You could start by asking for a one year visa to study Russian. I really liked the university in Shakhty. As for business opportunities it's an hour from the port city of Rostov, has an intelligent well educated and enthusiastic workforce. The clothing factory, Gloria was very busy producing women and children's clothes when I visited the showroom. The tile factory had me in their show room that featured well made floor tiles. I went by a closed shoe factory which seemed a shame as most shoes are imported and expensive. Southern Russia seemed odd to me with a strange mix of overlooked business opportunities and well educated people with older Soviet era people barely getting by. It seemed to me a society in transition. Old customs are still strong, such as hospitality and courtesy while the younger generation are eager to embrace free market values. My visit was 2005 so I'm sure much has changed economically while the people would be more prosperous today. In Moscow at that time most cars had government plates and were cheap Lada but what I see on you tube channel, SADB, now are expensive government cars and young people who've recently purchased their first car, so obviously things are improving.