Opora Russia

Opora Russia (ОПОРА РОССИИ) is an all-Russian public organization of small and medium-sized enterprises, founded on 18 September 2002 and registered by the Russian Ministry of Justice on 10 November 2002. It was established by the Association of Entrepreneurial Organizations of Russia (NP OPORA), which had been created a year earlier. The organization describes itself as a platform for effective professional dialogue between owners and managers of small and medium-sized businesses and representatives of federal executive authorities, regional and municipal authorities, regulatory bodies, SME support infrastructure, and the expert community. According to its official website, Opora Russia has regional branches in 87 subjects of the Russian Federation, 417 local branches, and 45 representatives in foreign countries. Together with the Association NP OPORA, it unites around 400,000 entrepreneurs who create more than 5 million jobs. More than 100 entrepreneurial and industry associations form the Association NP OPORA. Wikipedia reports that the organization includes about 450,000 entrepreneurs, operates in 85 regions of Russia, and has 20 representatives in 26 countries. Opora Russia's stated goals are to consolidate entrepreneurs and other citizens to participate in shaping favorable political, economic, legal and other conditions for business development in the Russian Federation, and to protect the rights and interests of small and medium-sized businesses at all levels of government. Its main tasks include reducing excessive administrative barriers, streamlining inspections by state regulatory bodies, bringing the business community and government representatives out of the shadows, reducing the tax burden, and simplifying reporting procedures. The organization implements these tasks through specific projects, such as research on the entrepreneurial climate in Russia and the development of a gentle tax regime for small businesses. The organization has been directly involved in the development and adoption of a number of federal laws, including on protection of competition, on the development of small and medium-sized entrepreneurship, on preferential privatization for small entrepreneurs, on the introduction of voluntary imputed income tax (ENVD), on a moratorium on planned inspections of small businesses, and on replacing administrative fines with warnings for first-time offenses. It also organizes major events, such as the March 2025 all-Russian forum for social entrepreneurs "Business with Heart" (Бизнес сердцем). Opora Russia is led by President Alexander Kalinin, with Sergei Borisov as honorary president and chairman of the Board of Trustees. First vice-presidents include Marina Bludyan, Azat Gazizov, Arkady Gershman, Eduard Omarov, and Pavel Sigal. The organization holds congresses every four years; the XIII regular congress was held in Moscow on 25 September 2026, with about 400 delegates, re-electing Kalinin as president and electing first vice-presidents and a new Board of Trustees. Opora Russia also co-produces the RSBI business activity index together with PSB bank and Magram Market Research.

Opora Russia was founded on 18 September 2002 and registered by the Russian Ministry of Justice on 10 November 2002. Its founder was the Association of Entrepreneurial Organizations of Russia (NP OPORA), which had been established a year earlier. The organization emerged as a response to the need for a unified voice for small and medium-sized businesses in Russia, aiming to consolidate entrepreneurs and protect their interests at all levels of government. In its early years, Opora Russia focused on reducing administrative barriers, streamlining inspections, and advocating for a lighter tax burden on small businesses. It played a role in the development and adoption of several federal laws, including on protection of competition, on the development of small and medium-sized entrepreneurship, on preferential privatization for small entrepreneurs, on the introduction of voluntary imputed income tax (ENVD), on a moratorium on planned inspections of small businesses, and on replacing administrative fines with warnings for first-time offenses. A significant achievement came after Opora Russia organized a signature collection campaign against the sharp increase in social payments for individual entrepreneurs in 2013. The signatures were sent to President Vladimir Putin, and the increase in insurance contributions was subsequently substantially differentiated. The organization also advocated for the creation of the Presidential Council for Strategic Development and National Projects. Through Opora Russia's initiatives, issues of small and medium-sized entrepreneurship have been regularly considered by the State Council of the Russian Federation. State Council meetings on SME development were held in 2015, a joint meeting of the presidium and consultative commission of the State Council on measures to improve investment attractiveness of regions in 2016, a State Council meeting on improving investment attractiveness of regions in 2017, and a State Council meeting on developing competition in 2018. In 2017, marking the organization's 15th anniversary, President Vladimir Putin noted that over the years Opora Russia had "earned high public authority through active work." In March 2025, Opora Russia organized the all-Russian forum for social entrepreneurs "Business with Heart." The organization continues to hold regular congresses; the XIII regular congress took place in Moscow on 25 September 2026, with about 400 delegates, re-electing Alexander Kalinin as president and electing first vice-presidents and a new Board of Trustees.

• 2026

  XIII regular Congress held in Moscow on 25 September; Alexander Kalinin re-elected President; new First Vice-Presidents and Board of Trustees elected.

• 2025

  Opora Russia organized the all-Russian forum for social entrepreneurs "Business with Heart" in March.

• 2018

  State Council meeting on developing competition held.

• 2017

  15th anniversary of Opora Russia; President Vladimir Putin noted the organization's high public authority. State Council meeting on improving investment attractiveness of regions.

• 2016

  Joint meeting of the presidium and consultative commission of the State Council on measures to improve investment attractiveness of regions.

• 2015

  State Council meeting on SME development held, following Opora Russia's initiatives.

• 2013

  Opora Russia organized a signature collection campaign against the sharp increase in social payments for individual entrepreneurs; the increase was subsequently differentiated.

• 2002

  Opora Russia founded on 18 September and registered by the Russian Ministry of Justice on 10 November.

• 2001

  Association of Entrepreneurial Organizations of Russia (NP OPORA) founded, which later became the founder of Opora Russia.

Russia's largest and most influential public organization representing the interests of small and medium-sized enterprises, acting as a bridge between business and government.

• RSBI business activity index

  A joint index by PSB bank, Opora Russia, and Magram Market Research measuring business activity of SMEs.

• All-Russian forum for social entrepreneurs "Business with Heart"

  A forum organized by Opora Russia in March 2025.

• Regional branches and local offices

  Regional branches in 87 subjects of the Russian Federation and 417 local branches.

• Representation in foreign countries

  45 representatives in foreign countries (per official website) or 20 representatives in 26 countries (per Wikipedia).

1. 1«ОПОРА РОССИИ» поддержка и развитие малого и среднего предпринимательства в Россииopora.ru
2. 2Об «ОПОРЕ РОССИИ»opora.ru
3. 3Руководящие органыopora.ru
4. 4Пресса о насopora.ru
5. 5Opora Russiawikidata.org
6. 6Опора Россииru.wikipedia.org