Moving to a free market economy: the approach implemented within the Krasnodar region, USSR

Summary form only given. The Krasnodar region is very rich in production of food, natural gas, timber and wood products, as well as many other natural resources. It is rich in the ethnic diversity and in technical skill levels of its populace. The region is home for many high-tech enterprises, research institutes, and institutions of higher learning. A number of former defense plants, located in this region, are actively seeking Western business partners as a means of entering the consumer market. The author describes an implemented approach to move the Krasnodar region to a free market economy while cushioning the inevitable impacts of economic dislocation. He also describes a number of attempted business deals within this region, their successes and failures to date, and implications for Western firms trying to do business in this area