Business news

16 Sep 2020

BelCCI develops new mechanisms for business promotion

Vladimir Ulakhovich

MINSK, 16 September (BelTA) – The Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BelCCI) has developed new mechanisms and tools to promote Belarusian exports, Chairman of the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Vladimir Ulakhovich said at a press conference hosted by BelTA on 16 September to discuss export promotion issues.

“The pandemic is making and has already made serious adjustments, and our task is to look for new tools to support our exporters under these conditions. The BelCCI has developed a unique project, unmatched in the country. It is a business course entitled as the Academy of Export. Its start is scheduled for 24 September. During this course representatives of enterprises and individual entrepreneurs will get free of charge theoretical knowledge and practical skills in the field of foreign economic activity, management, finance, marketing, logistics, taxation, customs support, business communications with foreign partners. In fact, the project gives fundamental knowledge in export activities,” said the head of the chamber. The lecturers of the course will be well-known business coaches, professors of the leading universities, Belarusian experts in foreign economic activity.

“This year we have also received the first license for advanced training in foreign economic activity with the issuance of the state diploma. The BelCCI has not done this before, because we are not a state institution. We have passed the necessary licensing, worked out a methodological framework and starting from October this year we will be running training courses that envisage state diplomas. This is also part of our large project which we call the Academy of Export,” said Vladimir Ulahovich.

According to the chairman of the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, this year the chamber has begun to issue, free of charge, a certificate of conscientious partner to domestic enterprises. “A total of 147 companies have already applied to us and received such certificates. Another 14 applications are under consideration. These are companies of different areas of activity and forms of ownership. This is an additional guarantee that we take on as a chamber that the company is indeed a conscientious partner. This is also necessary for our exporters. Such practice exists in other countries as well,” he said.

This year the BelCCI has become an organization that registers and forms a register of exporters for deliveries to countries such as Norway and Switzerland. “This is a unique case, because many countries work in these markets and, as a rule, the formation of the register is the responsibility of government agencies. We also do this work on a pro bono basis. Eight Belarusian enterprises have been registered since July,” said Vladimir Ulakhovich.

The Eastern Partnership Trade Helpdesk, a project of the International Trade Center (a joint institution of the WTO and UNCTAD), is almost ready. The project envisages the development of an online partner to assess regional markets and trade statistics. The BelCCI has been chosen as the national coordinator of the project. “It aims to expand trade between the member states of the EU Eastern Partnership initiative and also with the member states of the European Union. Participation in the project will let Belarusian enterprises monitor regional market trends, inform the business community about trade barriers, and improve the qualifications of specialists in market analysis. We expect to complete this procedure and start working in September,” the head of the chamber said.

The BelCCI has also developed a unique mechanism for the promotion of goods and services available to the members of the BelCCI. This is an e-platform of business contacts, which includes business cards of enterprises. This helps them demonstrate competitive advantages to potential partners and customers. ‘The platform has also collected information of 100 Belarusian enterprises. In the near future, their business cards will also be made available in English. Enterprises from other countries also start registering on this platform,” Vladimir Ulahovich said.



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