OREANDA-NEWS. December 27, 2012. The CCI of Russia has hosted a representation of the economic and investment potential of the Samara region.

There was a meeting of CCI of Russia President Sergey Katyrin, CCI of Russia Vice-President Vladimir Strashko, Samara Regional Vice-Governor – Head of the Samara Regional Governor’s Administration Dmitry Ovchinnikov, CCI of the Samara Region President Valery Fomichev and Deputy Chairman of the Samara Regional Government – Samara Regional Minister of Economic Development, Investment and Trade Alexander Kobenko before the presentation. The sides discussed cooperation between the CCI of Russia, the regional administration and the regional CCI and some other issues of mutual interest.

CCI of Russia Vice-President Vladimir Strashko made the introductory speech and chaired the representation. Similar presentations held in the CCI of Russia have brought practical results: business contacts have been established and projects have been implemented. Vladimir Strashko said he was sure that the new representation would also be successful. The industrial and scientific potential of the Samara region is well known. The modern cluster approach to the economic development has proved its worth. The region is developing actively, and investors have wide choice of investment options.

Samara Regional Vice-Governor – Head of the Samara Regional Governor’s Administration Dmitry Ovchinnikov greeted the audience. “More than 40 large regional enterprises are presenting their investment potential at the presentation,” he said. Dmitry Ovchinnikov gave a brief overview of the regional economy and stressed that apart from industries and developed agriculture the region had plenty of locations destined to become recreation areas and tourist attractions.

CCI of the Samara Region President Valery Fomichev made a brief speech. He stressed that the regional chamber was actively assisting in the creation and development of high-tech economic sectors in the region. The chamber backs up the regional law, which is to spur on exports of domestic high-tech products. The law is being discussed and to be adopted by the local deputies.

The presentation organizers screened a film about the current level of economic development and the investment potential of the Samara region.

Deputy Chairman of the Samara Regional Government – Samara Regional Minister of Economic Development, Investment and Trade Alexander Kobenko carried on the subject. He said that the region had a very advantageous geographic position – cargo traffic from Europe to Southeast Asia and back goes through the region and the Samara region has a well-developed transport infrastructure. There are prerequisites for the creation and development of an integrated multi-modal transport system capable of consolidating cargo and passenger traffic for neighboring Russian regions. Speaking of the economic potential of the Samara region, Alexander Kobenko stressed that the formation of clusters was the main area of the regional economic policy.

The automobile cluster is the main one in the Samara region. It amasses about 40% of total production, 65% of fixed industrial assets and over 25% of Samara regional exports. Approximately 1.5 million automobiles will be produced annually in Tolyatti by 2017. The region produces 60% of all automobile parts manufactured in Russia, Alexander Kobenko stressed. A system of car recycling is being formed and skilled personnel are being trained for the automobile industry.

The aerospace cluster is another major element. It makes rockets for manned and unmanned space launches, builds medium-haul aircraft for local airlines, and designs and assembles modern aircraft engines, the regional vice-premier said.

The third cluster is focused on oil production and refinery. According to Alexander Kobenko, investments of approximately USD 1 billion are planned for modernizing the industry and starting the release of new products. The cluster of modern information technologies is no less important for the development of the Samara region. In fact, the development of any constituent of the Russian Federation is impossible without that. The region has built a progressive normative legal framework to support investments. There are project curators, too. The region has things to offer to investors, Alexander Kobenko concluded.

Head of the JSC Special Economic Zones Samara regional branch Alexey Pakhomenko gave the representation participants detailed information about a special economic zone in the Samara region – the Tolyatti special economic zone that contributes to the efficient development of the automobile industry of the region and the whole Russia.

The event incorporated a series of concrete presentations. CJSC Innovation Center Zhigulyovskaya Dolina General Director Denis Zhidkov presented the activity of the Innovation Center Zhigulyovskaya Dolina. SamaraNefteOrgSintez Holding President Igor Soglaev made a report, “Development of the Petrochemical Cluster in the Samara Region at the Facilities of the SamaraNefteOrgSintez Holding in Novokuibyshevsk.” CJSC Tolyattisintez General Director Denis Samokhvalov informed the audience about the establishment of an industrial park on the CJSC Tolyattisintez premises. Executive Director of the Innovation and Investment Fund of the Samara Region Alexander Osipov presented innovation projects of the Samara region. OJSC RosTransTerminal General Director Denis Sergeyev devoted his representation to the design and construction of a multi-modal logistics center in Smyshlyayevka, Samara region. Integra-S Consortium President Vladimir Kudelkin made a presentation, “System of Constant Situational Monitoring of Facilities and Territories.”

Property Relations Minister Yulia Stepanova told the audience about the development of relations between regional authorities and the local business community.

The presentation ended with a press briefing at which representation participants answered questions of the media.