About the international system of Chambers of Commerce and Industry

Today, Vice-Minister of Trade and Integration of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kairat Torebayev spoke at the session "International System of Chambers of Commerce and Industry" within the framework of the XII International Economic Summit "Russia – the Islamic World: KazanSummit 2021".
We present to you the theses of the Vice-Minister's speech

 

Abstracts for the speech of Vice-Minister of Trade and Integration Torebaev K. K. at the session "International System of Chambers of Commerce and Industry" within the framework of the XII International Economic Summit "Russia – the Islamic World: KazanSummit 2021"

Dear Forum participants!

Let me welcome you to this event and wish you productive discussions and work!
The task of the governments of all countries, first of all, is to develop effective tools to support the functioning of entrepreneurship. And it should be based on the involvement of business in the decision-making process by the government.
The first connection between economic interests and state policy actually took place in 1599 in France, when the first Chamber of Commerce and Industry was founded. And almost immediately the manufacturing industry was actively developed, pulling the first industrial revolution with it.
Now we have already entered phase 4 of the industrial revolution. But from the very beginning of its existence, CCI are bodies representing the interests of capital. And their main task has remained almost unchanged for the fifth century – to promote the development of entrepreneurial activity and represent the interests of business circles in their relations with the state authorities.
In Kazakhstan, the interests of business in the formation of state policy are represented by the National Chamber of Entrepreneurs.
Its main task is to promote the positions of business in the development of legislative and other regulatory rules, covering all areas of entrepreneurship, including domestic and foreign trade.
To date, the NCE has been held as a constructive dialogue and consulting platform for business and government to discuss and solve topical issues of the country's economic development.
During the eight-year period of the work of the NCE, more than 27 thousand appeals and proposals on the line of business protection were voiced from entrepreneurs. In other words, 12 requests per day.
As a result, a register of systemic issues was formed, which contains more than 600 proposals for changing legislative and regulatory acts. About 74% of them have already found a solution.
In partnership with the National Chamber, more than 25 thousand regulatory legal acts were worked out in terms of improving the business climate.
We take into account the voice of business in international issues. For example, when developing the Treaty on the EAEU, more than 90% of all Kazakhstani proposals actually came from business. Taking into account the fact that these proposals were accepted, the business of our countries speaks the same language and strives for the same goals.
The latest stress tests of the last 15 years have once again confirmed the importance of a full-fledged partnership between business and the state.
Therefore, all state programs on socio-economic development in Kazakhstan were developed exclusively in close cooperation with business.
For example, the Employment Roadmap – a very important social program-is interconnected with the Program of Industrial and Innovative Development-a plan to stimulate and support business. And this is not the only example.
In Kazakhstan, most programs to support the development of entrepreneurship are based on the requests of the business itself.
Our Ministry of Trade and Integration is developing a state policy in the field of domestic and foreign trade, technical regulation of consumer protection.
In the first two areas, the desires, needs and business plans are extremely important. And here we are working very closely on our every step with the National Chamber of Entrepreneurs.
For example, a large portfolio of financial and non-financial measures of state support for exports was initiated in the NCE. And today, 18 services are provided in Kazakhstan only through export insurance: from contract insurance to support for importers of Kazakh products.
Today I opened the trade and economic mission of Kazakhstan. Thanks to the support of the state, 20 companies representing the food industry, chemical, electrical engineering, and construction industries presented their products in Kazan.
And just a couple of weeks ago, we had a similar trade and economic mission in Tashkent, where 55 Kazakhstani companies participated, where we signed agreements for more than $ 62 million.
Only this month, 3 TEMs were held with state support.
At the same time, the interaction of the state with the Chambers of Entrepreneurs imposes a certain responsibility on both sides.
In this regard, the example of the formation of the North American Free Trade Zone in terms of ordinary brooms with a wooden handle is indicative. So, in 1996, a debate began around this non-technological product. The US, listening, business imposed an ad valorem tax of 32%. In the dry balance, a small group of companies created a great resonance around the brooms in NAFTA. Today, this business is gone, but large resources of the state were used inefficiently.
The third direction of our Ministry – consumer protection-also requires great responsibility on the part of business and the state. Because, while supporting business, we must seek a balance with entrepreneurs. Both in terms of the quality of products and services, and in pricing, consumer awareness. And here the state acts in the opposite role-a lobbyist for the interests of ordinary citizens.
In many countries, balancing the interests of business and consumers is due to the presence of a kind of consumer trade union-specialized Associations and associations. We in Kazakhstan have also chosen this path. For the last six months, we have been consulting with various NGOs working in the field of consumer protection and business.
Today, the social aspect of doing business is one of the key trends. And great hopes are pinned on the Chambers of Entrepreneurs that form the internal corporate country business culture.
Therefore, as a representative of the state, I urge our respected entrepreneurs not to forget about the responsibility of business to the public.