BCCI Presentation 1

Comparing Craft entertprises: European Experiences for Networking – Firenze 28/4/2006

Erzsébet GYÚRÓHead of Intl. Dept and EIDC of Budapest CCI

BCCI Presentation 2

Short history of the Hungarian Economic Chambers In 1850 a royal charter ordered the

establishment of chambers of commerce and industry

After the political and economic changes, at the beginning of the ’90s a legislative process was started and resulted in the Act on Chambers

In 1994 a new Act on Chamber (Public Law chamber on the base on Austrian and German law) was passed

In the year of 2000 mandatory chamber membership was abolished, further Chamber of Crafts and Artisans was fusioned with Chamber of Commerce and Industry

BCCI Presentation 3

Main Decision Making Bodies of Hungarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry

General Assembly is the supreme organisation of the Chamber consisting of delegates elected by the regional chambers of commerce and industry, number of Delegates: 231

Tasks: creating and amending the statutes and other self-government stipulation, as well as the code of ehics, in addition to the approval of the budget an the election of officals and members of the bodies.

Presidium is a body consisting of 36 elected members.

Function: to supervise the Chambers’s activities in the periode between the General Assemblies.

BCCI Presentation 4

Hungarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry „umbrella” organisation 16 Professional Committe and 10 Bilateral Committes for Foreign Relation are

helping the continous work

BCCI Presentation 5

Network of the Hungarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry

20 chambers in county capitals and in the capital city

3 city chambers More than 90 chambers offices

comprise a strong national network Appr. altogether 500 chamber

employees in the service of companies

BCCI Presentation 6

Membership, economic importance of the Chamber Appr. 45 000 member companies Members produce 2/3 of the Hungarian

GDP Our companies represent 95 % of the

Hungarian export Nevertheless 97% of the membership

are SME’s (99,9 % is the Hungarian average)

BCCI Presentation 7

Functions of the Chamber Public law role: self-governance, certificates

(cert.of origin, ATA) Representative role: interprets a general

representation of the economy, makes opinions on laws and regulation affecting entrepreneurs, performs interest representation tasks at local level, as well.

Service role: sector specific information booklets, information sessions, trainings, EURO Information Centres in 6 chamber offices, Counselling on EU funds and application forms, setting up quality standards for tender advisors, pool of qualified advisors, Széchenyi Credit Card system – financial support SME-s

BCCI Presentation 8

Széchenyi Card The only really successful SME program A program spanning over governmetal

cycles Credit for current assets Interest support + credit guarantee Chambers + VOSZ+ commercial banks Very low operational costs 40 thousand clients

BCCI Presentation 9

Internationalisation of Companies Matchmaking, partner finding Organisation of businessmen meetings Transfer of business offers, business

information Organisation of conferences on foreign

economic issues Issuing trade documents like Certificate

of Origin, ATA Carnet Internet portal, newsletters

BCCI Presentation 10

Participation in Vocational Training Chamber elaborates the curriculum and

examination requirements for the training of 16 professions – affects 40 % of the total number of apprentices, all together 25 trousand pupils

5 group of professions: catering, textile industry, leather industry, construction industry, hairdressing, cosmetics

Definition of the quality requirements for the exams on master level, setting up examinations board

Mediating between apprentices, schools and workshops

BCCI Presentation 11

SME development, Strengthening Competitiveness

Counselling and trainings regarding entreperenurial skills

Company management issues (taxation, legal issues, book-keeping etc.)

Information and advice on available financial resources, credits, EU-funds

BCCI Presentation 12

Issues on the Agenda of Lobbying Problems in the field of Vocational Training Falling Competitiveness Relative decline in FDI inflow In appropriate tools and methods in the field of trade

promotion Growing foreign trade deficit Risks of the current rate of exchange and basic interes rate Dangers of dual economy, situation of SME-s Cheaper public administration, smaller state High taxes – dispute by the planning of the state budget Retaining VAT – warning Dangers of non discharging debts on a wide scale Genuitiy of the tax reform

BCCI Presentation 13

Foundation and tasks of Budapest Chamber of Commerce and Industry

BCCI was founded in 1850 Legal status: self-governing body Core competences:

promote commerce, industry and related economic sectors

initiates government measures and legislation, and contributes to their implementation.

BCCI Presentation 14

Organizational structureBodies -Delegates’ Assembly -Executive Board -Supervisory Committee -Ethic CommitteeCommittees: Economic Policy Regional Development International Relations and EU Integration Vocational Education and Training Finance and Budget

BCCI Presentation 15

Members and Problems Appr. 7500 members from micro

entrepeneurs to multinational companies

Bcci’s members have Different sizes Different interests Different problems to solve

BCCI Presentation 16

Different branches – different interests – strategic questionBCCI incorporates members from: Industry:

Industry and Industrial Research, Planning, Services, Construction Industry, Research, Design and Services, Transport and Forwarding , Telecommunication, Information Technology, Public Utilities, Public Services)

Trade: Trading, Trade Services, Retail, Catering, Tourism, Hotel and

Accommodation Services, Bank, Insurance and General Financial Services,

Services for Supporting Business Activities (e.g. training, media, translators)

Handicrafts: Construction, Timber, Electrics, Iron, metal, automotive industry,

Food, Health, other Services, Garment, Textile, Leather and Other Professions)

BCCI Presentation 17

Services of BCCI Certificate of origin, ATA carnet Completion of trade documents Foreign trade consultancy Library, Internet access Address and Contact Lists Trade Missions, exhibitions Organization of business meetings Professional training, teaching Master’s examination Settlement of disputes out of suit Consultancy in finance, grant applications and tendering

BCCI Presentation 18

Services for Crafts and Artisans I.

EVENTS in April 2006 Visit in Trade Show LIGHT & BUILDING 2006,

for electricians How to deal with covering activity in Wood

Manufacturers Industry, new trends Jury for Artisans Professional Day for Cleaning companies +

Master of Ceaning exam Professional Day and meeting for Section of

Cloth-, Textil-, Leather

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Services for Crafts and Artisans II.

Regular advices on: Taxation, accountancy Social contribution Laws, regulations Széchenyi-card, financial support Master exam Enterprise fundation, start-up

BCCI Presentation 20

EU-Office of BCCIMain roles: Targeted knowledge base for members and

universities, research centers, public bodies offer access to EU-databases and CD-ROM‘ collect all kind of relevant information so as to help

companies in the integration

Services: EU leaflets, documents Library, consulting Seminars, workshops

BCCI Presentation 21

EU-funds for Crafts and Artisans

In the framework of National Development Plan (GVOP, HEFOP, AVOP, ROP, KIOP)

MAP, CIP, FP7 and other direct grants from Brussel

BCCI Presentation 22

Best practices - Summary Internationalisation – events, meetings Web-pages http://www.bkik.hu http://www.kezmuvesportal.hu

Széchenyi Credit Card

Jury activity

EU-funds and grants

BCCI Presentation 23

Many thanks for the attention!