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"We represent the interests of Kamchatka"


Nikolay Pegin
General Director of the Corporation for Development of the Kamchatka Krai
- 4-5 September, the Government of the Kamchatka Krai together with the "Development Corporation of the Kamchatka Krai", with the support of the Ministry of the Russian Federation for the Development of the Far East, will hold an investment forum "Far East - 2014" in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. Nikolay Anatolevich, what is the main goal of the event?
- The main goal of the forum is to stimulate the flow of investments into the Kamchatka Territory. For example, our neighbors have an interest in investing and the ability to invest. Our rapprochement is beneficial both for us and for them. But until very recently, there was a lack of mechanisms for this rapprochement. These mechanisms are developed at each stakeholder meeting. The Forum in Kamchatka should become the largest venue this year for meeting investors from Northeast Asia, Europe and the regions of the Russian Far East. The Far East, Kamchatka is the gateway to Russia for the economies of the APR countries and the entry point of Russia into the most economically developed region of the world.
By holding an international investment forum in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, we want to show our partners in the APR that Russia welcomes foreign investment in the country's economy and, above all, in the Far Eastern regions. The Kamchatka Territory, which possesses a unique strategic and trading potential, supported by the enormous wealth of natural resources, can become one of the key players among the Far Eastern regions and countries of the Asia-Pacific Region.
- What is the role of the Development Corporation of the Kamchatka Krai as a key regional development institution?
- The Development Corporation of the Kamchatka Krai was established with a very specific purpose - to provide conditions that will help the investor or the project proponent when assessing the options for territorial location and when choosing the support measures envisaged in the region. "Corporation" - this is a kind of factory that takes ideas, brings it to the state of demand and promotes it. One of the most important tasks now facing the Corporation for Development of the Kamchatka Krai is to shorten the time for launching the investment project, providing all-round assistance to the investor at the initial, most difficult stage.
The corporation becomes a key tool that launches public-private partnership mechanisms, identifying and supporting the perspective points of the region's growth, combining financial, organizational, analytical, marketing, communication and information tools in its work. We can participate not only with our own resources, but also with our competencies, powers, as well as opportunities to find sources of financing in foreign investment companies, Russian financial institutions, Russian companies interested in implementing investment projects in the territory of the Kamchatka Territory. That is, we represent the interests of Kamchatka, coordinating them with the interests of potential investors.
- What industries in Kamchatka would you like to support and develop? What types of services and what kind of assistance do you render to Russian and foreign companies that want to start work in Kamchatka?
There are areas where the return on investment will be the fastest, and the interest of the authorities and the population is the highest. I would single out some of the most promising areas, based on the advantages of the Kamchatka Territory. This is a mineral-raw complex, tourism, fish farming and mariculture, coastal fishing and processing of seafood, reforming and modernizing energy and municipal services.
- Kamchatka is a complex region, climatically, economically and socially. What own resources can it rely on as a “growth point”, and what are they definitely not enough for and will have to wait for help from the center?
- I think we need to dispel some myths or stereotypes that relate to the Kamchatka Territory and the Far East in general. One of the myths is that it is “very far”. Immediately the question arises: from what? From the European part of Russia, from the EU countries, we are really far away. And what, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Korea - is near? Nevertheless, these countries have overcome difficulties, have managed to turn the "disadvantages" into advantages and demonstrate the growth and stability of their economies. But the market, where we strive for and in which we want to be competitive (which the president also spoke about in his Address), is the countries of the Asia-Pacific region, and with them, Kamchatka, is within reach. Here they are, our partners and our investors. Although Kamchatka is primarily of interest to investors from China, India, Korea, and Japan, we remain attractive to European businesses - Italians, French, and Czechs.
- In the Far East, it is planned to create territories for advanced development (TOP). From your point of view, is it economically justified?
At the moment, traditional routes from Asia, America to Europe and back through the Suez and Panama canals transport more than 900 million tons of cargo per year. Russia offers alternative, more economical, short and safe transport and logistics solutions. But this should be a state mega-project, albeit with the participation of private investors. The development of the Northern Transport Corridor and the Northern Sea Route as its component will give impetus to the intensification of interregional and international relations. From the implementation of this project, one can expect a cumulative effect: even if other subjects of the Russian Federation do not show special activity, their economy will still grow. It will revive the north of the country. The unique wealth of the Arctic can naturally accelerate its way to the consumer, to the processing centers. Their prime cost will be lower, and competitiveness will increase sharply. The government of the Krai and the Development Corporation of the Kamchatka Krai see their role in preparing and developing the engineering infrastructure for the project, looking for investors and creating conditions for the business climate in the region to contribute to the development of Kamchatka.
- What economic effect can the development of the Northern Sea Route or the creation of TOP mean?
- The issue of development of TOP is a strategy, and it is not necessary to consider the possible effect in the short and medium term. This is the creation of a new one, and, therefore, it is possible to achieve an appreciable effect only in 5-10 years. This, of course, does not mean that this does not have to be done. But we must understand all the risks associated with this factor, and be prepared for the possible consequences of these risks.
- How much money does it take to invest in the development of the Northern Sea Route?
- It is difficult to calculate exactly. The project as such is not yet available. According to the most approximate forecasts of experts, trillions of rubles will be needed to modernize and create new capacities all along the Northern Sea Route. But you need to understand that this is an investment in the future of Russia. Its great future.
- Except for transport-logistic, mineral-raw, fishing, what other competitive sectors does it make sense to develop in Kamchatka?
- In fact, the "Corporation" has been working for about a year. What do you lack most - ideas, projects, money, people, energy?
"Most of all, we do not have enough time." We in the Far East had a whole list of what we would like, but there was no way to do it. And now such chances have appeared. We have ideas, they need to be translated into business plans, solve a whole bunch of problems with taxes, with the speed and cost of connecting to energy and engineering networks, with conciliation procedures. All this is much slower than we would like. And time does not wait. And investors, too, competition for investment in the world is very high. We try to rush time and fill every day with real meaning. I want to believe that we are on the right track and we will succeed. And here we really want everyone to understand: our luck, our success story is also a success story for the whole of Kamchatka, the Far East, the whole of Russia. This will be our common victory, our common tomorrow.
EastRussia.ru - information partner of the Investment Forum "Far East - 2014"