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Vice-President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Dmitry Kurochkin visited KhBK "Shuiskie Chintz"

Delegation of the RF CCI consisting of the Vice-President of the RF CCI Dmitry Kurochkin and President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Ivanovo region Leonida Ivanov visited JSC KhBK "Shuiskie chintz" in Shuya (Ivanovo region). Together with the General Director JSC KhBK "Shuiskie chintz", Chairman of the Committee on Home Textiles of Soyuzlegprom Anna Bogadelina members of the delegation to the Government of the Ivanovo Region met with the Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Ivanovo Region - the head of the Economic Development Complex of the Ivanovo Region Svetlana Davletova. A member of the Government of the Ivanovo Region - Director of the Department of Economic Development and Trade of the Ivanovo Region also took part in the negotiations Lyudmila Badak and Deputy Chief of Staff of the Government of the Ivanovo Region - Head of the Project Management Center Lyudmila Dmitrieva.

At the meeting Dmitry Kurochkin stressed that the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry is ready to actively promote technical re-equipment and modernization of industrial production. Issues of support and development of industrial enterprises of the Ivanovo region, interaction of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation, the Government of the Ivanovo region and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Ivanovo region were also discussed.

In addition, Vice President of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Dmitry Kurochkin visited the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Ivanovo region, where he met with employees of the chamber and became acquainted with the work of its divisions.

Dmitry Kurochkin And Leonid Ivanov visited the finishing factory JSC KhBK "Shuiskie chintz". With the factory director Evgeniy Blinov a discussion took place on the implementation of the investment project, production plans, and current activities. It was emphasized that with the assistance of a Federal Investment Fund loan, the enterprise will install new weaving and finishing equipment, which will make it possible to produce thinner, lighter and more durable fabrics for home textiles and special-purpose fabrics to expand the plant’s assortment capabilities. The company plans to export products manufactured on the new equipment to Germany, Italy, Poland and the Czech Republic. Right now we are delivering new equipment for the project, which will significantly increase the competitiveness of our products.

Also Dmitry Kurochkin, Leonid Ivanov and Anna Bogadelina discussed the possibility of implementing a new project for the production of elementalized flax fiber, based on the latest developments of scientists from Ivanovo Polytechnic University and the Institute of Chemical Chemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

For reference:

OJSC KhBK "Shuiskie Calico" is the largest textile enterprise in Russia with a rich history (founded in 1820), which combines production traditions and the latest methods of team building and production process management. The plant produces more than 60,000 km of fabric per year (100% cotton). The company produces fabrics of satin, calico, chintz and towel groups. The plant has a full cycle of cotton processing, as well as its own art workshop for developing designs for printing on fabrics. Sewing garments (bed linen sets, tablecloths, towels, bedspreads, blankets, pillows).

In November 2017, the project of JSC KhBK "Shuiskie Calico" to install a chain of technological equipment for the production of fabrics from high-number yarn and special-purpose fabrics was financed by the Industrial Development Fund in the amount of 250 million rubles. The total cost of the project is 1.35 billion rubles. With the help of a Federal Investment Fund loan, the enterprise will install new weaving and finishing equipment, which will make it possible to produce thinner, lighter and more durable fabrics for home textiles and special-purpose fabrics that correspond to world analogues at a significantly lower cost.

The company is a member

Interview with Vice President of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Dmitry Kurochkin

Not long ago, a meeting of the Presidium of the State Council of Russia took place on the issue of development industrial potential regions Russian Federation. Does the Chamber of Commerce and Industry have anything to do with the preparation and holding of this meeting?

Yes, of course, and moreover, the most direct thing.

President of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Sergei Katyrin took part in the meeting of the State Council of Russia and spoke at it. Moreover, the proposals he made were supported by the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin.

In addition, an indicative fact is that the participants of the meeting at the production site of Rostselmash were received by the Chairman of the Council of the RF Chamber of Commerce and Industry for industrial development and the competitiveness of the Russian economy, President of the Rosspetsmash Association Konstantin Babkin, who also spoke at the meeting of the State Council, however, about his own, painful issue - how to further support domestic agricultural engineering.

The Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry took an active part in preparing materials for the meeting of the State Council of the Russian Federation. Generalized proposals received from chambers, committees and councils, and member organizations of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry were sent to the working group of the State Council. A dozen and a half chambers of commerce and industry from the industrial regions of Central Russia, the Volga region, the Urals, Siberia, the Council of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry on industrial development and competitiveness of the Russian economy, the Expert Council of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry on improving tax legislation and law enforcement practice, and the Committees of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry on financial markets and credit organizations, on energy strategy and development of the fuel and energy complex, on entrepreneurship in the timber industry, on entrepreneurship in the textile and light industry, on economic integration and foreign economic activity, on promoting vocational and business education, on entrepreneurship in the field of sports, and also member organizations of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, including the National Confederation of Packers, the Laser Association, the Interregional Association of Precious Metals Producers, the Association of International Road Carriers, JSC Russian Railways, PJSC Gazprom Neft, MMC Norilsk Nickel, JSC EUROCEMENT Group.

A large number of the Chamber’s proposals relating to strategic planning, accounting for interregional and intersectoral balances, investment, tax policies, the activities of development institutions, foreign economic activity, that is, almost all areas of economic activity in general, were taken into account in the report of the State Council working group.

What are the most interesting proposals of the RF Chamber of Commerce and Industry included in the report of the State Council working group?

In the report of the State Council working group, several pages were entirely written by the “collective mind” of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

For example, that it is necessary to develop a long-term (25-30 years) unified state industrial and financial policy for the placement and development of regional productive forces based on modern innovative technologies and products.

That it is necessary to carry out a profound change in the strategy for the development of transport, transport infrastructure, roads and communications, moving from a policy of maximizing budget revenues in the transport industry to a policy of creating favorable transport conditions for the rapid development of other sectors of the economy, and Special attention pay attention to the development of regional small aviation.

That it is necessary to use methods substantiated by economic science and used by the industrialized countries of the world - strategic planning, economic and mathematical modeling, calculation of the optimal development option based on the transport and economic balance, fuel and energy balance, interregional and intersectoral balances.

The Chamber proposed to prepare special state programs for the industrial development of “mono-regions” - individual depressed regions with a significant number of single-industry towns that have ceased the activities of industrial enterprises and do not have their own economic potential for industrial and agro-industrial development.

We believe that only a stable influx of private investment can satisfy Russia's need for infrastructure development. However, most private funds aim to make a profit in the short term, while the payback period for infrastructure projects can reach several decades. World experience in solving this problem points to the use of a project financing model in which a private investor would invest his money in creating the necessary infrastructure for future production, and the state would return this money to the private investor from additional income generated by new enterprises. This model works in many countries and is known as TIF (Tax Increment Financing, a deferred tax payment mechanism) as a method of financing public investment projects due to the growth of local tax revenues.

It is necessary to conduct a competent regional policy in terms of providing tax benefits and preferences. Thus, in particular, it is advisable to consider the issue of introducing a regional tax benefit on movable property of taxpayers, since from January 1, 2018, the corresponding federal tax benefit will be canceled, and the right to introduce it will be transferred to the regional authorities. In this part, it is also possible to provide other benefits aimed at the development of industrial production, for example, exemption from property tax on fixed assets that are under conservation and reconstruction, provide benefits for producers and consumers of import-substituting products, etc.

Foreign practice last decades shows that to attract additional funding, maintaining the level of liquidity, accelerating the turnover of financial resources and minimizing risks in financial markets, the use of such an innovative financial instrument as securitization is quite effective.

Representatives of the business community and banks consider it necessary to create a separate guarantee fund and mechanisms to cover gaps in the implementation of projects.

We also propose to create a separate category and establish a separate regulatory procedure for banks financing industrial projects.

We insist on a significant increase in the capitalization of the Industrial Development Fund, scaling the practices and mechanisms of its activities to other development institutions.

In the field of foreign economic activity, we propose to modernize checkpoints using public-private partnership mechanisms in order to speed up the passage of goods across the border, take measures to reduce the list of mandatory documents provided by exporters as part of currency control to one document - an invoice/invoice, as well as to eliminate excess requirements for the return of foreign currency earnings during export activities.

I can hardly list everything; these are our main proposals reflected in the report of the State Council working group.

ABOUT industrial policy, as the most important component of the state strategy, they say relatively recently. What place does this issue occupy in the activity programs of the RF CCI?

Work on the implementation of industrial policy aimed at innovative development and technological modernization of production is one of the priorities of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

In 2014, the Federal Law “On Industrial Policy in the Russian Federation” was adopted, which became the legal basis for a new industrial policy that established forms, tools and measures state support industrial development.

It would be appropriate to recall that it was the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry that at one time initiated the concept of the bill. System work its preparation began back in 2004.

Regional industrial policy is a set of legal, economic, organizational and other measures aimed at developing the industrial potential of the region and ensuring the production of competitive industrial products on its territory. The need to formulate a targeted industrial policy in the regions is explained by the strengthening role of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation in ensuring sustainable socio-economic development of the entire country.

Today, many experts note the fact that there is a need for the region to adopt a law on industrial policy, which would become a kind of foundation, defining the goals, objectives and priorities of regional industrial policy, powers government agencies and local governments in its implementation, the basic principles and forms of state support for industrial entities. This point of view is shared by the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Territorial chambers are actively working to implement industrial policy. In May 2016, the Tula Chamber of Commerce and Industry took the initiative to create a center on the basis of the Chamber that would coordinate the joint work of small, medium and large industrial enterprises. The main task of the Center is a qualified assessment of the activities of the region’s production structures, their potential, capacity and ability to work for the future in conjunction with regional and domestic leaders in the priority sectors of specialization for the region - mechanical engineering, metallurgy, chemical and others.

In June 2016, the Economic Development Council was created at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Saratov Region - a public structure whose main goal is to assist in the formation of regional strategies in the field of industrial, innovation, and investment policies. The work of the Council began with a discussion of the draft regional law “On Industrial Policy in the Saratov Region”. The comments and proposals developed by the Council were sent to the Committee on Economic Policy, Property and Land Relations of the Saratov Regional Duma.

In accordance with the order of the President of the Russian Federation on the participation of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the preparation of a comprehensive action plan of the Government of the Russian Federation for 2017-2025, the Chamber on the basis of the Council of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry on industrial development and competitiveness of the Russian economy with the participation of territorial chambers, industry business associations and scientific organizations was The draft principles of the Russian Economic Development Strategy until 2025 have been prepared.

The principles of the Strategy were supported by leading associations of manufacturers in the real sector of the economy, such as the Rosspetsmash Association, Soyuzlegprom, Oil and Fat Union, the Association of Textile Manufacturers of Russia, the Russian Union of Chemical Enterprises and a number of others.

On May 30, 2017, the draft principles of the Strategy for Economic Development of Russia until 2025 were sent to the President of the Russian Federation V.V. Putin.

Currently, the Council of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry on industrial development and competitiveness of the Russian economy is working on a report “On the state of competitiveness of the Russian economy in 2017,” which will be presented to the collegial governing body - the Council of the Chamber. It is expected that the report will become an annual analytical document of the Chamber.

Which tool for developing the industrial potential of Russian regions do you consider the most effective?

We consider the Industrial Development Fund to be the most effective tool for supporting the industrial development of Russian regions; by the way, it is a fairly young institute, operating only since 2015.

In February 2016, we signed a Cooperation Agreement with the Federal Investment Fund, and it is being successfully implemented. Moreover, every year our cooperation covers more and more new areas.

The Fund's programs allow Russian enterprises to gain access to preferential debt financing necessary to launch the production of unique domestic products, as well as analogues of advanced international developments.

The FRP provides loans at 1% and 5% per annum for up to 7 years in the amount of up to 750 million rubles, stimulating the influx of direct investment into the real sector of the economy.

These conditions can be called unique for our country.

What are the results of interaction between the RF Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Federal Investment Fund?

During the work of the Fund, in 2015-2017, 173 projects from 51 regions of Russia were recommended by the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and approved for financing by the IDF Expert Council.

The most successful are the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Nizhny Novgorod Region and the Ural Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Sverdlovsk Region) - 11 projects each, the South Ural Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Chelyabinsk Region) - 9 projects, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Tatarstan, the Perm and St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry - 8 projects each.

Experts from the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry at on a regular basis carry out trips to the regions, meet with entrepreneurs - recipients of support from the Federal Investment Fund and those who are just planning to apply. Chambers in the regions work specifically with the business community, and we constantly inform entrepreneurs about the opportunities that the Foundation offers.

In 2017, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation, together with the Industrial Development Fund, regularly held seminars, meetings and round tables in the constituent entities of the Russian Federation on issues of interaction with the Industrial Development Fund. The practice will continue in 2018, for example already in January of this year. Such events took place in the Omsk and Ryazan regions.

In April 2017, a Collection of the best regional industrial projects initiated or supported by the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and financed by the Industrial Development Fund was published, which summarizes experience in various industries and regions. This good example that the Foundation's support is real and available.

The publication of a similar collection based on the results of 2017 is currently being prepared.

Separately, it is necessary to note the active work to develop the system of regional industrial development funds. Today, 39 regional funds have been created, and 28 of them have signed agreements with the Federal Investment Fund, which provide the opportunity to participate in co-financing of projects.

Chambers of Commerce and Industry contribute to the organization of regional FRPs in the constituent entities of the Russian Federation. One of the main difficulties in creating an RFRP is justifying the need to launch an instrument for joint financing of the RFRP and the RFRP. Territorial Chambers of Commerce and Industry create a need on the part of industrial enterprises for a joint financing instrument, conduct an independent examination of applications with the involvement of industry experts, including free of charge for member enterprises of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Heads of chambers of commerce and industry, as a rule, are members of the governing bodies of regional FRPs.

I would like to note that among the laureates of the special project “100 projects under the patronage of the President of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry”, dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the establishment of chambers of commerce and industry in Russia and designed to support the activities of the best enterprises, primarily in the regions of the country, there are enterprises that received financial support from the Industrial Development Fund. These are JSC Novozybkovsky Machine-Building Plant (Novozybkov, Bryansk region), JSC KEMZ (Kovrov, Vladimir region), JSC Russian Leather (Ryazan), JSC KhBK Shuya Calico (city of . Shuya, Ivanovo region), JSC "KEAZ" (Kursk), JSC "NEVZ-CERAMICS" (Novosibirsk), JSC "Drilling Equipment Plant" (Orenburg).

Can you tell us about specific “success stories” of the joint work of the RF CCI and the FRP?

Yes, and there are many of them.

These are enterprises that have received financial support from the Federal Investment Fund and have already reached the production stage in the implementation of their project, that is, they have actually achieved their goal.

For example, the NEVZ-Ceramics enterprise, with the support of the Novosibirsk City Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the RF Chamber of Commerce and Industry Committee on Entrepreneurship in Healthcare and Medical Industry, launched in Novosibirsk the production of modern and reliable hip joint endoprostheses, the service life of which is 2 times longer than existing analogues and reaches 20 years.

The project with a total cost of 226.8 million rubles was implemented with the participation of the Industrial Development Fund. The Federal Investment Fund provided the company with 150 million rubles at 5% per annum for a period of 5 years. The funding was provided within the framework of the Foundation’s flagship program “Development Projects”. The organization of Russian production of ceramic prostheses will, in addition to replacing foreign analogues, reduce the number of repeated operations that have to be performed when using metal models of lower quality. Today in Russia the need for endoprostheses with high service life is almost completely covered by imported products. In the coming years, the company plans to occupy up to 20% of the hip replacement market.

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Samara Region and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Tolyatti supported the AKOM battery plant. Currently, the AKOM group of companies is implementing a project for the development and production of rechargeable batteries worth 1.2 billion rubles, of which the IDF loan amount is 500 million rubles.

As part of the project, the company plans to increase its share of the battery market from 18% to 26% by 2018, partially displacing foreign manufacturers, whose share of the Russian market is about 30%. For this purpose, production will be upgraded and production of new types of batteries will be organized. The technical parameters of the future product will significantly exceed imported analogues and the batteries will last up to three times longer than conventional acid batteries, have an increased energy storage density and will charge quickly. In addition, they will provide up to 100 thousand cycles of starting a car engine (today, industry leaders do not exceed 40 thousand cycles). Consumers of the products are car owners, as well as energy, telecommunications, transport and communications enterprises. The company plans to participate in the creation of distributed energy reservation systems and infrastructure projects.

Just recently I visited one of the best enterprises in the industry - Russian Leather JSC. Ryazan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Committee of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry on entrepreneurship in the textile and light industry supported modern production high quality natural leathers for interior decoration cars. The loan amount is 190 million rubles.

The Russian Leather company has opened a high-tech production of environmentally friendly leathers that have no domestic analogues in terms of quality. Competitive advantages include long-lasting color, stretch resistance, wear resistance, and breathability. At the same time, the company's leathers have the ability to restore their original shape after pressure and are resistant to chemical solvents.

Today in Russia there is not a single leather manufacturer that has the experience and technological base for the industrial production of automotive natural leather. The development of the project will allow foreign auto companies producing cars with leather interiors to reach a deeper level of localization.

“Russian Leather” expects to occupy up to 48% of the Russian market of natural automotive leather by 2021.

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Nizhny Novgorod Region supported the company NPO Mekhinstrument, which launched serial production of cabins from Russian components for tractors of the European brand Deutz-Fahr. The cost of the project was 102.7 million rubles, of which 51 million rubles were provided by the Federal Investment Fund in the form of a preferential loan for a period of 5 years.

The new production will allow us to increase the level of localization of the Agrolux series tractor to 60%. Using borrowed funds from the Fund, the company purchased modern equipment, which made it possible to unify technological processes and establish import-substituting production of cabins from Russian components. The cabin provides comfortable working conditions for operators: an air conditioning system, a multimedia system, a comfortable sprung seat, and easy-to-use control systems are installed. Cab strength and operator safety tests were successfully carried out.

Today in Russia there is specialized production of cabins in the tractor segment with an engine power of 80-100 hp. does not exist, which makes the project of the NPO Mekhinstrument company unique for Russia. The tractor cabin is one of the important elements of localizing foreign tractors on the territory of our country. These machines are designed specifically for housing and communal services and farms.

In the same Nizhny Novgorod region, Real-Invest CJSC (Balakhninsky district, Gidrotorf village) entered the production stage - an enterprise for the production of tanks for storing liquefied hydrocarbon gases (gas holders). Gas tanks are necessary to solve problems of gasification in areas where there is no gas pipeline or connecting to it is not economically feasible. The implementation of the project will make it possible to provide consumers with autonomous high-quality Russian-made gas supply systems at an affordable price, thereby completely abandoning the import of these products.

The list of such “success stories” could be continued.

In conclusion, I will say that the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation, which today unites 181 chambers of commerce and industry and is represented in almost all constituent entities of the Russian Federation, has significant potential and opportunities to participate in the formation and implementation of industrial policy in the regions, the development of regional support infrastructure entrepreneurial activity, which is enshrined in the Priority Areas of Activities of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation for 2016-2020.

– Dmitry Nikolaevich, at the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry you are responsible for the development of entrepreneurship and competition, tell us about the support measures that the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry provided to entrepreneurs this year.

– The key area on which the efforts of the RF CCI system are concentrated is maintaining economic growth, support for the creation of new industries aimed not only at import substitution, but also at export.

In accordance with the instructions given following the results of the Address of the President of Russia V.V. Putin to the Federal Assembly, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation, together with other leading associations of entrepreneurs, prepared proposals from the business community for the Comprehensive Action Plan of the Russian Government for 2017–2025. In 2017, a number of the chamber’s proposals were reflected in federal laws and decisions of the Russian Government.

Serious expert materials and proposals of the Chamber are being prepared for meetings of the State Council of Russia, incl. and to the recently held meeting on the issue “On the development of the industrial potential of the regions of the Russian Federation.” The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation sent generalized proposals received from chambers, committees and councils, and member organizations of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation to the working group of the State Council. A number of proposals from the Chamber concerning strategic planning, accounting for interregional and intersectoral balances, and investment policy were taken into account in the report of the State Council working group.

Speaking about the assistance of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry in supporting industries and specific enterprises, I cannot help but mention the Industrial Development Fund.

Today, the Federal Investment Fund is one of the main mechanisms for supporting manufacturing entrepreneurship. At the moment, out of 268 supported projects, 35 production facilities are already operating. The total investment volume amounted to 250 billion rubles, of which 66 billion came from preferential loans from the Industrial Development Fund. Chambers of Commerce and Industry are certainly interested in the development of the economy and production of their regions, therefore they actively support applications for modernization or the creation of new industries. The Chamber signed a cooperation agreement with the FRP. Based on the results of 2015–2017, 173 projects from 51 regions of Russia were recommended by the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and approved for financing by the Expert Council of the Federal Investment Fund. Special attention is paid to the development of small and medium-sized businesses.

Our focus is also on the public procurement system - we assess the quality of procurement, monitor the number of procurements carried out in violation of legal requirements, and discuss with representatives of the Russian Ministry of Finance and the Federal Antimonopoly Service of Russia possible measures to reduce the number of violations and improve the quality of procurement procedures.

It is also appropriate to recall a special project implemented by the Federal Chamber: “100 projects under the patronage of the President of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.” The project is dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the establishment of chambers of commerce and industry in Russia; the goal is to support the activities of the best enterprises, primarily in the regions of the country. Among the project laureates there are many enterprises that received financial support from the Federal Investment Fund.

– Committees and councils that unite representatives of member organizations of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry actively participate in the legislative and rule-making process. What has been achieved in this direction?

– Participation in the work on draft federal laws and by-laws is one of the priority areas of activity of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Moreover, Article 12 of the Law of the Russian Federation “On Chambers of Commerce and Industry” gives us the right to participate in the preparation of draft laws and other regulatory legal acts affecting the interests of entrepreneurs, as well as to send conclusions based on the results of examinations of draft laws to state authorities and local governments and other regulatory legal acts.

An example is cooperation with State Duma. During the spring and autumn sessions of 2017, the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry supported more than 100 bills, initiated the introduction of 20 packages of amendments, and developed 15 “own” bills. Now the work on forming a plan for legislative activity for 2018 is coming to an end.

Participation in the preparation and examination of by-laws is carried out largely by members of our industry committees and councils and member organizations of the RF Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Our representatives, incl. at the request of ministries, they are included in working groups for project development. Many draft regulatory legal acts are submitted for consideration by committees and councils to determine the position of the Chamber and the business community as a whole. We have examples where, as a result of such a discussion, projects were substantially reworked.

IN last years In Russia, a new tool for business participation in rule-making activities has been introduced - regulatory impact assessment (RIA). We evaluate the RIA as a truly effective tool that allows us to exclude provisions that are burdensome for business at the stage of developing draft regulatory legal acts and to include a “preventive” mechanism at the very early stage of document preparation. The figures are indicative: in 2011, the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry reviewed 429 projects within the framework of RIA, and in 2017 – more than a thousand more (1648 projects).

We highly appreciate the “impact” factor of our work on the rule-making process within the framework of RIA. For example, in 2017, out of 177 comments by the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry sent to developers, 100 were taken into account.

– The Council of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry on industrial development and competitiveness of the Russian economy has prepared a draft principles of the Strategy for the Economic Development of Russia until 2025. Please comment on its main points.

– By creating the Council of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry on industrial development and competitiveness of the Russian economy, we deliberately went to the formation of a single platform on which it was planned to unite the best experts business community in the field of industrial development and economic competitiveness. This was supposed to give a synergistic effect and increase the effectiveness of the legislative and expert work of the Chamber.

The Council is called upon to organize a systematic search for the necessary solutions, measures and mechanisms of state support, develop effective stabilization measures, and promote structural changes.

Our hopes were generally justified. The Council consistently moved to consider key issues of the Strategy at its meetings, considering issues of foreign economic activity, tax incentives for industrial development, competitiveness of the agro-industrial complex, monetary incentives for industrial development, and, ultimately, proposed the principles of the Strategy for the Economic Development of Russia until 2025.

The main goal of the Strategy is to realize the potential of the Russian population and improve its well-being. This is achieved by changing the paradigm of the country’s socio-economic development, through solving a number of problems:

• implementation of a coordinated and reasonable industrial policy;
• equalization of competitive conditions for industrial enterprises and regions;
• more active and consistent protection of the interests of domestic producers;
• identification of manufacturing sectors as the main engine of long-term development of the country's economy.

The strategy was widely discussed in chambers of commerce and industry, committees and member organizations of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The final document was sent to the President of Russia.

– Among the members of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry are associations of entrepreneurs from all sectors of the economy. Our magazine is primarily interested in energy-related industries. What work does the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry carry out in these segments of the economy?

– In 2017, the Committee of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry on energy strategy and development of the fuel and energy complex, which is headed by the Chairman of the Council of the Union of Oil and Gas Industrialists of Russia Yuri Shafranik, held a number of meetings on problems in the energy industry. In particular, questions about the role of the electric power complex in increasing the pace of development of the country's economy were discussed.

Experts from the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry believe that in the conditions of recovery from the crisis, with insignificant production growth rates, the energy sector is too burdensome for the economy, and measures are needed to change the situation. Real production needs to create conditions, including from the electric power complex, which in turn needs to change the principles of its development. Proposals to change the situation following the meeting will be submitted to the Russian Government.

A separate meeting was held at which the problems associated with the significant increase in electricity tariffs were discussed. Based on the results of the meeting, the Committee decided to prepare proposals for adjusting current legislation, an appeal to the FAS of Russia is being prepared.

Pursuant to the instructions of the President of Russia V.V. Putin sent proposals to the Russian Ministry of Energy to develop mechanisms for attracting investments in the modernization of thermal power generation facilities. In these proposals, the emphasis is on increasing attention to market methods of management in the electric power industry, the existence of economic conditions for reducing electricity tariffs, increasing energy efficiency in the energy complex, and improving antimonopoly regulation in relation to generating companies and energy supply organizations.

– In order to develop entrepreneurship in the northern regions, international relations and foreign economic cooperation, the Association of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of the northern (subpolar) territories and the Arctic zone was created. Tell us which regions are included? What are the goals and objectives of the Association?

– Considering that the North and the Arctic zone are increasingly involved in international economic turnover, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation, including through specialized committees, has been actively working for many years together with the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia, the Ministry of Natural Resources of Russia, scientific organizations of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Russian -Norwegian Chamber of Commerce on the issue of ensuring environmental protection and rational management of natural resources for sustainable development Arctic zone Russia.

On December 22, 2010, the leaders of the chambers of commerce and industry of the northern territories of Russia created the Association of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of the northern (subpolar) territories and the Arctic zone. At a meeting of the Association, held on May 12, 2017 in Arkhangelsk, a decision was made to elect the President of the Arkhangelsk Chamber of Commerce and Industry Vasily Sidorovsky as the President of the Association, and the city of Arkhangelsk was determined as the location of the Association’s headquarters.

Currently, the Association includes 12 chambers of commerce and industry operating in the Arctic: Arkhangelsk Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Kamchatka Territory, Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Komi Republic, Leningrad Regional Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Magadan Region, Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Murmansk Region, St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Republic Sakha (Yakutia), Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Tyumen Region, Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug - Ugra, Central Siberian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug.

The main objectives of the Association are the socio-economic development of regions, the development of the Northern Sea Route, support scientific research Arctic. One of the areas of activity is active work with Gazprom OJSC, Norilsk Nickel Group of Companies, Rosneft OJSC, LUKOIL PJSC, Vostokugol Management Company, Kolmarproekt Management Company and other subsoil users in terms of placing orders in those regions. where these companies operate.

In 2017, members of the Association took an active part in the VI International Arctic Forum “The Arctic - Territory of Dialogue”, the conference “Northern Delivery - New Ways and Opportunities”, the International Russian-Norwegian Conference on Coastal Fisheries, the V International Forum “Arctic Projects - Today and tomorrow”, VII International Forum “Arctic: Present and Future”.

– What can you tell us about the participation of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry in international cooperation in the Arctic?

– Since the very beginning of the 90s, the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and territorial chambers have been actively involved in establishing contacts with their foreign partners, including in the countries of Northern Europe and North America. Over the past years, a steady exchange of delegations on the topic of business cooperation in the Arctic has been organized through the chambers, and a significant number of events have been held at the bilateral and multilateral level, including at the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Discussions show that both the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Arctic region and their foreign partners are primarily interested in topics of interaction between business and government in the Arctic regions of various countries: subsidies and various types of benefits for Arctic entrepreneurship, government mechanisms for stimulating economic activity in the Arctic, government experience supporting Arctic infrastructure, measures to stimulate employment, etc. This interest is quite justified. After all, the economic development of the Arctic regions in all relevant countries (Russia, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Canada, USA), due to the climate and the significant material costs required for the development of territories, is primarily a matter for governments or companies with serious state participation. The role of private business here is, as a rule, limited.

For businesses, there is also great interest in the accumulated different countries practical experience of entrepreneurs, for example, the exchange of business ideas for creating startups, the specifics of implementing commercial projects in Arctic conditions.

Among the Russian Chambers of Commerce and Industry of the Arctic region, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Murmansk Region is most actively involved in international cooperation - in full accordance with its status as a “border” chamber. The Chamber actively interacts with its partners within the Barents/Euro-Arctic region. Constant working contacts are maintained with chambers of commerce in neighboring countries - Norway, Finland, Sweden, and Iceland.

Together with the Administration of the Murmansk Region, the regional Chamber of Commerce and Industry actively participates in the organization and conduct of the annual Murmansk International Business Week (MIBU). In 2013, a conference of Arctic business chambers and business associations was held in Murmansk as part of the MIDN. The organizer was the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Murmansk Region, with participation from the Norwegian-Russian Chamber of Commerce, the Chamber of Commerce of Lapland (Finland), the Chamber of Commerce of Norrbotten (Sweden), the Icelandic structure “Arctic Portal”, and representatives of the Canadian Embassy in Russia.

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Murmansk Region also initiated the annual conference in Kirovsk, “Mining Industry of the Barents Euro-Arctic Region: A Look into the Future,” within the framework of the International International Biological Conference. The seventh conference was held in November 2017. With the organizing role of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Murmansk Region, all the largest mining, processing and metallurgical plants of the Murmansk Region, and the Kola Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences are involved in the work. The conference annually brings together businessmen and scientists working in the field of mining from Finland, Norway, Sweden, Germany, the Czech Republic, Korea, and other countries.

– To what extent are the Russian North and the Arctic zone involved in international economic turnover?

– The North of Russia produces more than 20% of GDP, 18% of electricity, 25% of forest products, and also produces more than 90% of natural gas, 75% of oil, 80% of gold, 90% of copper and nickel, almost all diamonds, cobalt, platinum group metals, apatite concentrate. All mentioned goods form the basis of Russian exports. Suffice it to note that the share of federal budget revenues from the use of the mineral resource base of the North exceeds 40%, and the share of foreign exchange earnings – 80%. The Russian North and the Arctic zone are not only involved in international trade; this region of the country can perhaps be called key for Russian exports.

Russian companies operating in the Arctic have been actively involved in international cooperation for a long time. It is enough to note the large holdings Norilsk Nickel, Severstal, Phosagro, Eurochem, their products are successfully sold on the world market.

In the oil and gas sector, it is enough to mention the Yamal LNG project, in the implementation of which foreign companies are widely involved.

Speaking about the international aspect of mining in the Russian Arctic, one cannot fail to mention the activities of the Canadian gold mining company KinrossGold, which invested in two mines in Chukotka. KinrossGold has been operating in Russia since 1995, maintaining its status as the largest foreign investor in the country's gold mining industry, the largest Canadian investor in the Russian economy and one of the largest taxpayers in the Russian Far East. Since entering the Russian market, the company's investment in the local economy exceeds $3 billion.

– On February 20-21, 2018, the III International Conference “The Arctic: Shelf Projects and Sustainable Development of Regions” will be held at the site and with the support of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. What priority topics do you plan to voice on this platform as one of the key speakers?

– The main leitmotif of my speech will be Russia’s national interests and international cooperation in the Arctic, the challenges that arise and the opportunities that arise.

Considering the rich Natural resources northern territories and the Arctic and their global significance, the goals of interaction should be the formation of the basic potential for sustainable development of the region, basic principles of environmental management, ecology and identification of environmental risks, prospects for cooperation between Russia and the northern countries of Europe and America to attract foreign investment in projects for the comprehensive development of infrastructure, revival the Northern Sea Route, new technologies for hydraulic engineering and road construction, new convergent biological technologies for marine products, the development of aquaculture (mariculture), the development of human potential and active longevity and others.

It is necessary to develop rules for carrying out activities in the Arctic regions of the country so that as a result of the development of these territories, no damage is caused to the nature of the Far North, the Arctic, or the interests of indigenous peoples.

At the same time, an effective monitoring system must be introduced to control the compliance of businesses operating in the Arctic with the norms and requirements of current legislation.

It is necessary to develop programs to stimulate the development of the northern territories and the Arctic, the development of public-private partnerships, improving the investment climate in the region and the implementation of large infrastructure projects, incl. in transport and communication fields.

Interview with Vice-President of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Dmitry Kurochkin.

17.06.2018 1103

Today, many regions are forced to compete for attention federal center, for investments, for personnel. Options for solving these problems are conveyed to the federal government through their proposals by experts from the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Many constructive proposals come from the business community of the Kirov region. Vice President of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Dmitry Kurochkin spoke about this in an interview with BN.

- Dmitry Nikolaevich, you are coming to us, as they say, from the ship to the ball. Did you arrive in Kirov today at midnight?

We just took off after midnight: the plane from Kirov could not land in Vnukovo. Presidents flew away from the opening of the World Cup, everything was blocked. The plane hung in the air for God knows how long. He suffered for a common cause, which is why he arrived later than planned (smiles).

- Are you following the championship?

But what about it? To your neighbors, in my native Nizhny Novgorod, I’ll go watch the Panama-England match. I recently went on a business trip to Saransk and saw how the preparations were going. This is an extremely important topic for us. Back in the summer of 2012, at the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry I created a working group to promote investment projects aimed at hosting the World Cup. Naturally, we are not talking about megaprojects that the state has undertaken - to create and modernize stadiums, airports, roads, hotels, and so on. We are talking about projects in the service sector, local tourism, and the development of small and medium-sized businesses that could benefit from the championship. We are looking at how to position each region more professionally and increase its recognition in the external arena.

Unfortunately, foreigners know little about Russia other than Moscow and Siberia. I would like them to get to know different regions, at least the cities where the World Cup is taking place. This also means strengthening bilateral business ties. We all understand: the state bears huge expenses. The money spent on creating stadiums - let's be honest - will never pay off. In this regard, you need to think about who could win and what. To win not “here and now” during the event, but also in the future. First of all, we are talking about business. Any championship gives impetus to the development of contacts, and any intensification of contacts inevitably leads to the establishment of business connections.

- If we talk about relationships with foreign countries, is the situation changing?

At the beginning of June, the President of Russia visited Austria. The program includes important meetings with the country's leadership, Federal Chancellor Sebastian Kurz and the leadership of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. This example, like a drop of water, shows the already established interaction of business structures between countries, primarily between Russia and Austria. It very effectively contributes not only to overcoming the unfavorable background in which we have been working for the last 4 years (I mean interaction with our Western partners). It allows not only to preserve the accumulated potential of bilateral and multilateral cooperation, but also to successfully develop it.

Among other things, you oversee the development of entrepreneurship and competition. Has the vector of acute problems changed in any way recently? What positive things can business expect in the near future?

It’s not just me who is doing this, the entire system of chambers of commerce and industry is doing this. Today it includes about 180 chambers in all regions of the country (they operate in almost every major city). We actively interact with our partners abroad. Through the system of our representative offices, business councils, the so-called mixed chambers (for example, the German-Russian or Italian-Russian chambers of commerce) we work in 40 countries around the world. Regionally and industry-wise, we interact with everyone. Specifically, I am responsible for the sector that is commonly called the real sector of the economy: industry, agriculture, energy, transport, communications, and so on.

The expert potential of the Russian Chamber is primarily concentrated in committees and councils. These are not our career employees, but public formations under the RF Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which unite entrepreneurs of a particular industry. These experts understand the issues better than others, and they are the ones who prepare proposals. Today there are 34 committees and councils under the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, approximately 1,100 throughout the system.

We do not lobby for the interests of a particular industry or, especially, a separate enterprise. We are talking specifically about systemic problems that generally hinder the development of entrepreneurship. There is no necessary interregional and intersectoral cooperation. Unfortunately, many regions are forced to compete for the attention of the federal center, for investments, for personnel, and so on. There are many inconsistencies at the federal, regional and municipal levels in terms of legislation, and in many practical issues of entrepreneurship development, and issues of attracting investment.

There is a lot that can be said about each of these topics. We have prepared and submitted to the government and the president all our proposals, which will be carefully studied.

- How would you characterize the work of the Vyatka Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the system?

Located in Moscow, we are federal structure, while we work not for Moscow, not for the Moscow region, but for the entire territory of Russia, including the Kirov region. Your region, and specifically the Vyatka Chamber of Commerce and Industry, are among the most active and visible. Nikolai Mikhailovich Lipatnikov is not just the head of the regional chamber, he is a member governing bodies system, the International Trade Center (our subsidiary). It is from the entrepreneurs of the Kirov region through the regional chamber that we receive greatest number specific proposals for the development of entrepreneurship and the removal of barriers to business development. At the same time, the chamber of your region is very demanding in raising these questions and seeking specific answers. Not so much from us, the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, but from ministries and departments that are required to resolve certain issues.

The State Industrial Development Fund has been created in the Kirov region. He will provide financial support to industrial enterprises that plan to produce new products, expand or modernize civilian production. In your opinion, is the creation of such a structure relevant?

I cannot help but mention the fact that it was the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry back in 2004, during the tenure of Yevgeny Maksimovich Primakov (president of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry in 2001-2011), that put forward the concept of regional industrial policy. And she not only put forward it, but actively promoted it. Many legislative acts at the regional level were adopted during that period. Only 10 years later, in 2014, the corresponding federal law “On Industrial Policy” appeared, which we also actively prepared together with the Ministry of Industry and Trade and our other ministries and departments. Today we actively participate in the implementation of regional industrial policy. In particular, as a member of the expert council of the Industrial Development Fund, I participate almost on a daily basis in the consideration of a large number of industrial projects from the regions that are being prepared for submission to the Fund.

Today, regional industrial development funds have been created, if I’m not mistaken, in 47 regions. This makes it possible to more quickly finance regional projects according to the “70 to 30” scheme: 70% is provided by the federal fund and 30% by the regional one. The volume of funded projects is smaller, but this is exactly what the business needs. The volume of allocated funds - up to 500 million rubles - is quite large if we talk about small and medium-sized businesses. Joint financing by the Federal Investment Fund in Moscow and the regional Industrial Development Fund (they may have different names, but the essence is approximately the same) allows us to bring the parameters of project implementation closer to small and medium-sized businesses. There are projects for 30, 50, and 70 million rubles - exactly what medium-sized manufacturing enterprises need. Over the past three years, approximately 250 Foundation-funded projects have been either initiated or supported by the chambers of commerce and industry system and their active member organizations.

By the way, in 2016, in the chamber we created the Council of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry on industrial development and competitiveness of the Russian economy, which is preparing systemic measures for the development of this area. Let me emphasize once again: not by lobbying the interests of individual industries, but by removing barriers as a whole for the entire Russian economy. Its translation (real, not declarative) to a new model, which we could conditionally call innovative-industrial, in contrast to the raw materials model, which, unfortunately, we still have today. Although I would not oppose raw material workers and industrialists, since today the fuel and energy sector is an extremely important industry and the most solvent industry, which largely places demand for innovative products.

Just on May 25, within the framework of SPIEF, the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry signed an agreement with the Russian Academy of Sciences. It was necessary?

We believe that science and industry are inextricably linked. The main industrial forum, which takes place annually in Yekaterinburg in the summer, is called “Innoprom”. Innovation and industry must be fused together, and no breakthrough - neither economic nor social - is possible without relying on serious expert support in the form of our Academy of Sciences and an extensive system of academic institutions.

On the eve of my arrival here, I returned from a trip to one of the science cities near Moscow - Fryazino. Today we have 13 of them, more than half are located in the Moscow region, and in each of these cities there is a chamber. During my trips, I meet with the heads of these cities, heads of enterprises that produce high-tech products and for whom science is component business, with heads of academic institutions. And we are all together trying to find a more effective “business-science-government” model, in which most of scientific developments would be financed not by the state, but by business. We are talking mainly about applied research, which is financed by private business all over the world. It is he who should be the main driver of the development of innovations and innovations and place a very serious demand for innovative products.

One of the problems in this area is the lack of serious demand from our domestic, Russian business. As a rule, we work abroad. Everything that we invent that is serious and promising immediately finds demand abroad. And our domestic industry, unfortunately, does not show corresponding activity. It is fundamentally important for us to fill this agreement with specific content. I repeat once again: science and industry must be fused together. In our country, according to a certain bureaucratic logic, they are considered separately, as if there is an industrial policy, then there is some kind of scientific policy, and there is also a third one - monetary policy.

In Kirov you take part in the events of the International Forestry Forum. How do you assess the potential of forestry industry?

In Vienna, we regularly hold a conference dedicated to the development of the Russian pulp and paper industry. For us, the timber industry is one of the drivers of the economy, which is potentially capable of generating - I emphasize: potentially - no less income than the oil and gas complex. This requires serious investments and a well-thought-out industrial policy. A considerable share of the projects that we approved within the framework of the IDF expert council are aimed at implementing projects in this area.

Taking this opportunity, I would like to wish the entrepreneurs of the Kirov region to interact more actively with the Fund. If there is a really good project, with the help of the Fund for enough short time you can get good financing. Entrepreneurs of the Kirov region occupy a worthy place in the development of the timber industry and there are good prospects for development here.

Dossier:

Kurochkin Dmitry Nikolaevich, vice-president of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation.

Professional activity: At the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry he is responsible for the development of entrepreneurship and competition, coordinating the activities of working committees, developing the membership base, promoting investment and innovation, and developing public-private partnerships.

20 years of experience in the banking system in the Vnesheconombank system (Globex Bank, Belvnesheconombank) and foreign banks (BNP-Paribas, Dresdner Bank) in France and Belgium. Long-term experience in the countries of Western Europe and the Middle East (Office of the Economic Adviser at the USSR Embassy in Syria). 10 years of teaching experience at MGIMO University of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia and the Russian-European College at MGIMO University of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia.

Blitz:

- What do you value in people?

Decency.

- What don’t you regret spending money on?

For your own development.

- Hobby?

Theater, literature.

- What is happiness for you?

In the movie “We'll Live Until Monday” there is a dialogue: “What is happiness?” - “Happiness is when you are understood.” I believe this is one of the formulas. There is no universal one.

“Everything we do is considered and analyzed from the point of view of the interests of entrepreneurs.” Dmitry Nikolaevich uttered this phrase during our “off-screen” conversation. He also spoke about the need to balance the triangle “government-business-society” and outlined the main problem of this trio - lack of trust. AND simple recipe, how to return it - no. All interested parties should make an effort here.

Anastasia Belova

Two years ago, Federal Law No. 488-FZ of December 31, 2014 (hereinafter referred to as the law on industrial policy) was adopted, containing basic provisions on the procedure for financing industrial production, the creation and functions of industrial development funds, and support for industrial entities in specific areas. Special attention is paid to the territorial development of industry. The vice-president of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry told the GARANT.RU portal about some areas of regional industrial policy Dmitry Kurochkin.

Dmitry Nikolaevich, what role does the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry play in the implementation of regional industrial policy?

I would like to remind you that it was the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry that at one time initiated the development of the concept of the bill, on the basis of which the law on industrial policy was subsequently adopted. Systematic work on its preparation began back in 2004 and continued, as you can see, for 10 years.

Regional industrial policy, in short, is a set of legal, economic, and organizational measures aimed at developing the industrial potential of the region, ensuring the production of truly competitive industrial products on its territory, including in foreign markets. To do this, the regions are looking for (and finding) tools to stimulate the industrial sector through financial, information and consulting support, assistance in scientific, technical and innovation activities.

In this regard, it is extremely important for the constituent entities of the Russian Federation to develop their own regulatory framework that takes into account the competitive advantages of each specific region. Many experts note the urgent need for regions to adopt laws on industrial policy, which would become a kind of foundation, defining the goals, objectives and priorities of regional industrial policy, the powers of state bodies and local governments in its implementation, the basic principles and forms of state support for industrial entities. This point of view is shared by the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Today, the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry system unites 182 chambers of commerce and industry and is represented in almost all constituent entities of the Russian Federation, which means it has significant potential and opportunities for participation in the formation and implementation of industrial policy in the regions, the development of regional infrastructure to support business activities, which enshrined in the Priority Areas of the Chamber’s activities for 2016-2020.

Territorial chambers are actively working to implement industrial policy. Thus, in May 2016, the Tula Chamber of Commerce and Industry took the initiative to create a center on the basis of the chamber that would coordinate the joint work of small, medium and large industrial enterprises. The main task of the center is a qualified assessment of the activities of the region’s production structures, their potential, capacity and the possibility of working for the future in conjunction with regional and domestic leaders in the priority sectors of specialization for the region: mechanical engineering, metallurgical, chemical and others.

In June 2016, the Economic Development Council was created at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Saratov Region - a public structure whose main goal is to assist in the formation of regional strategies in the field of industrial, innovation, and investment policies. The Council's work began with a discussion of the draft regional law "On Industrial Policy in the Saratov Region." The comments and proposals developed by the Council were sent to the regional Duma and taken into account when adopting the law ().

In order to finance subjects of activity in the industrial sector, the Industrial Development Fund and corresponding regional funds were created. How does the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry interact with the Fund?

The RF CCI works closely with a number of government support institutions, assisting them in the search and selection of projects in the real sector of the economy. In addition to the Industrial Development Fund, cooperation agreements were signed with the Russian export center, Agency for Technological Development.

He has been cooperating with the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation from the very beginning of its active work. The Expert Council of the Fund, of which I am a member along with representatives of other associations of entrepreneurs, is headed by the Chairman of the Council of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Investment Policy Anton Danilov-Danilyan.

The Chamber takes the work of selecting the most promising projects in the regions very seriously and actively consults with the Foundation’s experts and government authorities. Applications come from almost all regions, but not all reach the Expert Council. I would like to note that representatives of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry regularly travel to the regions and meet with entrepreneurs who are recipients of support and those who are just planning to submit applications. In addition, territorial chambers work specifically with the business community.

Which sectors are priority within the framework of the specified preferential financing?

Among the above projects approved for financing, 39 are in the field of mechanical engineering and machine tool building, 14 are in the chemical industry, the same number are in the medical industry, 13 are in electrical equipment and electronics, 9 are in metallurgy and metalworking, 7 are in light and textile industries, 5 are in the forestry industry and building materials.

Please tell us about successfully implemented projects.

I can give examples of support for enterprises from the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

• JSC "NEVZ-CERAMICS" (Novosibirsk). The enterprise, supported by the Novosibirsk City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, received a loan from the Industrial Development Fund in the amount of 150 million rubles. to develop technology for the production of a total hip joint endoprosthesis. Due to the withdrawal of the Rusnano company from the project, the enterprise was threatened with bankruptcy, and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation appealed to the Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev with a request to speed up the transfer of the enterprise to the Rostec system. This issue is now being resolved.
• CJSC "AKOM" (Zhigulevsk, Samara region). The enterprise, supported by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Samara Region, received 500 million rubles from the Fund. for the production of starter batteries and the development of a stationary traction battery. Together with other enterprises - manufacturers of chemical power sources - JSC "AKOM" applied to the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation with proposals for measures of state support for the industry. The Chamber sent letters in support of these proposals to the Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation Denis Manturov and the Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation Maxim Oreshkin. Now they are being studied in departments together with our experts.
• OJSC "Kovrov Electromechanical Plant" (Vladimir region, Kovrov). The enterprise is supported by the Vladimir Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Currently, KEMZ is mastering the production of complex five-axis vertical milling machining centers with numerical control. The total cost of the project is 578 million rubles, 320.4 million rubles. may be provided by the Industrial Development Fund in the form of a preferential loan. The plant has already launched mass production of numerically controlled machines from the Japanese company Takisawa, which was preceded by five years of negotiations. I must say that this is a very valuable experience in economic cooperation between a Japanese company and Russia. The choice of the Japanese was influenced by the fact that KEMZ used more than 60 types of machines from the Japanese company and accumulated significant experience in their use. In addition, the plant is one of the best in Russia in terms of service quality, personnel qualifications and technological parameters, and is also well located geographically.

In May 2017, a Collection of the best regional industrial projects initiated or supported by the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and financed by the Industrial Development Fund was published, summarizing experience in various industries and regions. It includes profiles of companies that receive support, opinions of their managers about their experience of interaction with the Fund, opinions of industry experts and presidents of territorial chambers. The collection is distributed among territorial Chambers of Commerce and Industry, entrepreneurs, experts and is clear evidence that the Fund’s support is real and accessible.

Can small businesses receive Fund loans?

They can. This is facilitated by the activities of regional industrial development funds. The already established practice of these funds involves providing loans in the amount of 5 million to 100 million rubles, that is, the segment of small and micro enterprises is included in the system of preferential financing of industry. At the initial stage, most transactions will be joint (in fact, syndicated) transactions of regional funds with the “big” Industrial Development Fund. As experience is gained, assessment procedures and transaction implementation processes are refined, regional funds will become more independent. Among the most active on this moment Regional funds include colleagues from the Ulyanovsk and Chelyabinsk regions, as well as from St. Petersburg. Currently, 31 regional funds have been created, and work on the formation of regional centers continues.

During the presentation to the State Duma of a report on the results of the activities of the Government of the Russian Federation in 2016, Dmitry Medvedev announced the possible introduction investment incentive– reduction of income tax to 5% for enterprises investing in production modernization. How do you assess this initiative?

Experts from the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry participated in a series of events organized at the venues federal ministries to discuss the action plan of the Government of the Russian Federation for 2017-2025. As part of this work, the Chamber proposed a number of stimulating tax measures for the Russian economy. The most important of them:

• introduction of a direct investment tax benefit by reducing the amount of tax paid to 50% of companies' costs for the modernization and reconstruction of existing fixed assets. According to business, the effectiveness of tax incentives within priority development territories, regional investment projects, and special investment contracts in some regions of Russia remains low. Benefits are difficult to obtain and difficult to administer, especially when tax rules change every year. The introduction of a direct investment tax benefit will allow enterprises to more often update fixed assets, expand production, use modern energy-efficient equipment, which, in turn, will reduce injuries, harmful production, and also increase labor productivity;
• provision of benefits for land tax and property tax in relation to fixed assets that are under conservation and reconstruction, as well as those that are undergoing testing. In fact, such objects either do not allow generating any income at all, or its volumes are so small that they can only “cover” the costs of paying mandatory payments. The implementation of such a measure will allow businesses to spend the freed-up funds on their own needs: construction of new and reconstruction of existing facilities, proper running-in of equipment, etc.

What problems arise when implementing investment projects in the regions?

The experience of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry in promoting regional projects shows that the average maximum period for the implementation of investment projects across all regions is 10 years, while the average maximum period for government investment programs is 7 years. Thus, there is a clear discrepancy in the strategic calculations of investors and regional governments. When launching their projects, investors (both Russian and foreign) are forced to look much further than the regional government. The lack of vision by regional authorities for their long-term prospects will sooner or later lead to the blocking of promising investment projects, since it will be very difficult for an investor to understand the situation for the distant future.

It is worth noting that after the introduction of the Regional Investment Standard of the Agency for Strategic Initiatives, which obliges the formation and annual updating of plans for the creation of investment facilities and infrastructure in the regions, the situation has improved somewhat. However, the ratio between the timing of private investment projects, including those with foreign participation, and government investment programs by region varies greatly, and this indicates the absence of any thoughtful and coordinated policy of the authorities.

In this regard, we can give regional authorities recommendations on the transition to long-term investment programs for a period of 20-25 years. Otherwise – if government programs and private projects do not correlate in terms of timing – investors will adapt to this situation by moving to “shorter” projects. In addition, without a broad official “manifestation” of their investment plans, regional governments will not be able to attract strategic foreign investors.