Strategy:

Strengthen the market economy of the City of Tula and the Tula region through business-related technical assistance, entrepreneurial training and education.

This is accomplished by:

1. Facilitating mutual trade and technology transfer.
    
2. Enhancing business-to-business relationships.
    
3. Providing training in the free market economy to Tula business people to facilitate beneficial economic development.
    
4. Providing for specific interests to support trade.
    
5. Mentoring Tula business people by establishing training and exchange programs
    
6. and developing joint economic ventures both in Tula and the Capital District.

Business, Technology and Economic Development

The areas of business improvement and development and economic development have been important areas for Alliance activity from its inception. A key element in this program has been the sponsorship of Special American Business Intern Training (SABIT) interns.

The SABIT program, sponsored by the US Department of Commerce, provides grants to cover transportation and spending money for business managers to spend one to six months in the US. The goal is for them to learn business management and marketing techniques of free enterprise. The program also supports scientists to work with US scientists to develop peacetime applications for their work. It is hoped that these internships will lead to joint ventures or import/export activities that will benefit both Russia and the US. To date, the Alliance has sponsored 16 interns for a period of from six weeks to six months.

The Alliance plans and facilitates the program and housing, and supplements the financing of the internships. Internships have included marketing of scientific products, health care delivery and hospital management, tourist business development, banking, telecommunications, craft sales, regional economic development, and furniture marketing.

Tula has exceptionally fine artists and artisans. In the lower price range, they produce carved wooden boxes, jewelry, and lacquered boxes and bowls and spoons. The intermediate price range includes wonderful samovars. The higher price range includes magnificent metal carvings and metal inlays into wooden products, such as boxes, clocks, rifles. Many beautiful oil and water color paintings are available at all prices.

The Alliance has helped Tula artists and craft persons to exhibit their work in the US and will continue to develop programs to help them market their work.

The Business and Technology Development Committee has worked closely with the principals of Tula International Development, Inc., a new private enterprise in Albany. The company is devoted to promoting bilateral trade between Tula and the US. The president is the Tula native who received an MBA degree from the College of St. Rose under Alliance sponsorship. The program of the company is just now developing, but various initiatives have already been started that augur well for future trade development.