Minsk Entrepreneurs Close up Business

Entrepreneurs threaten to discontinue their activity since January 1.

The reason is the regulation of the Customs Union "On Safety of Light Industry Production", more truly, the prohibition to sell residual stocks without accompanying documents since New Year, BelaPAN reports.

On the evening of November 25, entrepreneurs of Chenvenski market held the meeting and decided not to pay for rent, and more likely to close up business.

Vasil Baranouski, activist of ROO Perspective and member of Business Council of Chervenski market, says that 70 individual entrepreneurs (IEs) have sent notification on non-extension of rent to the market administration.

"But it's not the end, the entrepreneur adds. - The administration has run out of blanks, now we print additional ones.

They wrote it beforehand, they do not want to pay it, if they do not intend to work anymore.

"Our people mainly work with Moscow, and there are no official documents, and here problems arise: Ministry of Taxation of Russia appoints checks, but sellers usually refuse their own documents, they have no right to sell abroad," Baranouski noted.

The member of Business Council believes that light industry sphere to stay empty after New Year.

"Only one person of sixteen has documents, a complete set of certificates," the activist of the Perspective said.

Aliaksandr Kalinin, Chairman of the Belarusian Union of Entrepreneurs, was also invited to the meeting.

The Republican Confederation of Entrepreneurship, Minsk City Union of Entrepreneurs and Employers, Belarusian Union of Entrepreneurs equipped new place for the Chervenski market. Therefore, they are intermediaries between market administration and tenants.

All that would not have mattered, but in addition to their own funds, business unions used a currency loan that is subject to pay within five years.

"You've stopped your work, but there is the third party - a bank, Aliaksandr Kalinin noted. - You will have to talk to bankers. The bank wants to take the object".

Chairman of the Belarusian Union of Entrepreneurs recalls that buildings on the territory of the market are the collateral for the loan and says that in the case of a "mass exodus" IE there will be a need to seek a way what to do next in "trilateral format" with invitation of representatives of the Bank.

"Who will take your place?", Kalinin said and provoked questions on whether it was possible to make authorities to postpone the regulation on light industry.

It should be reminded that Decree No. 222 "On Regulation of Entrepreneurial Activity and Sale of Goods by Individual Entrepreneurs and Other Persons" of May 16, 2014 states that March 1, 2015 was the last term when IEs could sell residual stocks, imported from countries of the Customs Union without accompanying documents.

After the meeting of Aliaksandr Lukashenka with entrepreneurs of Expobel on March 17 the deadline for sale of goods without documents was extended till January 1, 2016. According to Lukashenka, it was the last extension.

"All of you saw that meeting." Lukashenka said his last word," the Chairman of the Belarusian Union of Entrepreneurs said and specified that he did not believe in another extension.

However, on November 2 and November 4 Kalinin promised that he would open the issue on increased audits and seizure of goods without documents at meetings of the President's Council on Entrepreneurship and the Public and Consultation Council of the Ministry of Economy.

"Our line of defense is based on compliance with laws of the Republic of Belarus, the leader of the Union stated. - We see the problem: number of regions faced special checks. And we are concerned that the situation does not comply with Directive No. 4 - if you buy declare goods, you have the right to act legally."

Aliaksandr Kalinin explained that, in his opinion, in the case with confiscation of goods the principle of seller, guaranteed by the Directive was often violated. Chairman of the Belarusian Union of Entrepreneurs suggested to seek interpretation of the law in the Supreme Court, and then, maybe, and address to Lukashenka's administration.

But the details seemed not to be interesting to those gathered. IEs do hope that it would be possible to extend the regulation after New Year, despite the recent statement of Minister of Economy Uladzimir Zinouski on completion of talks on certificates for goods in light industry.