Conditional medication

Nizhny Novgorod authorities will support small businesses around large investment sites

Deputies of the Legislative Assembly of the Nizhny Novgorod Region approved in two readings the draft law of the Nizhny Novgorod Region “On the development of small and medium-sized businesses.” Deputy Governor Irina Zhivikhina noted that “there is no such progressive law in any region of the country.” However, opponents of the bill believe that the document will primarily help report on the work done to officials, to whom the federal authorities have once again set a global task - “to raise small businesses.”

Before it was adopted, the law was discussed a lot in business circles. However, the authorities firmly stuck to their line. And they didn’t even make minor concessions. For example, at the regional council of entrepreneurs, the above trend was confirmed. A certain private entrepreneur from the outback, where many types of business are most often engaged in at the same time, was faced with an unexpected problem by the new law. He can no longer take out a loan like before. Because, among his other businesses, he is engaged in excise activities - trading in alcohol and timber. To take out a loan in the new conditions, you need to divide your diversified business into areas of activity. And these are unnecessary problems and lost time. Will the authorities make concessions? “We will still have to separate,” explained Deputy Governor Irina Zhivikhina. “If one entrepreneur experiences difficulties dividing a business, there is no point in destroying the system.”

To be fair, it should be said that not everything depends on regional authorities. For example, the new law stipulates that regulatory organizations have the right to visit entrepreneurs with inspections no more often than once every three years. However, each department has its own instructions, where the same tax inspectors and representatives of the Ministry of Emergency Situations are allowed to visit entrepreneurs much more often. And the regional law is powerless before the federal norm. “An entrepreneur should know when an inspection will come to him,” a representative of the Ministry of Emergency Situations expressed his opinion. Wonderful words. But for now, these same rescuers more often prefer to visit small businesses out of the blue and whenever they want.

Chairman of the Budget and Taxes Committee of the Legislative Assembly Alexander Sharonov considered its anti-corruption component to be one of the advantages of the document. “It will most likely not be possible to smooth out the abuses, but perhaps it will be possible to at least outline the boundaries of possible abuses,” Mr. Sharonov dreamed out loud. The President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Nizhny Novgorod Region, Dmitry Krasnov, bluntly stated that “the law is not sufficiently developed.” “We are writing a law for the region, but we are afraid to argue with the federal authorities,” Mr. Krasnov complained. Many entrepreneurs habitually expected new preferential loans and preferences from the law. And they miscalculated. Because that's not the main thing.

“The purpose of this law is to provide for the types of support that are provided by the federal government,” Irina Zhivikhina told Vremya Novostei. - Whether they will be in demand in our region - life and the policies that will be pursued by the regional government will show. Today we are not saying that financial support for business will appear immediately. The region's budget has been drawn up for the next three years. Another thing is that it will be possible to change the amounts of already prescribed types of support. Such support exists today, for example, for small arts and crafts enterprises and for travel companies. We believe that the main focus of entrepreneurship support should be transferred to the municipal level. The second innovation is the so-called cluster support. For example, we stimulate the tourism industry. We want to create a system of entrepreneurship support around large investment sites. This applies mainly to the timber industry, the automotive industry, any investment activity, and in general all priority sectors of industrial development identified in the region’s development strategy until 2020.”

“The law is a kind of conditional medicine,” Dmitry Birman, head of the regional branch of the public organization Opora Russia, told Vremya Novostey. “However, while we are developing a vaccine, the patient may die.” Mr. Birman's pessimism is based mainly on the consequences of the financial crisis and the not always well-thought-out policies of the authorities. For example, the demolition of mini-markets and the parallel development of retail chains. According to Mr. Birman, the arrears in payments from retail chains to suppliers of goods in the region today reach three months. And this is the same small business that needs money no less than the debt-ridden network owners.

On the other hand, the authorities issued a cry: “Buy Nizhny Novgorod.” Although the stores belonging to large retail chains do not have as many Nizhny Novgorod goods as the authorities would like. Because the conditions for “entering the network” are quite complex. The conclusion is that mini-markets need to be demolished, but not all of them. However, as you understand, such things are not supposed to be prescribed in the law under any circumstances. Because laws are written for other purposes. “Federal legislation today is actively changing towards entrepreneurship,” says Dmitry Birman. - For example, regulations for the fire inspection service have been developed, which significantly changes the principle of working with entrepreneurs. Now an entrepreneur can work with a company that carries out fire audits in such a way that he will not have to meet with a fire inspector for many years. And perhaps it will make his life easier.”

“Today the authorities want to change the very structure of entrepreneurship,” Julia Kruse, the developer of the law, told Vremya Novostey. -- By increasing the share of knowledge-intensive industries. Trade is a classic, but today the country needs innovation more. Previously, entrepreneurs were supported in much the same way as vulnerable segments of the population. It is now clear that only 10% of the population can be real entrepreneurs. This is inherent in them from above. And of course there is no need to help them in the same way as pensioners or disabled people. The main thing for them is not to disturb them.”

Vyacheslav ANTONOV, Nizhny Novgorod