakhstan, US, Italy, France

Contacts of Trade Ministries/ Associations

Business Visa Rules
The following paperwork is to be submitted for obtaining business visa to Russia:

• Completed visa application form. Incomplete visa application forms is not processed.
• Copy of the passport pages that contain personal data of the bearer, or originals of other travel documents. Diplomatic passport holders are required to submit the originals.
• Three passport size photographs of the applicant. If he/she is a diplomatic passport holders, only one photograph is required. Please, sign on the back.
• Invitation from a duly registered Russian organization.

Note :-

• Traveler's name, as well as dates and itinerary of his trip should be stated in the invitation in a clear and brief way. Those planing to stay as guests of persons employed by foreign diplomatic missions, news agencies, or Russian-based foreign companies should have their hosts apply to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Moscow.
• Multi-entry visas is issued only upon authorization of the Russian Foreign Ministry based on a request of hosting Russian organizations.

Note :- Usually visitor visas are granted for the maximum period of 3 months at a time. There is no specific visa category to cover short-term, technical activities.

Business Hours
9.00 am to 5.00 pm (Monday to Friday)

Public Holidays