Well placed for SMEs
Apart from trade fairs, institutions and city twinnings also help small and medium-sized businesses find their way onto the Russian market. Düsseldorf is one example.
In Russia the time has come not just for international companies, but also for small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) to demonstrate market presence and build market share with direct investment. Moscow is, and remains, the biggest individual market. "For Düsseldorf, as a business and commercial centre, it is vital to have a presence there," Joachim Erwin, mayor of Düsseldorf, says.
Moscow and Düsseldorf have been twinned since June 1992. As part of this partnership the capital of North Rhine-Westphalia state has for some years now organised the Düsseldorfer Wirtschaftstage (Düsseldorf Business Days), which "like Messe Düssedorf's trade fairs and exhibitions, provide an opportunity to open the first doors for promising business with Russia", Mayor Erwin explains.Statistics are not kept on how many companies have gained a toehold in Russia through these business trips, which among other things are designed to pave the way into Moscow's city hall. But "when in February 2001 we opened the Russia Competence Centre at the chamber of industry and commerce in Düsseldorf, which helps organise the Wirtschaftstage, I had the idea of introducing SMEs to Moscow. This has turned out very well and produced results" (see info box).
The Russia Competence Centre sets out to help companies interested in the Russian market. "With this facility we have an institution in Düsseldorf that is unique to Germany," the mayor says. By regularly organising conferences, fact-finding events, seminars and workshops on topical issues and problems with German-Russian business relations, the centre creates know-how for companies committing to Russia. "It is a permanent liaison centre, available to assist with inquiries and arrange contacts," Erwin adds. The production of informative literature and publications rounds off its services. And in Moscow the VDW Association of German Business in the Russian Federation, one of the Russia Competence Centre's partners, additionally represents the interests of German companies.
m+a report Nr.5 / 2005 vom 12.08.2005
m+a report vom 12. August 2005