In 2016, the Regional Chamber has protected the rights and legitimate interests of 98 entrepreneurs for a total of 1.7 billion KZT. Work on protecting the rights and legitimate interests of entrepreneurs by experts of the Chamber is ongoing. For the 1st quarter of 2017, the property rights of 13 entrepreneurs were protected for a total of 113 million KZT. A powerful incentive for the development of entrepreneurship in the region is the Regional Council, the supervisory body of the Chamber of Entrepreneurs. Today we are talking with its chairman Raikhangul Satabayeva.

- Raikhangul Kairbaevna, please tell us what the Regional Council of Entrepreneurs is and what are its functions?

- A good support in the development of entrepreneurship is the Chamber's supervisory body - the Regional Council. The Council consists of 25 active representatives of large, medium and small businesses, who are not employees of the Chamber. The main task of the Regional Council is to ensure a dialogue between business and government in addressing topical issues of entrepreneurship. As a rule, members of the Regional Council meet once a month, but if the situation requires, more often. I want to note that due to professional qualities, as well as understanding of business problems from within, the members of the Council have raised many systemic issues. Last year alone, 20 meetings of the Council were held. Members of the Regional Council visited all districts to identify problematic issues of entrepreneurs in the regions. Also, in order to support rural entrepreneurs in each district, Regional Councils and Councils of Business Women's are organized. For example, one of the systemic problems is the issue of additional corporate income tax on transactions with legal entities, the state registration of which is deemed illegal. And here is a very good result. At the suggestion of NCE RK "Atameken" Mazhilis approved the exclusion of 215 article from the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan. This issue was repeatedly considered on the site of the Chamber of Entrepreneurs, and, of course, the article of pseudo-entrepreneurship had put serious pressure on business. Conscientious entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to prove the legality of their transactions using all the legal protection tools provided by law. Also, the Council considered such a systematic problem as the market for the sale of local producers, where an offer was made to participate in the supply of products, services for large, backbone enterprises. During the meetings of the Council, recommendations are given on the most important issues, including the assessment of the work of the whole Chamber as a whole.

- You stood at the origins of the creation of the Chamber of Entrepreneurs. In your opinion, what is the role of the Chamber today in the business community?

Yes, you are right, the National Chamber of Entrepreneurs "Atameken" was created just over three years ago. The main task of the Chamber is to consolidate the business community into a single union. After all, it is not a secret for anyone that earlier each businessman defended his rights alone, and often decisions were made not in favor of the entrepreneur. Now, the voice of business is heard at all venues. The Chamber largely helps business in its development, and now more and more entrepreneurs come here for professional help. And it can be stated with certainty that the Chamber has become the home of a diligent entrepreneur. A huge achievement is that on May 31, 2017, the Mazhilis of RK approved a draft of a new version of the law "On the Prosecutor's Office". The bill aims to significantly strengthen measures to protect the rights and legitimate interests of business, reduce inspections, improve the system of control and supervision.

 - Can you give concrete examples of protected interests of entrepreneurs?

Only for the past year there were identified 6 administrative barriers at the republican level. At the regional level, 27 problematic issues were identified, of which 23 issues were resolved. For example, assistance was rendered to LLP "Agrokhimprogress" regarding the calculation of amounts for consumed electricity. LLP firm “ORTOPROT”, engaged in the manufacture of prosthetic and orthopedic products, with the assistance of the Chamber, managed to win back 54 million tenge in court. The issue of IE "Kopot" was positively solved which supplied goods to state utility company on the right of economic management "Kokshetau zhylu", which is confirmed by acts of acceptance and transfer and invoices for goods leave. Acts of acceptance and transfer by the parties were signed, however, the customer did not fulfill the payment obligations in time. Unfortunately, with such problems, businessmen come to the Chamber quite often. In fact, conscientious entrepreneurs become hostages to the situation when, having contracts on state purchases of goods, acceptance and transfer certificates, debt repayment schedules, they are forced to go to state institutions in order to get their legally earned money. And, of course, there is a direct violation of the interests of a businessman, which paralyzes their further entrepreneurial activities.

- As a person who has tremendous experience working with the business community, what advice do you give to all those who plan to start their own business?

- First of all, I want to note: do not be afraid, follow your dream and everything will turn out for sure. Contact the "Home of Entrepreneurs", where you can get free training, consultants will help to make a business plan, will consult on all issues. To do this, we have a Center for Servicing Entrepreneurs, in each district there are Centers for Support of Entrepreneurs. Therefore, I can say with certainty that there are much more opportunities for business development than ever before.