This risk assessment work arose from my interest in the BRIC countries and the fact that they represent an important part of the world's economic potential. In the following analysis I will focus on the main economic, political and financial risks in Russia. Russia is the world's largest country in terms of land area and the ninth most populous nation in the world with 143 million people. Due to its large surface area, the country is located in 4 different climate zones and has vast natural resources. Russia also has a unique geographic location with 14 border countries, bordered by 3 of the world's 4 oceans, facilitating the building of domestic and international supply chains. Russia is one of the most technologically advanced economies in the world, with a very large and well-educated workforce and one of the largest consumer markets. The Russian economy is based on raw materials and is the world's largest producer of oil (12%), natural gas (18%) and nickel (20%). Russia's political institutions remain relatively weak and political power is highly centralized, particularly at the presidential level, which maintains a dominant presence. Continued government interventions, regulations and an inefficient and corrupt legal system weigh on the cost and pace of doing business in Russia. These factors seriously hinder investments, both foreign and domestic. Corruption is very high and is considered one of the most important political factors in Russia, as more than half of the population believes that corruption has increased and that government efforts to reduce its levels are ineffective. (See App.11) The Corruption Perception Index placed the country in the lower section of the list (133 out of 176 countries), showing the high corruption and bureaucracy in the country. Corruption and deficiencies in the rule of law limit Russia's foreign direct investment potential. The Human Development Index