2006 Press Releases
Consul General Visits Khanty-Mansiysk
March 23, 2006
On March 20-23, Consul General John Stepanchuk visited Khanty-Mansiysk, the capital of the oil-rich autonomous okrug in Western Siberia. The Consul General had an official meeting with Governor Aleksandr Filipenko. The CG and the Governor discussed U.S. –Russian cooperation in the oil and gas sector and the okrug’s plans to diversify the local economy. Governor Filipenko briefed CG Stepanchuk on the activities of U.S. companies such as Schlumberger, Marathon, and Halliburton in the region and expressed his hope that the Consulate in Yekaterinburg would attract new U.S. investors to the Khanty-Mansiysk Okrug.
A meeting with first deputy mayor Vladimir Bukarinov took place in the town hall on March 22. Bukarinov informed the CG on the city’s development priorities, including construction of affordable housing, public health and educational programs. CG Stepanchuk and the first deputy mayor also discussed possible establishment of sister-city relations between Khanty-Mansiysk and a counterpart city in the United States.
A presentation of the okrug’s strategic policy in oil and gas production was the focus of the meeting with the Director of the Okrug Oil & Gas and Mineral Resources Department Veniamin Panov. Representatives of such oil majors as Marathon Oil, TNK-BP (Salym Petroleum Development), Yuganskneftegaz, and LUKOIL also participated in the active discussions with CG Stepanchuk.
During a visit to the Yugra State University, special attention was paid to highlighting links and exchanges between faculty and students of this Siberian University and their colleagues in the University of Lincoln, Nebraska and Missouri Southern State University.
Later CG Stepanchuk visited the office of KMNNG, a company 100% owned by the U.S. Marathon Oil Company. A presentation by the company’s top managers gave a broad overview of the company’s past and present activities as well as its plans for the future.
CG Stepanchuk familiarized himself with the rich cultural life of the Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug. He visited the local Educational Center for Gifted Children, many of whom excel in the performing arts and music. The Khanty-Mansiysk picture gallery featured rare classical and modern paintings of well-known Russian artists. The Consul General participated in a show on a local TV channel and answered a variety of questions about his work as a consul general and his impressions during his first, but not the last visit to Khanty-Mansiysk.
