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| Analysis of microfinance development in Russia: Part 1. Assessment of demand for microfinance | The project was part of a series of donor-funded projects aimed at evaluation of the microfinance sector in Russia in terms of availability of micro-credits for SMEs, terms and conditions of providing micro-credits, the scope and outreach of microfinance organizations (MFOs). The survey was based on data received from over 2500 individual entrepreneurs and SMEs in eight Russia’s regions, including underdeveloped regions. The survey assessed a potential client basis for MFIs, provided a detailed overview of microfinance client categories: start-up businesses, small businesses, individual entrepreneurs, low-paid workers, unemployed. Survey results were presented in a detailed final report, disseminated to business and finance community through events and the Internet. RCSME organized and implemented the survey, analyzed various categories of MFO clients, produced a comprehensive report. | February – April 2003 | FINCA International, under USAID project “US Congress - RF Duma”; Russian Microfinance Centre (RMC), Moscow, Russia |
| Survey on SME Statistics | The survey was aimed at updating of SMEs statistics for all 89 Russia’s regions, display of the updated statistical information on the RCSME Web-site. RCSME provided statistical report for the paper on SME development in Russia which was part of the Policy Document “Concept of SME Development in Russia” discussed at the session of the State Council of the Russian Federation held in December 2001. | December 2001 – January 2002 | The Ministry for Antimonopoly Policy and Support of Entrepreneurship, Moscow |
| Expanding SME Access to Finance (under Tacis project SMERUS9803) | The goal of the project was to develop recommendations for the federal and regional governments in order to create enabling environment for Russian SMEs through facilitating SME access to finance. The objectives of the project were to analyze the current situation and prospects of expanding SME access to finance, with special emphasis on lending by banks, as well as credit guarantees, microfinance, leasing, venture finance. The analysis was made on the basis of surveys of SMEs and business environment in six Russia’s regions, representing typical developed, medium-developed and undeveloped regions. An overview of best western practices in lending to SMEs was made, including EBRD programs for SMEs. The analytical materials and recommendations were later used by the government when elaborating the “Federal Concept for SME Development”, adopted by the RF Government in 2002. The results of the project were discussed at focus groups and SME conferences, presented in the book “Expanding SME Access to Finance” (192 pp.), published in Moscow in 2002 and disseminated to business and finance community, federal and regional governments. | 2002 | The Netherlands Economic Institute, Rotterdam, The Netherlands |
| Russian SME Observatory Report-2001 (under Tacis project SMERUS9803) | The Russian SME Observatory Report-2001” (368 pages) was the first Russian counterpart to the EU Observatory for SMEs, it provided a detailed comprehensive overview of the SME sector in the context of the overall legislative, budget situation and the major goals of Russia’s economic policy. The Observatory reported data not only on private small enterprises (legal entities), but also on individual entrepreneurs, farm enterprises and medium-sized enterprises. In the course of the project RCSME organized SME surveys and round table discussions in six Russia’s regions, processed and analyzed recent data on SMEs from state statistics, tax authorities, data from special surveys of private enterprises. The Russian Observatory paid special attention to: SME sector trends, SMEs access to finance, labour market, business environment, fiscal, taxation, legislative framework, financial instruments for SMEs. The project provided essential data for assessing and benchmarking the main parameters of SME sector development. The text of the Observatory is available in internet | September 2000 – August 2002 | The Netherlands Economic Institute, Rotterdam, The Netherlands |
| Support of Small Business Week in Russia | RCSME provided information support to the European Business Club in Moscow during preparations for and organization of the Small Business Week - a Forum for discussing SMEs issues in October 2001 in Moscow | September-October 2001 | European Business Club, Moscow |
| Survey of regional funds for SME support on credit guarantee schemes | RCSME performed a survey on venture capital and investment funds (including guarantee arrangements) and produced an analytical report. | October –November 2001 | The Netherlands Economic Institute, Rotterdam, The Netherlands |
| Information dissemination system for SMEs and business support organisations | RCSME developed information dissemination system for Russia’s regions in order to facilitate information exchange between federal and regional business support organisations. The mailing system includes about 1000 regional BSOs (local governments, business support centers, business training centres, regional offices of Ministry for Antimonopoly Policy and Support of Entrepreneurship, MFIs, business incubators etc.). | September 2002-September 2001. In full operation since September 2001 | The Netherlands Economic Institute, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. In conjunction with the Ministry for Antimonopoly Policy and Support of Entrepreneurship , Moscow |
| Private sector development in countries in transition (for UNECE) | RCSME provided input for the “Survey on private sector development in countries in transition” that the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe undertook in countries in transition . The results of the survey were discussed at the Round Table on social issues and “Overmanning as a consequence of Industrial Restructuring” (12-13 February 2002). | June 2001 | Industry and Enterprise Development Section Trade Division, UN/ECE, TRADE DIVISION, Palais des Nations, CH 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland |
| Recent SME trends, OECD/FEED publication | Resource Center provided input for an OECD/FEED publication which highlighted recent SME trends, policies and institutions, recent developments in SME regulation, taxation, access to finance etc. | April 2001 – June 2001 | Enterprise Development Unit Directorate for Financial, Fiscal and Enterprise Affairs, OECD |
| Russian Baltic Market Web-site: part of Baltic Market Portal for Trade and Investments, an international project | The Russian Baltic Market Web-site was a one-stop guide through Russian business environment and legislation. The Web-site provided real, accurate answers to questions about doing business in Russia. Russian Baltic Market , including Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Russia, Sweden | November 2000 – June 2001 | Swedish National Board of Trade, Stockholm |
| Catalogue of Russian Microfinance Organisations in Russia, in Russian and in English, under USAID project implemented by FINCA International, Inc. | RCSME developed a Catalogue of microfinance organisations in Russia (300 p.) , including funds, banks, credit cooperatives, etc. with their contact information and basic characteristics | November 2000 – July 2001 | FINCA International, Moscow |
| Analysis of the main trends in the development of microfinance supply market, 1998-2000 (sub-contract under Tacis project SMERUS9803) | The survey was aimed at analysis of main tendencies of the market of microfinance supply in Russia on the basis of selected indicators. The survey assessed availability of microfinance services for Russian SMEs. The survey provided in-depth knowledge of the current situation with microfinance in Russia, identification of the main directions and tendencies of developing this financial instrument for SMEs. | January 2001 – July 2001 | The Netherlands Economic Institute, Rotterdam, The Netherlands |
| Reducing administrative barriers in the course of conducting inspections of SMEs,regional experience (sub-contract under Tacis project SMERUS9803) | This review (70 pages long) is based on the analytical survey of relevant federal and regional legislation in conjunction with practice of overcoming administrative obstacles encountered in the course of conducting inspections of SMEs. The survey gives an overview of legislation which regulates the procedures of inspections of SMEs, including goals, tasks, rights and responsibilities of parties etc. The publication highlights specific features of the procedures encountered in the regions. Some issues presented in this survey were included in a separate publication of the SME Resource Center entitled “Practice of reducing administrative barriers for SME development in Russia’s regions” published in March 2001 which was included into the hand-outs package at the 2nd All-Russia Conference of Small Entrepreneurs (Moscow, March 2001). | January 2001 – March 2001 | The Netherlands Economic Institute, Rotterdam, The Netherlands |
| Analysis of microfinance supply and demand on Russia’s market,under USAID project implemented by FINCA International, Inc. | This was the first ever analytical study of the microfinance sector in Russia’s regions, in terms of demand and supply. The survey assessed the size and structure of demand for microfinance in Russia; the number and categories of potential customers of MFIs (micro-enterprises, individual entrepreneurs, small enterprises, farmers, unemployed). According to the survey, the total number of potential MFI clients exceeded 3 million people. The survey lead to launching of a series of donor-funded and federal microfinance programs in Russia. The results of the survey were presented in the final report (92 pp.), in Russian and in English, which was widely disseminated in business community and among donors. | June 2000 – August 2000 | FINCA International, Moscow |
| Development of the information exchange system for SMEs and BSOs, (under Tacis project SMERUS9803) | RCSME developed a new information resource for gathering and disseminating information on small entrepreneurship support and development among businesses and business support organisations. The information exchange system now comprises over 1000 users: BSIs-BSOs and organisations interested in SME development in all Russia’s regions | October 2000 – April 2001 | The Netherlands Economic Institute, Rotterdam, The Netherlands |
| Survey of SMEs and BSIs in three pilot regions: Perm, Tver, Pskov, (under Tacis project SMERUS9803) | The survey included questioning in three pilot regions, processing questionnaires of SMEs and BSOs, developing draft Analytical Report for further discussions at round table meetings in the pilot regions. | September 2000 – July 2001 | The Netherlands Economic Institute, Rotterdam, The Netherlands |
| Commissions for reducing administrative barriers, (under Tacis project SMERUS9803) | A review (48 p) based on the survey of the legal status of inter-agency commissions, their goals and objectives, responsibilities, main activities etc. An overview of scope of activities of the commissions established in regions and plenipotentiary President’s representatives in federal districts Best practice of commissions in Tomsk oblast, Moscow, Kaliningrad oblast, Komi Republic, Khabarovsky Krai, Vologodskaya oblast. | January 2001 | The Netherlands Economic Institute, Rotterdam, The Netherlands |
| Administrative barriers for SME development, (under Tacis project SMERUS9803) | A review of administrative barriers for small business development (52 p) analyzed reasons for barriers, provided their list and possible ways and methods of overcoming the barriers. | September 2000 | The Netherlands Economic Institute, Rotterdam, The Netherlands |
| Directory of Russian SME Regional Information Resources, 650 p., Under Eurasia Foundation project | The Directory developed and published by RCSME is a tool which facilitates access to the regional SME information resources, such as: brief essential information about the region; statistical data on SMEs in the regions; legislation for SMEs, local information resources for SMEs and about SMEs, links to relevant Web-sites and databases, contact information of SME support organisations across Russia, exhibitions, local media etc. The Directory also provides information on regional affiliations of federal SME support organizations, interregional associations and various databases which provide information on SMEs in the Russian regions. | 1999-2000 | Eurasia Foundation, Moscow |
| Small business in Russia-2000: Statistical report, (under Tacis project SMERUS9803) | This analytical material (in English and in Russian, including diagrams and tables), was prepared by RCSME on the basis of the information provided by the Goskomstat of Russia (as of January 01, 2000). The data were provided to BSIs of the federal and regional levels | June 2000 | The Netherlands Economic Institute, Rotterdam, The Netherlands |
| Study on the impact of the financial crisis, (under Tacis project SMERUS9803) | This survey was performed with the goal of analyzing the situation in the SME sector in Russia. The data were provided to BSIs of the federal and regional levels | June 2000 | The Netherlands Economic Institute, Rotterdam, The Netherlands |
| Small Entrepreneurship in Russia: Statistical Analysis, (under TACIS project SMERUS9501) | This report started a series of statistical reports on SME sector in Russia (in English and in Russian) was prepared by RCSME on the basis of the information provided by the Goskomstat of Russia . The data were provided to BSIs of the federal and regional levels. | October 1999 | Euroconsultants S.A., European Profiles S.A., Greece |
| Annual UN/ECE report on SMEs in Transitional Countries | The survey described an overall situation in SME sector in Russia. The data of the Questionnaire were used for the Annual UN/ECE report on SMEs in Transitional Countries | May 1999 | UN Economic Commission for Europe, Palais des Nations, CH-1211 GENEVA 10, Geneva Switzerland |
| Innovation processes in small business, (under TACIS project SMERUS9501) | This publication (in Russian, 236 p, abstract in English) is based on the RC survey, performed in order to analyze the current state, development tendencies in innovations in SMEs and to suggest recommendations for their intensification. Special attention was paid to the importance of innovations in technology for business development, attitude of entrepreneurs to innovations, problems of innovations and their results. | October 1998 - April 1999 | Euroconsultants S.A., European Profiles S.A., Greece |
| Financial technologies for SMEs, (under TACIS project SMERUS9501) | This publication (in Russian. 249 p, abstract in English) is based on the RC survey performed with the aim to analyze the practice of using financial technologies and develop recommendations for business support network as well as recommendations for the activities of credit, insurance and guarantee organisations which provide access for SMEs to finance at the regional level. Regional SME support organisations can use the suggested methods and techniques in order to perform their own, local surveys on financial technologies in the regional policy context. | October 1998 - April 1999 | Euroconsultants S.A., European Profiles S.A., Greece |
| Creation of the Web-site of the Russian SME Resource Center, (under TACIS project SMERUS9501) | As a result of the activities under the project a large new information resource for SMEs and business support organisations (BSIs) was created (www.rcsme.ru) which provided access for BSIs and businesses to key information on BSIs network, legislation for SMEs, SMEs statistics, training, regional information resources, etc. The Web-site has a Russian and English versions and is updated on a regular basis. | August 1998 - present | Euroconsultants S.A., European Profiles S.A., Greece |
| Analysis of SMEs environment, (under TACIS project SMERUS9501) | The publication based on the results of a special survey performed by the Resource Center (in Russian and in English) provides analysis and generalization of Russian and EU experience on the SME environment, reports some normative legal materials of federal and, partly, of regional level, both for general regulation of SMEs activity and those specially aimed at practical development and governmental support to SMEs in leasing operations, information support of the SME activities, consulting, training and education services for SMEs. Recommendations for improving the current situation in SME environment are given. | February 1998 – August 1998 | Euroconsultants S.A., European Profiles S.A., Greece |
| Legislation for SMEs, (under TACIS project SMERUS9501) | This survey performed by the Resource Center was devoted to analysis of legal procedures that regulate SMEs operation in Russia, when market is being formed. The study was aimed at analysis of the main existing and draft legislative acts pertaining to registration, licensing, certification and liquidation, as well and external trading of SMEs. In the course of the study drawbacks and inconsistencies of legal documents which regulate the above procedures have been revealed, recommendations for improvement of the legislation have been suggested. The results of the survey were published in Russian and in English. | February – August 1998 | Euroconsultants S.A., European Profiles S.A., Greece |
| Directory of Small Business Support Organisations in Russian Federation, (under TACIS project SMERUS9501) | The project goal was to collect information on BSIs in Russia. The publication, in Russian, contained 2 volumes, 291 p. The first section is devoted to analysis of SME development in Russia, the main problems it faces, the federal approach to SME development. Specific features of SME development in the regions are presented. The second section describes federal SME support bodies (ministries, agencies, bodies within the Federal Assembly of Russian Federation involved in SME support and development). Information on major NGOs and public SME support organisations is presented. The third section lists contact information about regional SME support network. | April – June 1998 | Euroconsultants S.A., European Profiles S.A., Greece |
| Directory of information resources on entrepreneurship in Russia, (under TACIS project SMERUS9501) | The first version of a directory of information resources (164 p.) for SMEs and SME support (BSIs) network in all Russia’s regions. The book provided sources of information on SME issues available in hard copy and on the Internet. 137 information resources and 37 organisations-owners of information were described. The analysis was based on techniques recommended for surveys under TA projects. Information on SMEs from EU countries is also presented. | January – May 1998 | Euroconsultants S.A., European Profiles S.A., Greece |
| SMEs and public procurement, (under TACIS project SMERUS9501) | The survey (publication 56 pages long) was performed for SME support organisations with the goal of describing the current situation about access of SMEs to public procurement. Based on analysis of Russian and EU experience, suggestions were made how to improve environment and access for SMEs to public procurement and measures for encouraging SME involvement in public procurement. | December 1997 - March 1998 | Euroconsultants S.A., European Profiles S.A., Greece |
| Statistical analysis of SME development and efficiency, (under TACIS project SMERUS9501) | The study was aimed at improving methodology of statistical accounting of SMEs in Russia, unification of the system of statistical indicators adopted in the Russian Federation and in the European Union. This allowed general compatibility of statistical data and comparison of SME development in different countries. The study reported statistical analysis of SME development according to the data provided by Goskomstat. The reported results (publication, 114 pages) permitted evaluation of small business environment, efficiency of Russian SMEs, changes in small business sectors, SMEs' contribution to social life and economy. | August - February 1998 | Euroconsultants S.A., European Profiles S.A., Greece |
| Questionnaire for annual report on SMEs in transition countries | RCSME performed a survey which gave an overview of SME sector in Russia and was used for UN/ECE annual Report on SMEs. | April 1998 | UN Economic Commission for Europe, Palais des Nations, CH-1211 GENEVA 10, Geneva Switzerland |
| SME Statistics:Analytical reports (for the “Great Volga” Association and “Siberian Agreement Meetings) | RCSME prepared an overview of the SME sector in the relevant regions participating in the "GREAT VOLGA" and Siberian Agreement Associations. | March–July 1998 | Euroconsultants S.A., European Profiles S.A., Greece |
