The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Turkmenistan held a meeting of the Council of Heads of Chambers of the CIS countries
Under the chairmanship of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Turkmenistan, the 20th anniversary meeting of the Council of Heads of Chambers of the CIS member states was held on Thursday via videoconference.
The topic of the meeting is "The role of chambers in deepening integration processes in the CIS: the results of the Council's 20-year work and plans for the future."
The meeting was attended by the heads of the Chambers of Commerce of Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, the Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, as well as representatives of the CIS Executive Committee and the Interstate Bank.
Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Turkmenistan Dovletgeldy Rejepov presented information on the work of the Council during the period of representation of Turkmenistan. He noted that despite the difficult period caused by the pandemic, all chambers were in close cooperation with each other, taking into account the fact that in recent years the activities of the Council have been aimed at the introduction of digital technologies and the development of electronic services through videoconferencing.
Within the framework of the chairmanship of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Turkmenistan, most of the planned activities were carried out, and some, such as compiling and updating the list of investment projects, the register of reliable partners, competitive products are conducted on an ongoing basis, you can get acquainted with them on the websites of the chambers, Rejepov said.
According to him, the seminar "Commercialization of innovations and development of high-tech ties of the CIS member states aroused great interest. Technological Brokerage", organized by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation.
Such seminars should be held more often in an online or hybrid format, because the result is very productive production ties, the head of the CCI stressed, citing as an example the interaction of the Aydin Gidzheler business company (this is one of the first enterprises opened under the state program for the creation of the electronic and electrical industry in Turkmenistan) with the Russian company Micron, a resident of the special economic zone of Moscow, a manufacturer and exporter of microelectronics.
With great benefit for the exchange of experience in the functioning of free economic zones, a videoconference on this topic was held in June this year. This experience is very interesting and important for the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Turkmenistan, as we are also starting to create such zones, and naturally we will use international practices, Dovletgeldy Rejepov stressed.
In July 2021, an online event was held on the issues of barriers in mutual trade of the CIS member states and proposals for their elimination. The topic is very relevant, as business rightly expects decisive actions from the bodies making key decisions in this matter.
Proposals were prepared on further work to identify and eliminate barriers to mutual trade with the involvement of business circles and chambers of commerce and industry. This work should be continued in order to actively and transparently eliminate existing and prevent the emergence of new trade barriers, to ensure the maximum reduction of seizures and restrictions on the free movement of goods and services, the head of the CCI stressed.
Dovletgeldy Rejepov will separately focus on inter-chamber cooperation at the regional level. In his opinion, the time has come to involve both regional and territorial chambers in more active interaction with each other, to give them the opportunity to choose which regions it is more profitable and efficient for them to work with and in what form.
This is especially true of the border chambers. After all, cross-border cooperation is one of the most effective ways of transition to real integration, as well as socio-economic development of border territories, increasing business activity, employment and living standards of the population, the head of the CCI said.
He also raised the topic of the need to create a secretariat of the Council of Heads of Chambers in order to promptly resolve issues related to the activities of the Council, joint events, etc., and suggested appointing a responsible employee from each side.
Then the heads of chambers of other CIS states spoke out, presenting their vision of cooperation now and in the future.
During the meeting, another very relevant topic was considered - the use of national currencies in mutual settlements of the CIS states, Vice-President of the Interstate Bank Igor Chumakovsky spoke on this issue.
Following the meeting of the Council, decisions were made aimed at further developing and strengthening cooperation and partnership between the Chambers of the CIS on the basis of equality, good-neighborliness and mutual respect in order to maximize the potential of small and medium-sized businesses for the effective economic development of the CIS member states, the growth of welfare and quality of life of the population.
The Council considers it important to continue close cooperation with the CIS Executive Committee in all areas of multilateral cooperation and to fully contribute to the implementation of the activities of the first stage (2021-2025) of the Commonwealth Economic Development Strategy for the period up to 2030.
The Council considers it necessary to promote the popularization of exhibition, fair and congress activities as a tool for implementing programs to support regional producers and exporters of the CIS countries. The list of exhibition and fair events planned in 2023 under the patronage of the Council of Heads of Chambers of the CIS was approved.
A number of employees of the Chambers of the CIS member states were awarded diplomas of the Council "For active participation in exhibition and fair activities".
The baton of the chairmanship of the Council from Turkmenistan was transferred to Armenia, President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Armenia Martin Sargsyan was elected Chairman of the Council.
The next meeting of the Council of Heads of Chambers of the CIS member states was proposed to be held in person in May-June 2023 in the Armenian city of Tsarkhadzor.
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