RUssian Chamber of Commerce and Industry

RF CCI History

First foreign trade operation between Slavs and foreign merchants date back to the 8th century. To work out general rules of trade and promote crafts and industries, merchants, manufacturers and seafarers used to set up trade associations.
Under Peter the Great the development of industries was the responsibility of commerce collegium, and in 1813 the first merchants' organization, "Moscow Merchant Society", was established in Moscow. Until 1917 the functions of chambers of commerce and industry were performed by stock exchange committees. Besides the management of exchange meetings, their responsibilities included protection of interests of the stock exchange community before the authorities, in the government and public organizations.

The All-Union Chamber of Commerce and Industry was established on May 28, 1932. Its Articles of Association stipulated assistance to companies in the development of domestic trade. The All-Union CCI established business ties with foreign commercial and business organizations, received foreign business delegations, and sent Soviet trade and industrial delegations abroad.

On March 10, 1972, the All-Union Chamber of Commerce and Industry was transformed into the USSR Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The Chamber's functions included assistance in exports development, consulting services, establishment and development of contacts with foreign business communities and general public, the study, summarizing and distribution of reference and information literature on economics, and expert examination.

On October 19, 1991, Russian business circles established the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation (RF CCI). The Chamber's goals and objectives included protection of interests in the area of business activities, the organization of interaction between entrepreneurs and authorities, assistance in the development of business educational and training systems, assistance in the settlement of disputes arising between companies and entrepreneurs.

On December 14, 2001, the First Extraordinary Congress of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation was held in Moscow. The centerpiece of the Congress was the reelection of the RF CCI President. Evgeny Primakov accepted the position. In 2002 the activity of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry was restructured: the work of the chamber's management was reorganized, a new Board was elected that reflected the current structure of national business and public organizations, and the CCI Articles of Association were revised. The basic objectives of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, as well as the rules governing relations between the RF CCI and regional chambers, were determined on the basis of the new concept.

RF CCI Activities

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RF CCI) is a unique public institution. Vertically, it represents the interests of all tiers of business - small, medium-sized and large business. Horizontally, its activities embrace all areas of entrepreneurship: industry, domestic and foreign trade, agriculture, financial system, services.

(from the report delivered by
President of the RF CCI Y.M. Primakov
at the 4th Convention of the RF CCI held on June 19, 2002).

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation contributes to the development of the national economy on the basis on long-standing national traditions and the world's entrepreneurial experience.
The major tasks of the RF CCI are:

Another top-priority activity of the RF CCI is providing practical aid to Russian businessmen in their establishing business contacts with foreign partners. The Chamber thus substantially contributes to the development of Russia's exports, the attraction of foreign investments into the Russian economy.
The RF CCI unites the entire range of Russian businesses from small businesses to broad-based concerns, industrial and financial groups.

Territorial chambers of commerce and industry and associations of entrepreneurs are members of the RF CCI and contribute to the across-the-board implementation of economic interests of tens of thousand business participants all across Russia.
Uniting 20,000 companies and public institutions, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation contributes to the establishment of a favorable climate for entrepreneurship in Russia.

The Chamber includes 156 regional chambers of commerce and industry, around 100 federal associations of entrepreneurs, 450 companies and firms founded with the participation of chambers of commerce and industry and forming the infrastructure of serving entrepreneurship in the regions of Russia, 16 foreign representative offices, 6 mixed chambers established in cooperation with other countries.

In its activities the RF CCI relies on the active position of CCI committees and also on the development of the basic types of activity: lawmaking, fair and exhibition business, evaluation, expert examination, information services, etc. The Chamber also certifies products and quality systems, issues certificates of product origin, provides legal consultation services and organizes training courses for businessmen.

At meetings of the RF CCI Committees and round-table discussions businessmen consider the urgent problems of industrial development along with the aspects of interaction between business and state authorities thus contributing to this dialogue. The RF CCI carries out the examination of bills, develops and submits for consideration proposals for the development of Russia's economy and entrepreneurship.

Within the framework of the Chamber, the following institutions operate: the International Commercial Arbitration Court, the Maritime Arbitration Commission, the Association of Adjusters, the Arbitration Court. The RF CCI maintains the Register of Russian Enterprises and Entrepreneurs whose financial and economic standing proves their reliability as partners in commercial activity in Russia and abroad. The Chamber also provides accreditation of foreign companies. As a result of this work, the Chamber annually sends an address to the President of Russia, the Federal Assembly and the government with proposals regarding economic and entrepreneurial development.

The consolidated position of nearly 100 associations of entrepreneurs that are RF CCI members contributes to the creation of a more favorable legal, investment and economic climate in Russia.

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry plays a leading role in Russia's preparing for joining the WTO. Thereupon, the RF CCI actively cooperates with the governmental commission on the WTO and the Russian delegation at the negotiations; the Chamber's home page features a special section describing the history of the World Trade Organization, its membership principles and also the RF CCI's concepts of and steps aimed at Russia's joining the WTO.

In response to addresses from a number of public figures and in furtherance of the Presidential Program, the RF CCI has established the Charity Fund "Homeless Children's Assistance Center". The Center's funds are formed by entrepreneurs' membership dues and private donations and are spent to provide assistance to orphanages.

Goals and Objectives

Goals

The priority goals and areas of the activity of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry are as follows:

Objectives

RF CCI's major objectives defined by its 4th Congress are to represent the interests of Russian entrepreneurs in relations with government bodies, create necessary conditions for the development and strengthening of a socially-oriented market economy, assist in the creation of a legal framework for and infrastructure of entrepreneurship.

Pressing problems of sectoral development and aspects of business/authorities interface are discussed at RF CCI committee meetings and dedicated round tables.
Some other key areas of RF CCI activity are overcoming of administrative barriers to small business development, removal of counterfeit and poor-quality products from the Russian market and greater corporate responsibility.

RF CCI maintains the Register of Russian Enterprises and Entrepreneurs whose financial and economic standing proves their reliability as partners in commercial activity in Russia and abroad.

The consolidated position of nearly 100 associations of entrepreneurs that are RF CCI members contributes to the creation of a more favorable legal, investment and economic climate in Russia.

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry plays a leading role in Russia's preparing for joining WTO. Thereupon, RF CCI actively cooperates with the Governmental Commission on WTO and Russian delegation at the negotiations; the Chamber's home page has a special section describing the history of the World Trade Organization, membership principles and also RF CCI concept of and steps aimed at Russia's joining WTO.

In response to addresses of a number of public figures and in furtherance of the Presidential Program, RF CCI has established the Charitable Fund "Center for Assistance to Homeless Children". The Center's funds are formed by entrepreneurs' membership dues and private donations and are spent to provide assistance to orphanages. The Charitable Fund has already provided aid to children in orphanages in the Tyumen region and Stavropol Area, Republic of Ossetia-Alania and also in the Yaroslavl region.

In the summer of 2002, following the RF CCI appeal to the business community, adequate assistance was rendered to flood victims in the Krasnodar and Stavropol Areas.

Organizational Chart

Management

The supreme management authority of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation is the Convention that is held at least once every four years. The Convention of the RF CCI elects the Board and the President of the Chamber and the Revision Commission. The RF CCI Board elects the Presidium of the RF CCI Board. The RF CCI Board is headed by the Board Chairman who is at the same time the President of the Chamber. The Board includes all Vice Presidents of the Chamber.

Yevgeny M. Primakov
Board Chairman, President of the RF CCI

Boris N. Pastuhov
Acting Senior Vice President of the RF CCI

Ivan I. Gorelovsky
Vice President of the RF CCI - Executive Manager

Vladimir B. Isakov
Acting Vice President of the RF CCI

Sergey N. Katyrin
Vice President of the RF CCI

Georgy G. Petrov
Vice President of the RF CCI

Vladimir P. Strashko
Vice President of the RF CCI

List of Services

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation provides the following kinds of services: