ECONOMY
Business etiquette
Correct clothing and punctuality are expected. English is the business language especially in management. Sometimes German is also spoken. It is advisable to have the appointments confirmed again and to bring business cards in Russian and German or English. Interpreting and translation services are available from various organizations, and payment is usually in foreign currency.
Moscow
The business culture in Moscow has changed dramatically over the past decade. Investments by large Western corporations have not only made a few wealthy, but have also made the way of working more Western. English is spoken much more often these days, but you should still make sure that an interpreter is available.
As a country located in Europe according to businesscarriers, Russians are not always on time, but foreign business people should be punctual. Business cards are exchanged very often – there is a Russian translation on the back. Business lunches are quite common, evening meetings are usually of a sociable nature, and Russians occasionally bring their spouses with them. If you are invited to a Russian home, you should bring a present (wine, chocolates or an odd number of cut flowers) and a little something for the children. Not responding to a toast is a big mistake, and once a bottle is opened it will be drunk. It is appropriate to wear a suit at business meetings, otherwise you dress a little more casually than in other European cities.
Opening hours
Business hours: Mo-Fr 09.00 / 10.00-18.00 with a longer lunch break.
Economy
Federal Association of German Industry
Eastern Committee of German Business
Breite Straße 29, D-10178 Berlin
Tel: (030) 20 28 14 52.
Internet: www.ostausschuss.de
Austrian
Chamber of Commerce Foreign Trade Organization, Eastern European Department
Stubenring 8-10, A-1010 Vienna
Tel: (01) 514 50.
Internet: http://portal.wko.at
United Economic
Chambers Sonnenbergstrasse 48, CH-8032 Zurich
Tel: (043) 268 43 00.
Internet: www.jointchambers.ch
Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation
St. Ilyinka 6, RF-109012 Moscow
Tel: (495) 929 00 09.
Internet: http://eng.tpprf.ru
Business contacts
Federal Association of German Industry
Eastern Committee of German Business
Breite Straße 29, D-10178 Berlin
Tel: (030) 20 28 14 52.
Internet: www.ostausschuss.de
Austrian
Chamber of Commerce Foreign Trade Organization, Eastern European Department
Stubenring 8-10, A-1010 Vienna
Tel: (01) 514 50.
Internet: http://portal.wko.at
United Economic
Chambers Sonnenbergstrasse 48, CH-8032 Zurich
Tel: (043) 268 43 00.
Internet: www.jointchambers.ch
Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation
St. Ilyinka 6, RF-109012 Moscow
Tel: (495) 929 00 09.
Internet: http://eng.tpprf.ru
COMMUNICATION
Phone
The country code is 007. After dialing the country code, the 0 of the area code must not be omitted. The area code for calls within the CIS countries is 8; for international calls, 10 must be dialed in advance.
Public telephones (Taxofon) are used with special chips or phone cards. Some public telephones in hotels (high fees) and in airports also accept credit cards. Old public telephones can only make national calls. Phone cards are available at kiosks, post offices, metro stations and numerous shops. These cards can be topped up over the Internet and work with any push-button phone. International calls can also be made in a telephone exchange (telephone offices partly also with satellite telephones). International calls are cheapest at night and on weekends.
The general emergency number is 112.
Cellphone
GSM 900/1800 and 3G 2100. Countless network operators such as MTC (Internet: www.mts.ru) have roaming agreements with international mobile phone companies. All larger cities and most regions are within the transmission / reception range of at least one network operator. Cell phones can be rented from some cell phone companies. It is also possible to buy a SIM card on site, provided you have an unlocked cell phone.
Internet
Internet providers include BeeOnline (Internet: www.beeonline.ru) and Golden Telecom (Internet: broadband.golden.ru/mosreg/). Internet connections are available in hotels in larger cities and in Internet cafes. Mobile surfing on the Internet is made possible, among other things, by Goodspeed Wi-Fi hotspots (Internet: goodspeed.io/de/index.html). Some international websites may be blocked. Internet use is also increasing in rural areas.
Post Office
Airmail shipments to Western Europe take over 10 days. Larger hotels accept poste restante items and have post offices that sell stamps and postcards. Post office opening hours: 9 am-7pm.
Radio
Since the use of shortwave frequencies changes several times over the course of a year, it is advisable to contact Deutsche Welle customer service directly (Tel: (+49) (0228) 429 32 08. Internet: www.dw-world.de) to request.
SHOP
Overview
Almost all Western consumer goods are now available in Moscow and St. Petersburg. In all tourist centers there are special shops where you can pay with hard currency. In all other shops you have to pay in the local currency; here you have to queue for the articles, to pay and to receive the goods. An export permit is required for antiques, other valuable objects, works of art and manuscripts that are not bought in souvenir shops. Popular souvenirs are matryoshkas, colorfully painted wooden dolls, caskets with fairy tale motifs, carved toys and paintings on wood or enamel.
Shop opening times:Mon-Sat 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Many shops are also open on Sundays. Department stores and supermarkets are open all the time.