This chapter presents all basic political, economic, and demographic data on Irkutsk Oblast. Irkutsk Oblast is located in the center of Asia, and the southern part of Eastern Siberia, stretching from the northwestern shores of Lake Baikal and the western Sayan Mountains, northward into the hilly Central Siberian Plateau, and eastward to the Patom Mountains. Irkutsk has enormous potential, especially if it is able to develop its energy export market to South Korea and China, whose growing economies could use more resources. In October 1998 the Irkutsk Oblast administration approved a program to support and develop small businesses in the region. The program provides information and legal advice, helps locate potential employees, and advises on the restructuring and downsizing of large businesses. Irkutskenergo is one of the few Russian power companies not under the control of the monopoly Unified Energy System of Russia. Irkutskenergo was privatized before the 1992 presidential decree that created Unified Energy System.