OREANDA-NEWS. January 22, 2013. Russia’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Library Hall, Room 310, 3rd floor, 9 Ilyinka Str., Moscow) hosted a meeting of the chamber’s committee for economic integration of the SCO and CIS countries, entitled “Principal trends and prospects of integrating collaboration of the SCO and CIS countries.”

The meeting was attended by the following dignitaries:

Georgy Petrov, Vice President of Russia’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry;

Vladimir Salamatov, chairman of the chamber’s committee for economic integration of the SCO and CIS countries, General Director of the WTC;

Andrei Spartak, chairman of the chamber’s committee for promoting international trade, Director of the All-Russia Market Research Institute, Corr. Member of the Russian Academy of Science;

Mikhail Yevdokimov, Director of the First Department of the CIS Countries of Russia’s Foreign Ministry;

Alexander Sternik, Director of the Third Department of the CIS Countries of Russia’s Foreign Ministry (Central Asia countries);

Sergei Chernyshov, Director of the Department of Economic Cooperation and Integration with the CIS countries of the Russian Economic Development Ministry;

Andrei Danilenko, Chairman of the Board of the National Union of Milk Producers (Milk Union);

Roman Gubenko, Director of the International Business Center “Russia in the WTO,” WTC (Moscow).

Opening the session of the committee, Mr. Petrov noted big attendance by participants, guests and members of the press. “Especially pleasing is the fact,” said Mr. Petrov, “that for the past few years the chamber’s committee has organized a series of exceptionally important meetings both in Russia and in the CIS countries.”

Mr. Salamatov stressed special role played by the system of chambers of commerce and industry, which form a unique infrastructure for creating robust conditions for economic development and for an ongoing dialog between business and authorities.

In his speech, Mr. Salamatov mentioned the most important historical landmarks of economic ties in the post-Soviet environment, and paid particular attention to the events of the past few years. “First of all, it’s the creation of the Customs Union, which led to the de-facto removal of customs borders between three countries — Kazakhstan, Belarus and Russia; creation of the Common Economic Space; Russia’s accession to the WTO,” noted Mr. Salamatov.

The Customs Union plays an exceptionally significant role in development of product exchange with other CIS countries. About 40% of all products shipped from the Customs Union to other CIS countries are advance conversion products. Interface between Russia and CIS countries is of top importance for keeping and developing Russia’s national industry and production in the neighboring countries.

Integration processes are going on not only within the borders of the CIS. After Russia’s accession to the WTO, all countries of the former USSR have been inadvertently given motivation for upgrade of their production facilities and creation of products that can sustain competition. All countries are trying to introduce and adhere to uniform principles and rules of international standards in order to ensure smooth accession to the global trade system. The activities within the Customs Union and the Common Economic Space aim to the utmost extent at harmonization of those processes.

In his presentation, Mr. Salamatov cited one very important index, the equilibrium index of change, i.e. the relation between import growth and export growth in countries after accession to the WTO. “Ukraine’s index equals 0.98, China’s about 1.0. At the same time, there are many countries with significantly higher indexes, which means their imports grow much faster than exports. Of course, for Russia and other CIS countries, it’s very important to keep those parameters close to one.”

Mr. Gubenko drew the audience’s attention to continental China’s experience in adapting the country’s industries to the WTO’s rules and requirements. According to Mr. Gubenko, unlike China, CIS countries that acceded the WTO earlier have not used to a sufficient extent the protection and regulation frameworks offered by the organization. “China started training specialists in international trade long before the People’s Republic of China joined the organization. That experience is worth considering by Russian enterprises in order to be able to work in the new economic conditions,” concluded Mr. Gubenko.

He and Mr. Spartak delivered fundamental analytical reports on development and integration within the boundaries of the Customs Union and Common Economic Space.

The meeting was attended by heads of territorial chambers of commerce and industry who hold the committee’s membership, heads of nonprofit organizations, experts in economic integration between countries of the former Soviet Union.

Other topics discussed at the session:

— condition and dynamics of trade and economic relations of SCO and CIS countries;

— creation of a favorable economic climate in the CIS, B2B and B2G dialog practices;

— influence exerted on international trade by creation of a common economic space and by Russia, Ukraine, Georgia, Kirgiz Republic and Tajikistan’s membership in the WTO, and also by Kazakhstan’s forthcoming accession to that organization;

— possible risks, trade dispute settlement framework, development of uniform approaches in trade policies pursued by CIS countries.