"Over the past thirty years, the Chamber of Commerce has retained its function and developed into a powerful structure that provides services to entrepreneurs." This was stated by the vice-president of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation Vladimir Padalko, speaking at the meeting of the heads of the chambers of the CIS countries on December 17 on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Commonwealth of Independent States and the chairmanship of the Republic of Belarus in the CIS.

“It is gratifying to note our unity,” said the Vice President of the Chamber, addressing the conference participants via video communication.

In general, the statistics showed the resilience of the CIS economies to external shocks. The volume of trade in the Commonwealth increased by almost 27 percent in the first half of the year. In the first nine months of this year, trade between Russia and the CIS countries amounted to 67.6 billion US dollars and increased by 28 percent.

Vladimir Padalko called on the heads of the chambers of commerce and industry of the CIS countries to establish closer cooperation in the International Federation of Chambers of Commerce and work in this organization all together. He also asked to support Russia's application for holding the EXPO-2030 exhibition in Moscow.

The vice-president of the Russian Chamber noted the increasing role of Business Councils in cooperation between countries, calling them a comprehensive toolkit. He said that the Russian side is ready to share best practices in the development of public services markets. Vladimir Padalko proposed to popularize the activities of the chambers of the CIS countries and expand the collection published by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation on the industrial potential of Russia, adding there the CIS countries.

The meeting, chaired by the President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Belarus Vladimir Ulakhovich, was devoted to summing up the results of the integration processes that have taken place over the past 30 years.

The chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Uzbekistan Adham Ikramov, acting Vice-President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Armenia Karen Ivanov, Chairman of the Board of the Foreign Trade Chamber of Kazakhstan Ayan Erenov, Senior Vice-President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Kyrgyz Republic Roman Kasymov, Vice-President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Moldova Natalia Kalenik, First Deputy Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Kyrgyz Republic Industrial Chamber of the Republic of Tajikistan Nasim Anvarov, Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Turkmenistan Dovletgeldi Rejepov.

By Peter Cheremushkin, Press Service of the Chamber