Anna Kruzo of KruzOasis trader exporter of fruit and vegetables, recognises this signal. "What surprises me is that many Dutch companies just don't respond to it. Even when they receive shady 'damage reports'. It's often large amounts." Kruzo - who has a Russian background - believes that the unfamiliarity with the language and trading culture of countries like Russia are often in the way. "But the lack of action seems to come more from stereotypes."
Kruzo knows that Russia is often associated with corruption and Mafia, but she combats the image that every Russian company is run by the mob or that the Russian government wont do anything against rogue companies. "Holland is an important trading partner for Russia, and Russia offers a huge, up and coming market with a lot of sales possibilities for Holland. Kruzo believes that taking action against rogue companies is worth it." "Politically, fruit and vegetable branch organisations could raise the issue of rogue businesses with their Russian colleagues to keep the rotten apples out of the sector. Russia - just like Holland - doesn't want the fruit and vegetable trade to be tarnished by a few companies."
Report
Victimised companies can also take individual precautions or - when it does go wrong - can report the crime. The Russian tax service website (http://www.nalog.ru/) enables you to check whether a company is registered with the tax services and whether there are court cases against the company. If a name is missing or a company has a large number of court cases against it, it should make you think twice. Although the website has been partially translated into English, the information listed above can only been found in Russian. But as most companies have Russian speaking export managers, this shouldn't be a problem.
Kruzo knows that Russia is often associated with corruption and Mafia, but she combats the image that every Russian company is run by the mob or that the Russian government wont do anything against rogue companies. "Holland is an important trading partner for Russia, and Russia offers a huge, up and coming market with a lot of sales possibilities for Holland. Kruzo believes that taking action against rogue companies is worth it." "Politically, fruit and vegetable branch organisations could raise the issue of rogue businesses with their Russian colleagues to keep the rotten apples out of the sector. Russia - just like Holland - doesn't want the fruit and vegetable trade to be tarnished by a few companies."
Report
Victimised companies can also take individual precautions or - when it does go wrong - can report the crime. The Russian tax service website (http://www.nalog.ru/) enables you to check whether a company is registered with the tax services and whether there are court cases against the company. If a name is missing or a company has a large number of court cases against it, it should make you think twice. Although the website has been partially translated into English, the information listed above can only been found in Russian. But as most companies have Russian speaking export managers, this shouldn't be a problem.
In the cases coming forward it appears that the economic criminal investigation department of the Russian police force appears to be prepared to take on misconducts, as Anna recently discovered herself in St Petersburg. "Finally, companies can also get together with other victimised companies to get the money back through the legal route. Fruit and vegetable companies who let rogue companies get away scot-free are keeping those companies in business."
KruzOasis trade (www.kruzoasis-trade.nl) is part of KruzOasis (www.kruzoasis.nl), a commercial agent and commercial consultancy which focuses on bringing together, enabling and advising Dutch companies and companies from Eastern and Central Europe, among which countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (former Soviet countries).
For more information:
Anna Kruzo
Copernicusstraat 43 A2
1098 JD Amsterdam
Skype: KruzOasis-trade
E: [email protected]
W:www.kruzoasis-trade.nl
KruzOasis trade (www.kruzoasis-trade.nl) is part of KruzOasis (www.kruzoasis.nl), a commercial agent and commercial consultancy which focuses on bringing together, enabling and advising Dutch companies and companies from Eastern and Central Europe, among which countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (former Soviet countries).
For more information:
Anna Kruzo
Copernicusstraat 43 A2
1098 JD Amsterdam
Skype: KruzOasis-trade
E: [email protected]
W:www.kruzoasis-trade.nl
