The Russian Export Center (VEB Group.Russia) has started accepting applications for participation in the All-Russian competition "Exporter of the Year 2024". Large companies, small and medium-sized businesses and individual entrepreneurs can take part in it.

Applications are accepted from April 1 to June 30. Participation is free of charge.

You can apply on the website of the Russian Export Center at the link: https://www.exportcenter.ru/awards .

"We have been saying for a long time that exporters are real heroes, and we want their stories and names to be heard more often. During the contest, we have learned more than 6 thousand such inspiring stories from companies from all over Russia. The title of "Exporter of the Year" is an opportunity to declare your success to the whole country. This is pride, a sign of product quality, reliability of the company and confirmation that both consumers and partners can trust it. I invite everyone to take part in the competition and declare their achievements," said Veronika Nikishina, General Director of the Russian Export Center.

The competition is held within the framework of the national project "International Cooperation and Export" with the support of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Russia, the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia and the Ministry of Agriculture of Russia. 

Traditionally, manufacturers and suppliers of a wide variety of products participate in the competition: from sweets with pine nuts, film products, cloud solutions and tracking systems to handmade souvenirs, loyalty program creation services, helicopters and equipment for agricultural enterprises.

The Exporter of the Year Award in 2024 will be awarded in 20 nominations: in six main (separately for SMEs and large businesses) and six additional nominations (depending on the size of the company).

The main nominations are:
• "Exporter of the Year in Industry" (separately for SMEs and large businesses);
• "Exporter of the Year in the field of mechanical engineering" (separately for SMEs and large businesses);
• "Exporter of the Year in the field of basic agricultural products" (separately for SMEs and large businesses);
• "Exporter of the Year in the field of finished agricultural products (high conversion rates)" (separately for SMEs and large businesses);
• "Exporter of the Year in the service sector" (separately for SMEs and large businesses);
• "Trader of the Year" (separately for SMEs and large businesses).

In addition, each award applicant can apply for participation in additional nominations:
• "Breakthrough of the Year" (for SMEs);
•    "New Geography" (for large businesses);
• "The best Female Exporter" (separately for SMEs and large businesses);
• "The best young entrepreneur-exporter" (for SMEs);
•    "Responsible ESG Exporter" (separately for SMEs and large businesses);
• "The best exporter in the field of electronic commerce" (for SMEs).

The winners and prize-winners of the "Exporter of the Year" are determined in two stages: the first takes place at the level of each federal district, then the best exporters of the country will be selected from among the companies that took 1st place according to the results of the district stage.

You can apply for participation by filling out an electronic questionnaire at the link: https://www.exportcenter.ru/awards /.

At the initial stage, only one document will be requested from exporters – an electronic copy of the Certificate of registration with the tax authority (a copy of the TIN).

Companies that do not have an unfulfilled obligation to pay taxes, fees, insurance premiums, penalties and fines, overdue debts to the budget of the Russian Federation can participate in the competition. Foreign legal entities, as well as companies that are established by legal entities in whose authorized capital the share of participation of foreign legal entities registered in offshore zones exceeds 50%, cannot be applicants for the award.
 
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The Exporter of the Year Award was established by the Government of the Russian Federation to encourage organizations and individual entrepreneurs who have achieved exceptional results in export activities. The award, presented at the end of the competition, is a symbol of state recognition of the merits of exporters in strengthening the national economy and promoting Russian competitive products to foreign markets.

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Support for entrepreneurs in the region is carried out within the framework of the national project "Small and medium-sized entrepreneurship and support for individual entrepreneurial initiative", which was initiated by the President and overseen by First Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Belousov.