The role and importance of chamber of commerce in the development of small and medium enterprises

Hrvatska gospodarska komora (HGK) jedna je od najstarijih potpornih institucija u RH s tradicijom dužom od 160 godina. Ono što HGK razlikuje od drugih potpornih institucija jest činjenica kako su njezine usluge puno šire i obuhvatnije. Svrha ovog rada je utvrditi ulogu gospodarkih komora općenito, te konkretno HGK u razvoju malih i srednjih poduzeća (MSP). Cilj rada bio je identificirati usluge koje doprinose razvoju ovog sektora gospodarstva, ali i nedostatke koje je potrebno eliminirati kako bi komore bile uspješnije te istražiti utječe li pravni i organizacijski model na uspješnost same institucije. U radu su korišteni sekundarni podaci; korištena je stručna literatura za izučavanje teorijske podloge rada, rezultati istraživanja drugih autora, rezultati vlastitog istraživanja, statistički podaci, financijska izvješća Državnog ureda za reviziju i neovisnog revizora te službene mrežne stranice HGK i stranih komora. Korištene su povijesna metoda (za prikaz razvoja komora od samih početaka interesnog udruživanja i komorskog organiziranja do institucija kakve danas poznajemo), različite statističke metode (za lakše prikazivanje i razumijevanje brojčanih vrijednosti), metoda kompilacije (prilikom prikazivanja dosadašnjih saznanja o ovoj temi i prilikom korištenja rezultata i zaključaka iz raznih istraživanja), metoda analize (za raščlanjivanje problematike rada), metoda komparacije (prilikom usporedbe analiziranih komora) i metoda sinteze (prilikom sagledavanja podataka iz svih dijelova rada te prilikom donošenja zaključaka). Istraživanjem aktivnosti HGK i pojedinih stranih komora utvrđeno je kako su njihove temeljne usluge vrlo slične, a obzirom da su MSP-i najbronije članice svih komora, velika većina usluga namijenjena je i prilagođenja upravo njima. Razloge nekorištenja usluga HGK (čak 85% članica) treba tražiti u njihovoj ranijoj neusklađenosti s potrebama članica, ali i u nedovoljno jasnoj i sažetoj prezentaciji istih. Unatoč činjenici da novo rukovodstvo radi na uvođenju novih, korisnih usluga, na temelju rezultata istraživanja drugih autora o stanju i problematici MSP-a, još uvijek postoji dosta prostora za njihovo poboljšanje. Ovaj rad je pokušao dati realnu sliku o radu HGK u odnosu na druge komore, suočavajući se sa uzrocima lošeg ugleda, koji ova institucija ima u javnosti. Nedostatak rada je nemogućnost kvantificiranja koristi od usluga za članice budući da cjeloviti podaci o pokazateljima ostvarenja nisu dostupni javnosti. S obzirom na tematiku, ovaj rad predstavlja dobru osnovu za daljnje proučavanje uloge potpornih institucija i komora u razvoju MSP-a, ali i za realnije sagledavanje uloge HGK.Croatian Chamber of Economy (CCE) is one of the oldest supporting institutions in Croatia with over 160 year long tradition, which lends support to entrepreneurs. That which differentiates the Chamber from other supporting institutions is the fact that its services are far broader and more comprehensive. The aim of this paper is to determine the role of chambers of economy in general, and that of CCE specifically, in the development of small and medium enterprises (SME). The goal of this paper was to identify services that contribute to the development of this sector of economy, but also the shortcomings that need to be eliminated in order to make the chambers more successful, and to investigate whether the legal and organisational model affects the success of the institution itself. The primary and secondary data was used in the paper; also used was technical literature for theoretical basis of a work, the research results of other authors, the results of own research, statistical data, financial reports of the State Revenue Office and independent revision bodies, as well as the official websites of CCE and foreign chambers. The historical method was used (to show the development of chambers from very beginnings of interest joints and chamber organisations to the institutions we know today), as well as different statistical methods (for easier presentation and understanding of numerical values), the compilation methods (in showing the current understanding of this subject and in the use of results and conclusions of various research papers), the analysis methods (to analyze the issues in question), the comparison method (in comparison of analyzed chambers), and the synthesis method (in the overview of data from all parts of the paper and in the conclusion). By the analysis of the activities of the CCE and certain foreign chambers, it was determined that their basic services are very similar, and considering that the SME’s are the most numerous among its members, the great majority of services is intended and tailored for them. The reasons for not using the services of the CCE (as high as 85% of the members) ought to be found in their earlier inconsistencies with the needs of the members, but also in the inadequately clear and concise presentation of the services. Despite the fact that the new management is working on the implementation of new, useful services, based on the analysis results of various authors on the state and the issues concerning the SME’s, there is still plenty of room for their improvement. This paper has tried to paint a realistic picture of the CCE work in comparison with other chambers, whilst taking into consideration the causes of the bad reputation this institution has in public. The lack of this paper is impossibility of quantification of the gains from the services for the members, because the complete facts on the profit indicators are not publicly available. Considering its theme, this paper represents a good starting point for further analysis of the role supporting institutions and chambers have in the development of SME’s, and also for the more realistic overview of the CCE’s role