10 thousand entrepreneurs addressed for assistance to the Chamber of Entrepreneurs of Zhambyl region since its inception in 2013, 98.7% of which are small businesses

Why small companies and budding entrepreneurs are in need of assistance of the Chamber, as well as about what results it achieved during its existence, we talk to the chairman of the Regional Council of the Chamber of Entrepreneurs of Zhambyl region, the general director of LLP "Kazphosphate" Mukash Iskandirov.

- Mukash Zulkarnaevich, you are heading the Regional Council of the Chamber of Entrepreneurs of Zhambyl region since its inception in November 2013. How do you assess the work of the Council, what are the powers of that body?

- With the adoption of the Law "On the National Chamber of Entrepreneurs" on 4^th of July  2013 in all regions of Kazakhstan has begun the process of establishment of regional chambers of entrepreneurs, in parallel with this was standing the question about the organization of the Regional Councils. The Regional Council of the Chamber of Entrepreneurs of Zhambyl region was created on 7^th of November 2013. I am the chairman of the Council, which includes 25 people. Members of the Council - are well-known in regional entrepreneurs in different business areas, which is an important prerequisite for consideration of the interests of specific sectors of the economy in the current activities of the Chamber.

I want to especially emphasize the fact that the Regional Council is the supervisory body of the Chamber. Accordingly, the Chambers of entrepreneurs are fully accountable to the Regional Council, whose members during the monthly meetings approve the budget of the Chamber, control spending, and voices the problems of business in solution of which the Chamber is subsequently engaged; reviews the implementation of the goals and objectives of the National Chamber in the framework of the organization and its regional branches.

Since the beginning of this year there were held seven meetings of the Regional Council, 16 in 2015. At each meeting the main focus was the most urgent and important business issues of the region. The Council addresses a wide range of issues: hearing reports of the Director of the Regional Chamber of Entrepreneurs, the definition of the main activities of the Regional Chamber, members of the Regional Council participate in lawmaking, examination of legal acts, to develop together with authorities an action plan to combat corruption in the field of entrepreneurship. At recent meetings of the Regional Council were discussed issues of public procurement, implementation of the regional map of industrialization, program of public-private partnership, employment and agricultural cooperatives.

It should be recognized that the Regional Council today really has become a major force that is able to solve many problems, including through the central bodies of the country.

- How much has the Chamber of entrepreneurs become in demand during its existence?

- For a start I will give toy statistical data: in total from 2013 to 2016 more than 10 thousand entrepreneurs have addressed to the Chamber of Entrepreneurs of Zhambyl region. Of a total number 435 entrepreneurs have addressed within the line of defense of rights, 9437 - on economic issues, 132 – on social issues. At the same time the majority of those, who addressed to the Chamber of entrepreneurs were small businesses - 98.7%. Medium-sized business accounts for 1.12%; big business - 0.1%.

 - It is no secret that starting from 2013, and for the next five years, small business is exempt from the payment of mandatory dues. It turns out that those, who appeal the most do not pay, but the Chamber is in low demand among payers?

- Not certainly in that way. Of course, the greatest demand in the Chamber of entrepreneurs is among small businesses. This is due to the fact that large and medium companies have a staff and lawyers, and economists. However, if we look at the structure of applications, the small businesses often need service support, or just legal advice. Of course, it is not required for any medium or large enterprises. But if we analyze appeals and demands of medium and large businesses, we will see that they have initiated checks on high-profile cases, apply to the Chamber for the decision of systemic problems, for assistance in changing the law, etc. That is, with their assistance are resolved problems, which have been accumulated over the years, impediments in the law, etc. In addition, the specificity of Zhambyl region is that the region has 67378 operating businesses, small businesses account for 99.4% (66,991); medium business - 309 entities or 0.5%; big business - 78 entities or 0.1%.

- How does the Chamber help businesses in terms of changing the legislation and bringing it into a form which is more comfortable for entrepreneurs?

- In addition to working on the requests coming directly from the business, the Chamber of entrepreneurs on an ongoing basis, conducts examination of projects of normative legal acts. In just two and a half years it has examined 419 draft RLAs, of which 47 projects were sent back for revision, expert opinion was made for 372. On the website of NCE there is a section "Drafts of RLAs for discussion": anyone businessman can come with suggestions for inclusion to draft laws. In the consultative-advisory bodies participate 65 representatives of the Chamber and the business community, including seven employees of the Chamber, 13 representatives of the Regional Council of the Chamber of Entrepreneurs and business communities. In total the Chamber participates in 49 CABs.

- For information of budding business please tell about the free training programs of the Chamber.

- The Chamber provides service support in the framework of a unified program of business support and development "Business Road Map 2020". For example, it hosts a variety of training courses and workshops in the framework of the component "Business School". All information is also available on the website of the Chamber. In just two years, 1915 people were trained. For example, 1725 students attended the express course "Business Advisor", 65 students took part in the course "Project Learning", 125 businessmen took part in the training "Business Growth". In addition, five-day free trainings are held under the program "Employment Road Map-2020". Today, more than 200 people in five districts of the region and the city of Taraz have received certificates. It is planned to train 372 people.

- As you know, your company is one of the first taken in corporate governance, organization of technical and vocational education - Taraz Chemical Technology College. Tell us on what stage is this work today?

- Within the framework of the Roadmap of dual education Taraz Chemical-Technological College was transferred to the corporate governance of our company. The main objective of corporate governance is preparation of competitive personnel using the dual training system. Currently, the Chamber of Entrepreneurs and LLP "Kazphosphate" have approved an action plan on corporate governance, all college students, who are enrolled in the dual system will have a guaranteed place for practice. In addition, the company resolved the issue on nutrition and uniforms of students, there were selected five mentors in the company, which conduct weekly practice-laboratory classes in college.