1. BCCI Presentation1 Comparing Craft entertprises: European Experiences for Networking – Firenze 28/4/2006 Erzsébet GYÚRÓ Head of Intl. Dept and EIDC of Budapest CCI

2. BCCI Presentation2 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

3. BCCI Presentation3 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.

4. BCCI Presentation4 Hungarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry „umbrella” organisation 16 Professional Committe and 10 Bilateral Committes for Foreign Relation are helping the continous work

5. BCCI Presentation5 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

6. BCCI Presentation6 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)

7. BCCI Presentation7 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

8. BCCI Presentation8 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

9. BCCI Presentation9 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

10. BCCI Presentation10 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

11. BCCI Presentation11 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

12. BCCI Presentation12 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

13. BCCI Presentation13 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.

14. BCCI Presentation14 Organizational structure Bodies -Delegates’ Assembly -Executive Board -Supervisory Committee -Ethic Committee Committees: Economic Policy Regional Development International Relations and EU Integration Vocational Education and Training Finance and Budget

15. BCCI Presentation15 Members and Problems Appr. 7500 members from micro entrepeneurs to multinational companies Bcci’s members have Different sizes Different interests Different problems to solve

16. BCCI Presentation16 Different branches – different interests – strategic question BCCI 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)

17. BCCI Presentation17 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

18. BCCI Presentation18 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

19. BCCI Presentation19 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

20. BCCI Presentation20 EU-Office of BCCI Main 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

21. BCCI Presentation21 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

22. BCCI Presentation22 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

23. BCCI Presentation23 Many thanks for the attention!