For successful penetration into the Belarusian market, profitable investments of capital it is necessary that some intermediary organization would contribute to this aim, render necessary organizational, consulting and informational assistance to a foreign partner. Such organization is the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry – the oldest foreign economic structure of the Republic.
The Chamber has a status of a public, non-governmental organization, manifesting and protecting the interests of the Belarusian and foreign businessmen which conduct their activities on the territory of the Republic of Belarus and beyond its boundaries.
The main task of the Chamber is to promote the development of the national economy, as well as of the industrial, scientific, technical and trade relations of the Republic of Belarus with other countries.
The members of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry represent more than 2,000 enterprises, organizations and firms and joint-stock companies of the state and private sector of economy, as well as mixed (Belarusian and foreign ) and 100% foreign capital. Totally members of the Chamber account for more than 80% of industrial production. Practically all of them deal with export-import activity.
The Chamber of Commerce and Industry promotes establishment and development of business relations between the Belarusian and foreign businessmen, invites and receives in Belarus foreign trade and economic delegations, individual representatives of foreign firms. To this effect the corresponding divisions of the Chamber provide a full package of services, including visa support, meeting, accommodation, transportation, interpreting services, location of the Belarusian partners, arrangement of meetings and negotiations.
One of the functions of the Chamber is to organize and arrange international, foreign specialized exhibitions and fairs, presentations of individual firms, symposia and other events on the territory of the Republic of Belarus.
The Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry arranges National Exhibitions of the Republic of Belarus abroad and acts as a collective organiser of expositions of Belarusian enterprises at International Exhibitions and Fairs in different countries of the world. One of the main spheres of activity of the Chamber is to train businessmen in modern methods of working in new market economy conditions, to arrange study sessions in the Republic as well as abroad.
The Chamber of Commerce and Industry provides consulting, informational and mediatory services, renders assistance to Belarusian and foreign clients in the location of partners for trade and cooperation, including establishment of direct contracts, production cooperation, creation of joint ventures and enterprises with 100% foreign capital.
For the implementation of these functions the Chamber has specialized data banks with proposals of the Belarusian and foreign companies on trade and cooperation. Business proposals of the foreign companies are regularly published in Belarusian press, distributed through the channels of E-mail.
On the territory of the Republic of Belarus and beyond its boundaries the Chamber acts on instructions of the Belarusian and foreign associations, enterprises, organizations and firms to conduct expert analysis and quantity control and completeness of the exported and imported products. It issues the certificates of origin of goods exported from Belarus, provides waybills for these products and certifies force-majeure circumstances.
The Chamber accepts orders for the translation of economic, scientific and technical and other business documentation, reference and informational materials, as well as interpreting services. Translation is done from 23 foreign languages.
The Chamber of Commerce and Industry performs advertising for Belarusian and foreign associations, enterprises, organizations and firms, fulfils orders for production of the feature advertising original materials and design works in Belarus and abroad.
On the instructions of Belarusian and foreign citizens, associations, enterprises, organizations and firms, the experts of the Chamber draw up documents for the protection of inventions, individual samples, trade marks and other objects of industrial property.
The Chamber has the International Court attached to it for the purposes of objective resolution of the disputes, which sometimes might occur between the partners.
In order to implement its functions the Chamber of Commerce and Industry is authorized to conduct various transactions, including the foreign trade, credit and securities deals, as well as the legal operations with associations and firms and individuals in Belarus and abroad.
The Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry has long-term Agreements on Cooperation with the Chambers of Commerce and Industry of 26 countries of the world and actively cooperates with them in various spheres. The main of them are exchange of information of foreign economic legislation and commercial offers, organization of exhibitions and fairs, assistance in training businessmen, exchange of business delegations, rendering assistance in establishing direct contacts.
The Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry incorporates six branches, located in the regional centres of Belarus: Minsk, Brest, Vitebsk, Mogilev, Grodno, Gomel. They provide foreign economic services for Belarusian and foreign associations, enterprises, organizations and firms in their respective regions.
All in all, approximately 500 full-time employees work for the Chamber. They are highly-qualified experts of appropriate training and practical experience. They are ready to render necessary assistance to businessmen in marketing, export-import operations, location of partners for cooperation.
