Vocational Training of the Customers' (Buyers') Trainees

A.

TEXT

Sending specialists (experts) to foreign countries is part of economic cooperation world-wide.

Russian experts are generally sent to developing countries to give assis­tance to their customers in the construction, modernization and extension of different projects.

Their assistance, among other things, covers collection of initial data, installation of the equipment and its adjustment.

They also provide designer's supervision, guarantee maintenance of the equipment delivered and repair of equipment if necessary.¹

Along with the above services Russian experts provide training programmes for the Customer's local specialists. Training is carried out at industrial enterprises, offices and research institutes.

***

Now, based on the letters and dialogues below we can get an idea of the terms and conditions on which we send our specialists to different countries to give technical assistance and receive the Customer's specialists for train­ing.

В

10th May, 20...

Dear Sirs,

Subject:² Construction of the N ... Cement Plant

We should like to refer to the recent discussions we had with your Mr M. relating to the possibility of sending your specialists to render technical as­sistance in the construction of the N ... Cement Plant. We hope the discus sions we had were most interesting for both sides. We would request youi

specialists to collect the initial data, to carry out the designer's supervision, installation and adjustment and to put the equipment into operation.

If you could agree to do the above work would you send your reply in­forming us³ of the number of specialists, their specialities and the approxi­mate period of stay as well as conditions under which the specialists will work.

We are looking forward to receiving your reply.

Yours faithfully,

C.

One of the letters of the company ... was as follows:

June 20, 20... Dear Sirs,

With reference to your letter of... and in confirmation of our conversa­tion with your Mr С we would like to advise you that we appreciate your interest and are prepared to send highly qualified specialists within 3 months of the date of signing the relevant contract. You will find a list of specialists and their specialities attached hereto.⁴

We should like you to note that the conditions on which we are sending our specialists are as follows:

1. The Customer at his own expense will provide the specialists during their stay in ... with:

1. adequately furnished offices and living accommodation with air con­ditioners and refrigerators;

2. transport facilities for business trips;

2. The Customer will reimburse the Supplier ... for the following expens­ es:

1. monthly salaries of the specialists and also paid leave;

2. air travel expenses for the specialists and their families (dependents), tourist (economy) class from Moscow to ... and back;

3. transportation of... kgs of personal luggage per person over and above the free allowance indicated on each ticket;

4. round travel expenses of specialists going on home leave;

5. insurance of the specialists in Russia against professional risks and accidents during their stay in ... .

118

119

3. Adequate medical service including hospitalization, if necessary, will be covered by insurance.

4. Payment will be made in accordance with the existing Trade and Pay­ment Agreement between ... and ... . The Customer will undertake to open an irrevocable confirmed and divisible Letter of Credit valid until the Con­tract has been executed and for the amount shown in the Contract. Pay­ment will be effected quarterly against invoices drawn up by the Supplier.

All the other terms and conditions will be stated in our Draft Contract. Your early reply would be appreciated.

Yours faithfully,

Encl. A list of specialists to be sent to ... .

D.

NEGOTIATING THE DRAFT CONTRACT

Customer. If you don't mind, Mr N., I'd like to start the negotiations with the number of specialists to be sent for the installation work.

Supplier: No, I have no objections. Just as you wish.

C. This figure here. It comes to us as a surprise that the contract provides for ... specialists instead of the ... we asked you for. Are you sure this number will be adequate?

S. I'm quite positive about it. We have a lot of experience in the construc­tion of similar plants. Besides we've consulted the design organization on the matter and they've confirmed the number.

C. I see. Of course, we will go very much by your experience.

S. Well, there is one thing more. We are sending, as you remember, our instructors for the training centre. They will arrange vocational train­ing of your workers and foremen who will be able to operate and service the equipment.

С Thank you very much for the explanation. We hope their work after training will be up to standard.

S. Certainly it will. No worry about that. Their training will be linked up with the practical work.

C. Good. Next we come to the terms and conditions on which you are send­ing your specialists. They are quite acceptable. We think, however, the arrangements for leave after 12 months' work in our country should be agreed in each particular case.

S. That's fair enough. We accept it.

C. But I must point out that the leave allowance will not be paid by the customer. So, we'll have to alter the wording in the Draft.

S. I'm afraid we can't agree to that because it runs counter to our usual practice. Our customers usually pay leave allowance and we expect you to do the same. We ask you to look into the matter again.

С Anyway, I think we'll give this part of the Draft a little more thought and consult our Director (President of the company).

S. That seems quite reasonable. And, finally, we'd like you to take into account a slight rise in monthly reimbursement rates for our special­ists.

С We'll really have to consider this point. If the new reimbursements are not very high, it won't take us long to finalize the matter.

S. Fine.

E.

DISCUSSING THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF VOCATIONAL TRAINING

Customer: We're here to discuss the possibility of your training our spe­cialists in Russia, Mr N.

Supplier: How many specialists are you going to send for training?

С We're planning to send 5 specialists approximately for a year.

S. We think that the period of their stay here in Russia could be reduced to 6 months.

С It's up to you to decide. But do you think 6 months will be enough?

S. From our experience we know that a period of 6 months is quite suffi­cient for the vocational training of this kind of specialists.

С If you really think it's sufficient we'll accept it. Shall we consider the matter settled?

S. I think yes. Now let's turn to the question of expenses.

C. Oh, that's a very important question. How much will that be?

S. It's ... pounds sterling for each trainee, per month.

C. Oh, that's a very large sum. Last year we sent a group of our specialists to ... and paid much less.

S. Perhaps so, but you certainly remember that our actual expenses on each trainee come to ... pounds, as we offer all-round services. They

120

121

reference n

recent a

relate (to) о

designer's supervision

adjustment n

above (work)

reply n

specialty n

approximate a

stay n

as well as conj

advise v

qualified a

relevant a

note v

provide (with) v

adequate a

adequately adv

furnished a

living accommodation

air conditioner

We should like to refer to ...

If you could agree ... would you inform us ...

in confirmation of...

We should like you to note ...

Our conditions are as follows: ...

As you are no doubt aware ...

In view of this fact...

Please give the matter your im­mediate attention.

We acknowledge with thanks re­ceipt of...

Our standard policy is ...

include living accommodation, three meals a day and transport facili­ties.

C. 1 see, then we'll have to agree to that.

S. One more point, Mr С Your trainees should strictly observe regula­tions and work and safety rules in force at our plants and offices.

C. Oh, yes, they surely will.

NOTES

1. if necessary (if it is neces- в случае необходимости sary)

2. subject зд. касательно, относительно

Слово subject ставится перед указанием содержания или темы пись­ма. Это указание обычно помещается между вступительным обращени­ем и основным текстом письма. Слово subject может быть заменено сло­вами about, re (regarding) или опущено.

3. your reply informing us ваш ответ (письмо), в котором вы

сообщаете

Сравните: your letter requesting us (письмо с просьбой), your letter reminding us (письмо, в котором вы напоминаете нам), your letter en­closing the documents (письмо с приложением документов), your letter stating that (письмо, в котором указывается).

4. You'll find a list of specialists К письму прилагается список attached hereto. специалистов.

Русским выражениям «при сем», «настоящим» и т. д., принятым в деловой переписке, в английском языке соответствуют: hereto, herewith (при сем), hereby (этим), herein (здесь, в этом документе).

Hereby we give you notice ... Настоящим (этим) извещаем

вас ... The documents are enclosed При сем прилагаются документы,

herewith.