V. "Yes, why?" Mr b. "We'll arrange dinner and then some kind of show to see. Is

that all right with you?" V. "I'd be delighted. Thank you." Mr B. "Then we'll be seeing you all. 2 o'clock?" V. "Good."

THE USSR CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY

The on-going restructuring of Soviet economy and its management concerns the structure and work of the USSR Chamber of Commerce and Industry (USSR CCI). Its Charter of 1988 says that it is a public organization assisting the development of economic, scientific, technical and trade relations between the USSR and foreign countries, and operating on a full self-supporting and self-financing principle.

Among traditional activities of the CCI are rendering assistance in holding trade and industrial fairs and exhibitions (through the All-Union association "Expocentr"), examining goods and certifying force majeure circumstance as well as information, publishing and translation activities. At international fairs and exhibitions the CCI sets up information centres and business information expositions in which about 80 ministries and departments and nearly 600 industrial enterprises now annually take part.

Since many industrial enterprises have been given the right to carry out direct activity on the foreign market, the CCI has acquired new functions in assisting them to find business partners, advertise their goods and conduct commercial negotiations.

A Consulting Centre has been set up to render them consulting and information services in the field of external economic relations in developing their exports and introducing new forms of trade and economic cooperation including the establishment of joint ventures. For this purpose the CCI studies the economic effectiveness of this or that joint venture proposed before advising our industry to implement it.

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Also, consultations are given on market research, engineering services, marketing, economic information, etc.

The Chamber also renders assistance in training personnel of the enterprises engaged in external economic activity by setting up mobile groups of instructors (the so-called mobile business schools) in the field

of advertising, marketing and in commercial, legal, financial, transport and other matters.

The Chamber provides services concerning the patenting of Soviet inventions abroad and of foreign inventions in the Soviet Union (through V/O Sojuzpatent), protection of patent holders' rights, registration abroad of trade-marks of our export goods and of foreign trade-marks in our country.

The CCI as a rule renders its services for a commission, but certain services such as commercial information, arrangement of meeting between representatives of the business world will remain free of charge as before.

The Chamber helps to work out long-term economic development programmes for certain regions in our country such as the Kola Penin­sula or the Soviet Far East economic area.

Along with V/O Vneshtorgrekiama (SOVERO) an ALL-Union Advertising Centre at the USSR Chamber of Commerce and Industry has been set up to render Soviet exporters advertising services to promote their goods on the foreign market.

Joint advertising ventures in our country and abroad may be set up, too, to ensure advertising publications of superior quality.

The information and publishing activity of the Chamber has been improved as well. The Chamber started publishing a number of information bulletins and journals, such as "Direct Ties" for East European countries, "the Bulletin of Commercial Information for Foreign Businessmen" containing data about Soviet goods intended for exports and about new forms of trade and economic cooperation, and "The Mercury", a business journal, to be published six times а уеаr and to contain various business information: inquiries from foreign firms, proposals for joint R & D activity, production cooperation and compensation deals as well as information about fairs and exhibitions to be held in our country and abroad. The journal will describe the services rendered by the Chamber such as consultations and information about new associations and joint enterprises, foreign commercial advertising and arbitration.

The Chamber is responsible for improving control over the quality and quantity of exports and imports. Now there are 259 commodity examination bureaux in 316 Soviet towns employing about 9, 000 experts. Besides control over the quality and quantity of goods, they exercise control over tare, packing and marking, loading and unloading.

To promote trade and economic cooperation and to coordinate the business activity of foreign trade associations and firms, joint business' cooperation associations are set up with Western countries, for example theFRG.

The CCI is interested in ensuring stability, predictability of the partners' actions, observance of the principles of equality and mutual advantages in world economic relations. That is why the Chamber is cooperating with international economic organizations like UNCTAO (the UN Conference on Trade-and Development), the International Chamber of Commerce, the International Trade Centre

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UNCTAD/GATT, the International Association for the Protection of Industrial Property, the International Exhibitions Bureau, the World economic Forum and others.

To create trust in our relations with foreign business quarters the

CCI has in over 90 countries joint chambers of commerce, for example,