Today, it is crucially important to coordinate and consolidate all measures for attracting investments to the Russian Federation. This was stated by the Vice-president of the Moscow Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Suren Vardanyan, during the "International and national economic programs as an instrument for the development of regions of the Russian Federation" conference, held at the Federation Council.
According to the Vice-president of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, today it is necessary to compete for an investor, and to achieve this it is important to create favorable conditions. "At the same time, cooperation among the regions is important. For example, in Moscow, due to a number of economic circumstances, primarily such as expensive land and real estate, it is difficult to localize many production facilities. " Mr. Vardanyan said. “From the point of view of industrial production, only high-tech firms can operate profitably in the capital. Therefore, we inform our foreign partners who want to conduct business in Russia, in which regions they may operate more profitably, "said the Vice-president of the Moscow Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
In his speech, Mr. Vardanyan talked about the Moscow authorities' activities aimed at attracting investments, emphasizing that all key decisions in the economic sphere, some of which are taking place at the MCCI site, are arrived at after consultations with the business community, "Moscow today is the most populous city in Europe. Here live more than 12 million inhabitants. Coincidentally, 50% of the metropolitan residents have higher education. In the capital, lives 30% of Russia's scientific personnel, it provides 10% of the gross value added in industry and 40% of the country's foreign trade turnover. Moscow is attractive for investors. Thus, in 2016, the volume of investments in fixed assets amounted to 23.7 billion euros. How does the city manages to accomplish this? First of all, because of the principle of separation of authorityThe executive and legislative powers are segregate and independent. At the same time, most decisions are made collectively, in which process the Moscow Chamber of Commerce and Industry plays a very distinctive role. On the site of the MCCI, the expert community meets regularly with the authorities, which gives businesses the opportunity to communicate their problems and needs to officials, and they, in turn, receive objective and unbiased information about current events.
The Chamber regularly discusses drafts of city laws affecting business interests. The Moscow authorities are making maximum efforts to increase the city's investment attractiveness and optimize the costs of investors, related to specifics of the metropolitan region. The MCCI, in turn, supports such actions of the authorities related to stimulating business the city and the support of reputable entrepreneurs. " Mr. Vardanyan said.
Accordingly, the close contact of the authorities with the business community makes it possible to study and determine the main directions of investments in the region and their potential. The city's investment strategy has been approved until 2025. This document, in particular, defines sectoral priorities, conforming to which special measures are being taken to attract investors, support and endorse investment projects.
Among the priority sectors are health care, education, transportation infrastructure, a new economy (Hi-Tech), industry, tourism and urban environment. In turn, the Moscow City Duma promptly updates the legislative framework, aimed at attracting and protecting investments. It is also important for the city to support efforts to promote goods produced on its territory for foreign markets, which creates conditions for the localization of industries with a high added value.
"Among the measures to attract investors is the allotment for loans and subsidies, a reduction of the tax burden, particularly to resident companies in special economic zones, management companies and residents of techno parks, industrial complexes, and even compensation for non-commercial risks for investors from the city budget. In recent years, we have started to apply investment contracts with counter obligations - such as a special investment contract and an offset agreement. Here, the priority areas for us are medicines and medical products, transportation and equipment for the public sector. The concept of an attractive investment project is included in the legislation.
We believe that each contingent side plays its own role in assessing the efficiency of the development of investments and economic potential. In addition to the executive, legislative and business communities, it is also the media that covers both positive and negative aspects, which allows the city to promptly adjust its actions and become even more attractive to investors." said the Vice president of the Moscow Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Mr. Nikolai Ryzhkov, a member of the Federation Council Committee on the Federal Structure, Regional Policy, Local Self-Government and the Affairs of the North, supported the idea of the need for the development of Russian regions, including the implementation of joint projects. "Out of 85 regions only 12 are donors, the rest are subsidized. Therefore, the development of the regions is the main task that faces us today.” said the senator.