The project is based on co-operation between chambers of commerce realised in the Euro-Arctic area of the Barents Sea. The co-operation thus far has helped to identify factors having impact particularly on business activities between Finland and Russia and on the amount and level of trade and investments. This project will define and register business opportunities as well as factors preventing, delaying and hampering them from the viewpoint of enterprises already operating as well as of those planning to establish their activities in the region. The factors influencing the business environment of the enterprises in the region will be divided into three parts having as their themes customs and border-crossing, business, taxation, customs and investment legislation as well as logistics and traffic. An ”appeal of the business life” concerning development needs of the legislation guiding business activities in the Barents Euro-Arctic co-operation region will be drawn up based on the results. The project will also organise annually two seminars concerning the themes of the work groups. Achievements: Issues regarding trade with Russia were analysed and worked on using three work groups. The customs and border work group focused on problems related to defining customs valuations, handling customs declarations, opening hours of customs facilities and other practical issues that affect, for example, queuing at customs. The business, taxation and investment work group focused on starting investment and production activities in Russia. Issues that rise up were seeking and building commercial facilities, the infrastructure necessary for investments, the availability of labour, and contract procedures in the investment process. Attention was also paid to difficulties in receiving information regarding changes in legislation and regulations by officials. The logistics and traffic team listed the following issues for monitoring: the opening of the Lietmajrvi Kotskoma connection to commercial traffic; developing traffic and informational signs in the Republic of Karelia; developing the rest areas for traffic in Russia; developing the Oulu Rovaniemi Murmansk flight connections; and developing direct optical cable connections across the border to Kostomuksha. The teams created initiatives for authorities and potential sources of funding regarding, for example, defining customs valuation, customs handling of spare parts, developing methods for acquiring information, and implementing transport solutions. Using working groups and working seminars, the project brought together entrepreneurs from different industries and assisted in creating a network related to trade with Russia. In addition to the teams internal meetings, the project arranged four joint seminars with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Karelia and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Petrozavodsk: two in Kajaani, one in Joensuu and one in Petrozavodsk. The seminars were good forums for the exchange of opinions, discussion and for developing new ideas. The project improved the cooperation between the chambers of commerce and companies through regular contact and information exchange. In addition, it increased the level of contact between Finnish and Russian chambers of commerce and the officials of both countries. The project relayed information to the chamber of commerce network in the Euro-Arctic area of the Barents Sea, presented companies issues regarding business with Russia in Finnish chambers of commerce and discussed the companies questions and problems with the political decision-makers, authorities and in public forums.