Entrepreneurs' forum set for February 1
The self-employed entrepreneurs will gather for the next anti-crisis forum in Minsk on February 1, the leader of Perspektyva association of entrepreneurs Anatol Shumchanka told BelaPAN news agency. The forum was initially scheduled to take place on January 25 but was disrupted. The entrepreneurs failed to secure a venue, which could accommodate at least 1000 or more people. "Venues were refused on trumped-up reasons - deliberately to prevent us from getting together," says Shumchanka.
The forum on February 1 will take place in Beijing Hotel in Minsk. The leader of self-employed entrepreneurs says he has invited the president and members of the government to come and "hold direct talks with entrepreneurs and solve the current problems."
Effective from January 1, 2016, self-employed entrepreneurs (vendors) in Belarus must possess certificate of origin for their whole stock. They claim, however, that it is impossible to obtain those certificates even in Russia. In order to avoid fines and penalties, many small-size entrepreneurs have suspended their work. Shumchanka stressed the majority of self-employed entrepreneurs do not work at market places as of today.
