Andrew Somers, the incoming president of the American Chamber of Commerce, said he is arriving at an "ideal time" to do business in Russia and that the country's new leadership is making strides at improving the overall economic climate.

"President [Vladimir] Putin is bringing discipline and a vision to Russia for an economy that will be integrated into the global economy," Somers told a Moscow gathering last week. "This is an ideal time to begin to work in Russia for an extended period of time."

Somers, 59, is officially scheduled to take the AmCham helm Dec. 15, replacing Scott Blacklin, who is returning to the United States after three years as the organization's president. Somers was speaking at a joint welcoming/farewell ceremony for him and Blacklin.

A former executive with American Express TRS Co., with several years' experience in Russia, Somers said he hopes to counter the negative image that the country is often given in the Western media.

"[The media often focus] on things negative or bad, sensational," he said. "The positive developments are never mentioned in the media. One objective will be to try to address this issue, to find a way to balance the presentation of Russia."

He acknowledged that many foreign investors remain cautious about diving into the Russia market, mainly because of the August 1998 financial crisis. People with money to invest feel they can find other, less risky opportunities elsewhere, he said, citing the fact that many American executives are visiting Asia but are avoiding Russia because its bad media image.

"On the other hand, there's a generally positive attitude toward President Putin," he said. "He presents a strong, sharp contrast to the previous administration, bringing a sense of discipline and focus to the government and economy."

But he said that Russia had other things going for it, including its natural resources and the population's high level of education and skills.

He added, though, that Russia needed to take further steps to integrate into the world economy. One area he cited was the country's accounting system, which differs from any accepted in the West. "[Being different] doesn't mean it's poor or bad," he said. "[But] the world follows a different accounting system. If they want to raise investments, they will have to comply with those standards."

Somers also said that Russian banks have to become significant moneylenders to "fuel the market economy. We have good solid banks, medium-sized banks, but it's not enough. We need more."

Somers, who has a master's degree in Russian history from Columbia University, indicated he was not intimidated by the challenge of living and working in Moscow. "As a New Yorker, I often think of Moscow as a sister city," he said. "They share the energy, drive and determination that makes them unique among cities of the world."

AmCham Chairman James Balaschak, in introducing Somers, emphasized the new president's "solid business background, deep and thorough understanding of Russia and its people, and devotion to the mission of the chamber and that of American business here."

"He has traveled extensively in Russia in different regions," Balaschak pointed out. "He speaks fluent Russian … I am impressed by his abilities and personality."

Balaschak also thanked Blacklin, saying he had helped the organization – founded in 1994 – to mature. He said the chamber overcame some troubled times during Blacklin's tenure – such as the 1998 financial crisis and the anti-American feelings that developed over the Kosovo crisis.

"We not only survived and thrived, but we didn't loose any of our 600 members," he said. "And after Kosovo, Scott remained above the political tension raised between the United States and Russia."