OREANDA-NEWS. A business-mission of small and medium-sized business entities of the Republic of Karelia to the Federal Republic of Germany took place from February, 26 to March, 1. The event was organized by the Ministry of Economic Development of Karelia, as well as by the Regional Center for coordination of suport of export-oriented small and medium-sized business entities established on the basis of the Business Incubator of the republic.

The business-mission was organized at the support of the Trade Representation of the Russian Federation in Germany and Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Schwerin (the Federal State of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern).

The trip took place within the scope of implementation of the regional program of Support of Small and Medium-Sized Entrepreneurship in the Republic of Karelia through 2014.

Deputy Minister of Economic Development of Karelia Sergey Alimpiev and Director General of Corporation for Development of the Republic of Karelia Vsevolod Telitsyn took part in work of the business-mission.

The business-mission comprised nine small and medium-sized business entities of Karelia that represented various spheres of activity. These were Stroytechnika Inc. (metalworks manufacturing), Nelan-Oxide+ Ltd. (nanotechnologies), Energoresurs-t Ltd. (energy efficiency), self-employed entrepreneur A.V.Teterin (timber house-building), Technomedia Ltd. (IT), Campings of Karelia Ltd. (tourism), self-employed entrepreneur E.V.Zubareva (hotel service), Naming Ltd. (cosmetology), and Euroforum Ltd. (exhibition and trade fair activities).

Seven small and medium-sized business entities were represented in the businedd mission in their absence - Yagoda Karelii (Berry of Karelia) Inc. (food production company), The Engineering Center of Fire Robots Technology FR, Petrozavodskmash Mining and Smelting Complex Ltd. (dredge pump production), Kalevala -Wood Ltd. (Kalevala settlement, timber house-building), Intalia Company Ltd. (production of souvenirs), Lukomorie Inc. (tourism) and Scythians Tour Ltd. (Pryazha region, Matrosy settlement, tourism).

The business-mission has visited Berlin and Schwerin. Entrepreneurs from Karelia have visited such enterprises as Dockweiler (the leading supplier of pipe products, in particular for food production and medical institutions), Huttemann (wood-working factory producing glued beams and other elements for housing and industrial construction). They also have visited Berlin Consulting Center company offering giving a complex of intermediary services to German and Russian enterprises, legal company of GRK Business Solutions, Schmieder and Eckstein firm of attorneys where they have learned about legal fundamentals of entrepreneurship in Germany, institute of Berlin development as a territory Berlin Partner dealing with infrastructure of support of business, as well as the East committee of German economy – the organization promoting investment, which also includes Russia.

The Trade Representation of the Russian Federation in Germany was a venue for a meeting of the delegation from Karelia with officials of the Trade Representation that was also attended by representatives of German companies running their business in such spheres as building, medicine, and consulting.

Results of the business-mission of small and medium-sized business entities of the Republic of Karelia to the Federal Republic of Germanymay be viewed favourably. Thus, the agreement was reached on pre-bid preparation of two Karelian companies of Energoresurs-t Ltd. and Yagoda Karelii (Berry of Karelia) Inc. (food production company). Several German enterprises have taken interest in production of Nelan-Oxide+ Ltd., the talks are supposed to continue.

Besides, participants of the business-mission have learned about German business culture, fundamentals of entrepreneurship, structures which may render assistance to Russian companies searching for business partners.

In turn, the enterprising circles of Germany could learn more about the Republic of Karelia and its prospects. Reciprocal visit of the delegation from Germany to the Republic of Karelia is expected to take place in 2014.