|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
About RCSME
Background and mission:The Russian SME Resource Centre (RCSME) is a Russian non-commercial foundation established under EU-funded Tacis program in 1999 (Tacis projects SMERUS9501, SMERUS9803). RCSME is a leading SME research and analytical centre, which:
The in-depth research is based on fieldwork (surveys, focus groups, workshops, roundtables) carried out by RCSME in Russia’s regions with the involvement of local businesses and in partnership with business support and financial organisations, local governments. A significant part of the research assignments on SME support and development were performed by RCSME under TA programs funded by EC, USAID, World Bank, IFC, EBRD, DFID, Eurasia Foundation, etc. The mission of the Russian SME Resource Centre is to foster private entrepreneurship development in Russia by providing high-quality information support, competent policy advice and research, wide dissemination of best practices of SME support among business community. Main achievements and relevant experience overview:During the seven years of its existence RCSME has gained significant expertise and knowledge in business environment for micro-, small and medium businesses in Russia and broad experience in cost effective implementation of projects on SME development and finance, including fieldwork, surveys, elaboration of analytical reports and development of recommendations for informed decisions. RCSME possesses sufficient human and technical resources, including several Web-sites, the main sites being www.rcsme.ru and www.sme-news.ru with the daily statistics of about 1000 visits. RCSME implemented over 50 national and international projects and assignments in SME development and support. RCSME performed a series of pioneer research and unique policy advice projects. The USAID funded project “Assessment of Supply and Demand of Microfinance in Russia” (2000) that revealed a tremendous demand for microfinance in Russia, gave a new impetus to development of new international TA microfinance programs and institutionalization of the microfinance sector. Other cornerstone projects which provided a wealth of high-quality analytical and reference data on SME finance and Russian microfinance market development were “Catalogue of Microfinance Organisations in Russia” (2001); “Analysis of Microfinance Development in Russia” (2001-2003); “Survey of Non-Bank Microfinance Institutions” (2004). The recent microfinance projects have been implemented in partnership with the Russian Microfinance Centre (USAID project). A series of large-scale projects focused on best practices and analytical data on SMEs and business environment comprised “The Russian SME Observatory Report-2001”, a counterpart of the EU Observatory for SMEs, in Russian and in English (2002) (under TACIS project SMERUS9803); “Electronic Library on Small Entrepreneurship” (2001); a comprehensive “Catalogue of Regional Information Resources for SMEs”(2000); “Information Dissemination System for SME Community” (2001). The latest projects on microfinance, SME sector and business environment are: “Analysis of the Role and Place of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises in Russia. Statistical Reference. /2002 – 2005/”; “Development of SME criteria (definitions) in Russia” (2005); “Analysis of microfinance development in Russia: part 1. Assessment of demand for microfinance in 54 Russia’s regions (2003), part 2. Assessment of supply of microfinance in 62 Russia’s regions” (2004); “Trends in non-bank microfinance development in Russia” /2003-2004/; “Analysis of SMEs Role and Place in Russia”, Part 1 – 2002. Part 2 – 2003; “Administrative barriers to investment: Regional Regulatory and Administrative Cost Study”, under FIAS/WB/IFC project (2003-2005), etc. Survey data are processed using SPSS software. RCSME represents Russia’s best practice in statistical and economic analysis, development of policy options and policy advice in small and medium business sector of Russia’s economy. RCSME collaborates with hundreds of regional SME support organisations, including SME support funds, public and private microfinance organisations, development agencies, regional governments. RCSME has developed and at present is owner of the largest data base on small entrepreneurship in Russia which contains statistical and analytical data, over 600 reports and publications, data on around 1000 business support and financial organisations in all Russia’s regions, etc. RCSME services are characterized by a “hands-on” approach implemented by carefully selected senior professionals with an extensive knowledge of SME and private sector development in Russia’s regions. RCSME has developed high-standard databases and provides free access through its Web-sites to: latest statistical and analytical data on SME sector and best SME practices in Russia’s regions, including access to finance for SMEs and microfinance; leads to over 1000 business support organisations in all Russia’s regions; books, surveys, publications, regional Web-resources, daily updated SME news; SME information dissemination system covering all Russia’s regions, etc. RCSME regional experience: North Caucasus, Moscow, Leningrad, Nizhni Novgorod Oblast, Rostov Oblast, Voronezh Oblast, Perm Oblast, Pskov Oblast, Tver Oblast, Tomsk Oblast, Irkutsk Oblast, Sakhalin Olast, Magadan City, Krasnoyarsky Krai, Kaluzhskaya Oblast. Surveys performed by RCSME on microfinance, monitoring SME sector development, regional information resources for SMEs covered 68 Russia’s regions in all districts. RCSME founders are:
|
