A conference entitled ‘Conditions for Business Improvement and Development’ that took place online was co-organized by the Council of Heads of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of the member-countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Turkmenistan.

Held via Zoom, the event brought together top officials and representatives of national chambers of commerce and industry, regional chambers, business enterprises and organizations from the CIS member-states. The aim of the conference is to share expertise in assisting small and medium-sized enterprises due to the economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as discuss best practices given the current situation.

The Conference focused on the following issues: efforts undertaken by chambers of commerce and industry to stimulate and support private business, digitization of business processes, closer collaboration among CCIs, sectoral institutions and public organizations in the field of trade-economic relations and investment cooperation, and greater export possibilities for entrepreneurs.

The conference participants were briefed on the wide-ranging reforms ongoing in our country aimed at developing the private sector. The main objectives of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Turkmenistan are to foster the development of market relations, provide a favorable and stimulating business environment, and enhance fruitful cooperation with foreign business communities.

The activities of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Turkmenistan in the Council of Heads of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of the CIS member-states are fully consistent with our country’s foreign policy, based on the principles of positive neutrality, peace, open door policy, good-neighborly relations, equal-footed and mutually beneficial cooperation with all interested foreign partners.

Making a meaningful contribution to implementing the tasks specified by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov to expand advantageous international relations in the economic sphere, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry organizes plenty of big events aimed to stimulate private business and boost investment cooperation.

As part of Turkmenistan’s chairmanship of the Council of Heads of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of the CIS member-states, Ashgabat hosted the 11^th meeting of the Council in November 2013 that highlighted the role of CCIs in investment- and innovation-driven economic growth of the CIS member-countries as well as in cooperation on improving migration policies. The Program of Action was adopted to develop trade-economic relations with particular emphasis on interregional trade, production and investment cooperation. Large-scale events were also organized to encourage entrepreneurial business, and strengthen investment partnerships in Turkmenistan and the CIS.

The Conference heard reports on activities of chambers of commerce and industry, regional chambers, organizations and private companies from the CIS member-states aimed to strengthen foreign trade relations and interregional cooperation, represent economic interests of their countries’ business communities, and establish closer partnerships between them.

Digitalization of business processes, in particular the development of e-commerce, to actively introduce products produced by entrepreneurs to foreign markets received special attention at the conference.

The forum participants stressed the importance of chambers of commerce in promoting economic, trade, scientific-technological and investment relations between the CIS countries, and discussed initiatives designed to step up the mutually rewarding cooperation.