OREANDA-NEWS. On 19 March 2009 was announced, that the Agreement on cooperation between the government of the republic, Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Karelia and League of Entrepreneurs of the Republic of Karelia regional public organization was signed by Sergey Katanandov, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Alexander Pankratov and the League of Entrepreneurs of the RK President Anton Senichev. The document will both regulate the intercourse of business and authority, and, amid the complex crisis situation, will create the most comfortable conditions for small and medium business development in Karelia.

- In the context of economic crisis, small and medium business development becomes especially important, - Sergey Katanandov has addressed to the audience. - Success should crown support of this sector to provide innovative development of economy of the republic, preservation and creation of new workplaces.

Head of Karelia went into detail on problems of small and medium business, the main of which are raise in electricity prices, unavailability of bank credits, bureaucratic barriers, often low quality of personnel skills. Within the scope of the Agreement signed these problems should be solved.

Raise in electricity prices has increased considerably the cost price of production for small energy-demanding enterprises. The unique situation has developed in the MB Barbell company where the electricity component in cost of production has grown up to 40%. MB Barbell provides metal sporting equipment almost for the entire country. Today the enterprise owner Vadim Markelov is offered to conclude the contract with the government on the same conditions it was concluded with the largest enterprises of the republic: such agreement guarantees low rates to the businessman in exchange for a number of social guarantees for the enterprise employees. "The situation is unique, - Sergey Katanandov has once again reverted to the subject of electricity prices, - when on volumes of consumed electricity small enterprises can be equal to metallurgical works."

Head of the region has wished businessmen "to pay attention to more serious things, than trade." As he said, today only large enterprises are engaged in processing of local resources. Small and medium business is not presented sufficiently in the sphere of services and tourism.

All the parties which have signed the Agreement have expressed confidence that joint efforts of the entrepreneurship community and authorities for development and implementation of specific crisis measures on the basis of small and medium business development can give a new stimulus to economy of the republic.