Vladimir Karyagin: "Small and medium-sized businesses can play a big role in exporting Belarusian goods"
– The draft National Program for Support and Development of Export of the Republic of Belarus for 2016-2020 was recently presented to the Council of Ministers. In its development, the government turned to the country's leading business associations so that we would not remain on the sidelines and would help small and medium-sized businesses expand their export participation, – said Chairman of the Presidium of the Republican Confederation of Entrepreneurship Vladimir Karyagin. – There are 400,000 economic entities in the country, of which only 22,000 have ever supplied goods or services for export. Our task is to ensure that the regions actively participate in this activity and receive additional economic substance. For this purpose, we have developed a number of projects, which we are introducing to entrepreneurs in all regions of the country.
Firstly, with the efforts of the confederation, a Belarusian trading platform has been created in Moscow – a permanent, largest wholesale and retail exhibition-fair "Belarus Offers," where economic entities can present their products. The pavilion is located on the territory of the "Aurora" office and warehouse complex with convenient logistics. At the same time, the Russian side ensures the connection of this platform with all regions of the Russian Federation, with countries whose embassies are located in Moscow and are not represented in Belarus, and with the EAEU states.
Secondly, the RCE has joined the "European Enterprise Network" program, which includes 26 million economic entities, and has signed a cooperation agreement, thanks to which this catalog provides for the free placement of information about Belarusian enterprises that are seeking investments and partners in various countries. Vladimir Nikolaevich hopes that representatives of the Vitebsk region will not miss this opportunity.
Thirdly, an Exporters' Chamber has been organized to provide practical assistance to those wishing to increase their export activities.
– Small and medium-sized businesses can play a significant role in promoting Belarusian goods abroad. If we stand still, we will simply be pushed out of the goods and services market, – is confident Vladimir Karyagin. – Nevertheless, the Russian market remains promising for us, where we are actually taking only the first steps; the countries of Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia are very interesting. There is a place for high-quality Belarusian products there.
According to Vladimir Nikolaevich, the Orsha Linen Mill, for example, has great potential in this regard, as linen is not processed in every country today, as well as food producers whose products are distinguished by high quality and environmental friendliness.
Overall, as of today, there are over 700 exporters in our region, about 90% of whom are private businesses and entrepreneurs. However, this figure could be higher, is confident the Deputy Chairman of the Committee for Economy of the Regional Executive Committee, Konstantin Cherny, for which it is necessary to use all available opportunities.
– This information is particularly important for business entities entering the foreign market for the first time, – said Konstantin Eduardovich. – Any entrepreneur will be able to get answers to questions such as which goods are in demand in a particular country, what types of deliveries are used in such transactions, what volume of products can be discussed, and what guarantees are provided for payments. We have something to show and be proud of in the foreign market.
Olga Maslovskaya. Photo from the archive of "Vitebskiye Vesti".