PJSC Sberbank : Sber and DHL Express awards for non-commodity exporters accepting entries

Sber and DHL Express are accepting entries for the 4^th national contest called Exporters. New Level for SMEs engaged in foreign trade. Held for the fourth time, the awards are designed to identify, support, popularize, and promote Russia's best non-commodity and non-energy export practices. The deadline for applications is March 5, 2022.

Entrepreneurs throughout Russia can apply in three categories:

• Export example (the best application that meets the following criteria: growth dynamics, expansion of the geography of export supplies)
• Exporter Innovator of the Year (assessment of the innovativeness of the exported product or the application of innovative approaches in exportation)
• Exporter of the Year E-Commerce (a special DHL Express category. Evaluation of companies exporting goods using online sales channels).

Natalia Goludina, adviser to deputy chairman of the Executive Board, Sberbank:

"Award winners at Exporters. New Level, which we are holding together with DHL Express, every year show that a business can export not only raw materials, but also high value-added products from Russia. Entrepreneurs effectively develop new sales channels and quickly adapt to new realities, no matter how swift and serious the changes are. Almost two years have passed since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, and Russian non-commodity exporters did not slow down but rather ramped up their sales. This became possible, among other things, thanks to the exchange of best practices in professional communities. I invite domestic exporters to participate in our awards, I wish them further growth in sales and entry into new promising markets."

Anna Klinskova, managing director, DHL Express Russia:

"The e-commerce market has undergone major changes in recent years and is moving forward rapidly. Russia shows impressive performance both within the country and abroad. We at DHL Express are seeing more and more Russian online stores begin to export their products, increasing their turnover every year. The globalization of markets and the digitalization of routine are making online shopping even more accessible to people around the world, opening up new opportunities for entrepreneurs worldwide. As a leader in international express delivery, here in Russia we are committed to helping Russian entrepreneurs navigate the global e-commerce field. We go beyond providing reliable and fast delivery of goods to more than 200 countries of the world, allowing entrepreneurs to compete even with local online stores successfully. We also educate stakeholders in exportation-related matters systemically. We believe in Russian non-commodity exports and pin our hopes on its development."