Russian land experts at UW for training

UW–Madison is training high-ranking Russian land management officials to help Russia develop real estate markets for the first time.

Last November, a first group of Russian experts arrived to study general characteristics of land markets, land valuation, methods of taxation, mortgage and credit. That delegation included an adviser to Russia’s Duma, or parliament.

The head of this week’s delegation to UW–Madison is the deputy chair of the Russian Federation Land Cadastral Service. The other 11 people chosen for training in Madison are among those who will have the most impact implementing a successful land market in Russia.

UW–Madison professors and a private attorneys will present seminars for the visitors through Sunday, Feb. 10. The delegation also will visit the Madison Assessor’s Office, the Dane County Register of Deeds and the Dane County Treasurer. Other visits include a trip to a local real estate firm to observe the range of the latest technologies used in the field. The delegation also plans to tour the Capitol and meet briefly with the governor.

The Land Tenure Center and the Business School organized the program. Faculty and staff from the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, the Business School, LTC and the Law School are working with the visitors.

Established in 1962, LTC conducts research and training, and provides technical assistance on issues relating to land ownership, rights, access and use.