OREANDA-NEWS. Experts at the Analytical Center conducted a study that showed that 7% of Russian small and medium-sized enterprises are currently exporting, and 12% plan to start it. The survey was conducted in June 2019 among 500 senior employees and individual entrepreneurs in eight federal districts. "7% of small and medium-sized enterprises in Russia are engaged in export", the study says. "Every 10th organization of small and medium-sized businesses (12%) hasn't exported to other countries yet, but plans to do it".

Most often, medium-sized enterprises are engaged in exports (14%). In competition with foreign companies, Russian enterprises engaged in manufacturing are most confident, the study notes. It is manufacturing that more often than others want to start exporting their products (30%).

An increase in the interest of foreign customers in their products and services is noted by 12% of entrepreneurs, 48% believe that the interest of foreigners remains at the same level, 9% say that it is declining. More than half (59%) believe that their company's products can compete on the Russian market with imported counterparts (representatives of manufacturing industries more often hold this opinion - 75%), 26% believe that their products lose in comparison with foreign ones.

Director General of the Analytical Center Timur Aymaletdinov noted the weak participation of Russians in the system of international trade relations. Many enterprises now don't think about entering foreign markets, either don't know how to organize the export of products or don't understand its relevance in other countries, Aymaletdinov added. “At the same time, entrepreneurs continue to call the narrowing of sales markets and increased competition for consumers one of the most serious business barriers”, he said, noting that it's foreign markets that could become the new driver for the development of SMEs in Russia.