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“The economic model in the country has long demanded changes”

Vitaly Humeniuk

Chairman of the Primorsky regional branch of the public organization of small and medium business "Opora Rossii"

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“The economic model in the country has long demanded changes”
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Vitaly Gumenyuk, a member of the All-Russian Popular Front (ONF) and chairman of the Primorsky regional branch of the All-Russian public organization of small and medium-sized businesses "Support of Russia", told EastRussia about how business in eastern Russia feels in a crisis, why it is difficult for entrepreneurs to enter the markets of the Asia-Pacific region and how the government improves the investment climate in Primorye.

Text: Alena Timofeyeva

-Vitaly, how can you characterize the current state of the seaside business? How do businessmen react to crisis and market changes?

- One cannot say for sure whether a business in Primorye feels bad or good in the prevailing conditions. Some areas of business or industry trends felt better: new markets opened, new directions, new countries and partners. Some left the market in general, mainly those who were associated with imports or processed areas related to import supplies. Someone is trying to repurpose or regroup.

Entrepreneurs react to market changes in different ways, all are hoping for the best, but some objective factors, in particular interest rates on loans and leasing, deter them.

- Do the authorities take measures to stabilize the situation?

- The regional government takes measures to improve the state of business in all sectors of the economy rather quickly. The Anti-Crisis Headquarters was created, which included representatives of business, government, public business organizations (Opora Rossii, Delovaya Rossiya, RSPP and others), which allows obtaining a consolidated opinion from business and quickly analyzing the cross section of problems faced by business. The task of business representatives is to give quick feedback on changes in the business climate, make proposals to improve the investment climate and propose solutions to improve the situation of entrepreneurs, this work is underway. The authorities' efforts are unambiguously aimed at increasing business activity and, accordingly, at increasing the profits of businessmen. The economic model in the country has long required changes - the indicators showed a decline even before the introduction of sanctions - and even earlier it was necessary to take measures to improve the business climate.

- Have relations with Asian partners, with countries of the Asia-Pacific region, changed since the introduction of sanctions last year?

- Relations with the APR countries, in my opinion, have not changed much since the introduction of sanctions. Japan is quite cautious about partnership with Russian companies, does not hurry to invest in new joint projects. And those projects that have already worked together with Japanese partners have not yet been closed. Not so long ago, representatives of Japanese business, who visited Vladivostok, said directly that if the TACER project (territories of advanced socio-economic development - ed.) Will not give a positive effect or will not be realized at all, Japanese business in the economy of the Far East will not come. China is more resolute in partnership and sees prospects for itself in partnership with entrepreneurs of the Far East.

The Primorsky branch of Opora Rossii has several joint business projects with China, but I would not like to reveal all the cards now. They are planned to be implemented in the near future.

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- Can seaside companies compete with neighbors from the APR countries?

- Some companies involved in export have received impetus and new development, new markets and countries have opened. But in general, it is difficult to compete with Asian partners. The cost of their product in most cases is much lower than ours. This does not apply to defense, the space industry, special equipment, for example, any industrial turbines, and the supply of raw materials (fish, timber, hydrocarbons, and so on). In other cases, the chances of entrepreneurs entering the Asian market are virtually nil. In addition, due to the high competition there are high requirements for quality and price.

- How, in your opinion, can the region’s business in the Territory of Advanced Development (TOR) and the port-free regime in Vladivostok planned to be introduced influence the region’s business climate?

- The construction of ASEZs in the Far East can give local businesses good chances for development. Doing a free port in Vladivostok is a very bold and timely decision. We just do not quite understand why the model of the draft law on TASED was taken as a basis? After all, we cannot yet assess TASEDs as a whole, there is no way to assess the economic effect, this project is still underway and finalized. We expect this to help business and the development of the region as a whole.

- Did you send specific proposals to the authorities on draft laws on TORs and the free port of Vladivostok?

- We participate in all discussions of bills on the Torah and the free port of Vladivostok, organized by both regional authorities and the Ministry of Eastern and Eastern Development. Specific proposals were sent to the authorities of Primorye, but for the time being it cannot be said whether they will all be taken into account.

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It is planned that the port-free regime in Vladivostok will be introduced for 70 years and can be extended not only to the capital of the region, but also to the entire south of Primorye. Special tax regimes will be introduced for residents of this zone, and it is proposed to introduce a visa-free stay for foreigners as part of the free port. It is expected that the introduction of free port will be the impetus for the development in the region not only of the economy, but also of tourism.

Now in Primorye, to support entrepreneurs, the Center supports export-oriented enterprises, the Guarantee Fund Primorsky Territory, in Dalnegorsk and Vladivostok there are centers for the development of entrepreneurship. The Department of Economics and Strategic Development of the Krai subsidizes and co-finances the costs of entrepreneurs, in particular, interest on loans and leasing payments, and also helps to get grants for starting a business. In addition, to stabilize the economic situation and support entrepreneurs in the region, a bill is being developed that allows setting a zero tax rate for the first two years of activity for those who first open their business in the industrial, social and scientific spheres for the first time.

Photo: primamedia.ru