The Ministry of Finance of Russia proposed to increase the minimum mandatory share of purchases from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from 20 to 30% of the annual volume of purchases of customers under Federal Law No. 223-FZ On the procurement of goods, works, services by certain types of legal entities. The changes were prepared as part of the implementation of the April message of Russian President Vladimir Putin, the ministry said in a statement, as reported by TASS.
“The Ministry of Finance of Russia, as part of the implementation of the President’s message, has developed comprehensive changes that expand access for small and medium-sized businesses to procurement by state-owned companies and corporations. The changes are aimed at additional support for SMEs by increasing the share of purchases by customers under Law No. 223-FZ,” message.
The Ministry of Finance also proposed to increase the number of customers required to achieve a minimum purchase share of 30% by extending this obligation to all customers under 223-FZ. In addition, the ministry proposed to introduce electronic document management through the Unified Information System (UIS) in the field of procurement between the SME Corporation and those customers in respect of which the corporation assesses and monitors compliance with the established minimum share of purchases from SMEs.
Earlier, the president instructed the Russian government to submit proposals for additional support for small and medium-sized businesses. Until May 21, the Cabinet of Ministers must submit proposals for additional support for SMEs, including through tax incentives, increasing the availability of credit resources, as well as increasing the share of purchases of goods and services produced by these entities by large state-owned companies.
