gave a powerful impetus for future fundamental changes

Deputy Prime Minister of the Government of the Republic of Bashkortostan, Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the First Small Business Forum of the regions of the SCO and BRICS member countries announced the preliminary results of the Forum, which was held in the capital of Bashkortostan on October 21-23.

Speaking at the final plenary session, Dmitry Sharonov noted: “Over three days, a large number of meetings and negotiations were held, several international agreements on cooperation and joint business projects were signed. Also, during our discussion panels, new ideas were expressed on the formation of interregional innovation and investment initiatives, on improving mechanisms for the transfer of innovations and technologies, taking into account the best world practices.”

The Chairman of the Organizing Committee noted that the main task of the Forum was to create a real integration platform for the interaction of small and medium-sized business structures within the SCO and BRICS on an ongoing basis. “I believe that we have fully accomplished this task, and moreover, based on the results of the discussions, we have prepared constructive, relevant proposals for the federal authorities, including those that involve significant improvements to the legislative framework and internal regulations. Of course, we cannot say that the Forum is a panacea for all problems, but our platform has given a powerful impetus for future fundamental changes. I am confident that the results of the Forum will equally affect entrepreneurs of all constituent entities of the Russian Federation.”

Dmitry Sharonov also summarized the main proposals of the Forum participants regarding the optimization of the strategy for small and medium-sized businesses. “More than 20 very important proposals were made relating to a number of issues, including preferential instruments for obtaining credit funds at an affordable interest rate and subsidizing leasing, creating a catalog of best practices, creating a financial infrastructure for small and medium-sized businesses, tools that increase the efficiency of participation of small and medium-sized enterprises in procurement of state-owned companies and state monopolies, introducing new requirements of small businesses into the development strategy of the SME corporation and much more.”

The Deputy Prime Minister of the Government of the Republic of Bashkortostan also added that all the key proposals developed at the Forum will form the basis of the final resolution, which, after its approval by all participants, will be sent to all government agencies and authorities that oversee the work of small and medium-sized businesses. It will also be published on the website of the State Committee of the Republic of Bashkortostan for Entrepreneurship and on the website of the Forum Organizing Committee.

Let us recall that the First Small Business Forum of the regions of the SCO and BRICS member countries was held in Ufa on October 21-23 within the framework of Russia’s chairmanship of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in 2014-2015 and the BRICS association in 2015. The Forum was organized by the Government of the Republic of Bashkortostan, the State Committee for Entrepreneurship and Tourism of the Republic of Bashkortostan, and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Bashkortostan. The forum was supported by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation.

Over 1.6 thousand delegates from 23 countries and 51 regions of Russia took part in the Forum, including heads of small and medium-sized businesses, representatives of business associations and authorities, and figures from the expert community.

Dmitry Sharonov: First Small Business Forum of the regions of the SCO and BRICS countries