Structure and management of OPORA RUSSIA

OPORA RUSSIA, being a legal entity established and acting under the law of the Russian Federation, situated in Moscow unites two organizations. The first one is Non-profit Partnership "All Russian Union of Business Associations "OPORA", founded in 2001. It includes more than 120 different industrial associations, regional unions, guilds of small and medium entrepreneurs.

The second one is "All Russian non governmental organization of small and medium business "OPORA RUSSIA". It was founded in 2002 and has regional departments in 80 out of 88 regions of the Russian Federation. Its members are the entrepreneurs themselves.

Our organization represents the interests of more than 345 000 small and medium enterprises, which create job opportunities for 4.5 million of Russian citizens.

The main issues of OPORA RUSSIA are:

• Lobbing of entrepreneurial interests
• Creation of "feedback" channel in business and authorities relationship
• Elimination of economic and legal bases of administrative barriers
• Participation in the state policy in small and medium business sphere
• Strengthening of the influence of business associations and other NGOs
• Support of the businessman high social status and the prestige of entrepreneurial activity

OPORA RUSSIA is developing international cooperation and assists its members in establishing partner relationships with entrepreneurs from foreign countries. It has agreements of cooperation and partnership with UNICE, OSEC (Switzerland), CGPME (France), FFE (Finland), SARIO (Slovakia), FSB (Great Britain), Marke Russia (Italy), ASECAM (Spain), USA, Singapore, China, India and South Korea.

In Eastern Asia OPORA RUSSIA has a representative office in Shanghai and the one for the Central Europe is situated in Zurich, Switzerland.

In accordance with its Charter only Russian companies and individual entrepreneurs can become members of OPORA RUSSIA.

European companies can become associated members of OPORA RUSSIA via direct membership in OPORA EUROPE.