Unofficial translation from Russian

 

GUUAM Chambers of Commerce Symposium in Baku

2-5 may, 2001

In addition to the representatives of GUUAM, participants included Chambers of Commerce of Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Latvia, Romania, and Kazakhstan.

  1. All participants agreed that events aimed at strengthening economic cooperation among the GUUAM states are extremely useful.

  2. All GUUAM states expressed their desire:

    3. -to develop commercial and economic cooperation

    on equal and mutually beneficial basis

    -to create conditions for free movement of goods, services, capital and labor force.

    -to facilitate growth of economic potential of the member –states on the basis of developing mutually beneficial cooperative relations.

    -to be guided by the aspiration to constantly increase well-being of their people

  3. The participants noticed the following general problems for economic development in GUUAM:

    4. -low level of economic development in GUUAM states

    -shortcomings in the private business protection legislative bases

    -the existence of corruption and shadow economies

    -excessive administrative barriers, the lack of an efficient state program of supporting businesses

    -the lack of the relevant legislation on chambers of commerce or its shortcoming in some GUUAM states

    -insufficient level of information and practical experiences exchange among the GUUAM chambers of commerce

    -the lack of sufficient domestic capital to support business

  4. The following plan of actions was proposed to eliminate the existing barriers:

-to recommend the presidents of the GUUAM chambers of commerce to consider creation of a unified coordinating structure (Coordination committee of the GUUAM chambers of commerce)

-to establish inter-parliamentary group responsible for effective development of GUUAM economic relations, including lobbying GUUAM states’ interests as a priority

-to propose GUUAM states to simplify customs procedures, certification process and to begin harmonization of the relevant legislative base

-to form a unified electronic market of GUUAM states

-to create a system clearing mutual payments of GUUAM countries

-to support creation of the GUUAM free economic zone

-to develop integration relations of the GUUAM chambers of commerce with other countries and cooperation with economic organizations

-to recommend the chambers of commerce to develop regional measures and principles of business ethics

 

Proposal of the National Confederation of Organizations of Entrepreneurs (Employers) of the Republic of Azerbaijan for improving economic cooperation among GUUAM states

  1. To create Congress of Unions of Entrepreneurs of GUUAM states

  2. To establish Joint Bank of GUUAM to finance joint projects

  3. To establish the following joint structures:

GUUAM – transportation in Baku

GUUAM – Insurance in Tashkent

GUUAM – leasing in Kyiv

GUUAM – tourism in Tbilisi

GUUAM-business-incubator in Chishinau