Public Authorizations of Chambers of Commerce: Bridge Between State and Business or Bureaucratic Trap?
Chambers of commerce in the region have been pillars of the economic system for decades, but now their role is dramatically changing. They are no longer just a service for entrepreneurs but key players with public authorizations entrusted to them by the state. Officials from Montenegro, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and North Macedonia agree: public authorizations are a bridge connecting the interests of the state and business, but also a huge challenge for transparency and efficiency.
What are public authorizations and why are they important? Public authorizations are specific powers that chambers exercise on behalf of the state, such as issuing certificates, maintaining registers, conducting professional exams, and providing opinions in the legislative process. This role of chambers is not merely administrative but represents functional decentralization and partnership between the state and business entities.
Digitalization and efficiency: Are chambers keeping up? Chambers are investing in digitalization and capacity building to meet the modern needs of entrepreneurs. The Croatian Chamber of Commerce highlights that public authorizations make up as much as one-third of their services, and the “Digital Chamber” platform provides companies access to all services in one place. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, chambers pride themselves on resolving requests within 48 hours, contributing to transparency and trust.
Challenges and criticism: Is everything rosy? Although public authorizations are seen as a bridge, they are not without problems. A high level of responsibility, expertise, and transparency is required. Institutional trust must be stronger, and cooperation with state institutions is key. Some experts warn that without continuous improvement and open dialogue, this system can become a bureaucratic trap that slows down rather than accelerates economic development.
Regional perspective: Common challenges, shared solutions Representatives from Montenegro, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and North Macedonia exchange experiences and best practices. The goal is to improve the legal framework, increase transparency and efficiency, and create a more stable and predictable business environment. All this with ongoing digitalization and strengthening of institutional capacities.
Conclusion: Chambers as guardians or obstacles? Public authorizations give chambers the power and responsibility to be a bridge between the state and business. But whether it will be a bridge or a trap depends on their ability to be transparent, efficient, and keep up with modern trends. If they do not change, they could become yet another bureaucratic stumbling block in the business environment.
So, what do you think? Do you believe chambers are ready for this role, or is this just another bureaucratic circus? Drop a comment, maybe together we’ll uncover what’s really going on behind the scenes!
