Check the clock and learn

The St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, at which I was fortunate enough to visit representatives of Pridnestrovian authorities, including myself, is a truly grandiose event. More than 17 thousand people from 143 countries of the world took part in it. It was very interesting and useful for the representatives of Pridnestrovie to take part in the discussions that had unfolded at numerous sites of the economic forum. It was especially important for us to listen to the opinions of the leaders of economic thought, the heads of the world's leading companies, the ministers of the new Russian government on how they see today the prospects for the development of the economy, not only Russia but also other countries, which are dominated by trends.

In this connection, it was important to compare the clock: and in what direction do we think here today, in Pridnestrovie, and how much our steps, our decisions and actions are in harmony with those trends that currently prevail in the Russian Federation and the world. In this regard, it was gratifying to learn that those issues that are being put and solved in our state are relevant to Russia. Moreover, in some areas, we are not only similar in thoughts and actions, but in some parts even ahead of Russian colleagues. As an example, we can cite our new investment legislation.

The main topic was the issues at one of the venues of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, of attracting investment resources to the economy of the Russian Federation. One of the most lively discussions was about investment contracts. In this case, investors are given the opportunity to enter into direct agreements with the government and thereby gain certain guarantees on the stability of tax collection, the current legislation. Investors expressed themselves in the spirit that in our troubled times, when various aspects and circumstances change rapidly, these actions are positive, serve as an additional guarantee for them.

Pridnestrovie is also moving in this direction, since recently the Supreme Council adopted a package of laws on state support for investment activities. The above mentioned norm is already present in our legislation. Legislators gave the government the authority to conclude direct investment agreements and agreements. This is necessary for the investor to be protected and understand: the intentions of the state in relation to him and the means invested in our economy are serious and long-term. The state, and therefore the entire society, is interested in investing in our economy, so it will in every possible way protect investors, create favorable conditions for them to conduct business, provide guarantees for their activities. Our investment legislation is clearly in the trend of developments in the economic sphere. The thing remains to create all the necessary attractive conditions for an investor to come.

True, in this respect we are strikingly different from the Russian Federation. Russia is a state with a large territory, considerable potential and resources. Investors are certainly interested in investing in its economy and making a profit. We have a slightly different situation. We are a small territorial entity, besides, the republic has not yet been recognized by the international community. However, even in these difficult conditions, we still need to use the opportunities available to us so that investors would like to work with us. To see tangible advantages from placing their capital in our republic, so that they have a high return on the funds invested in our economy. We must do everything we can to make the business profitable for them. This is one of the most important tasks.

Another section of the St. Petersburg Economic Forum, which aroused my special interest, is the compilation and presentation of the rating of the investment attractiveness of Russian regions. In recent years, this issue in Russia began to be approached with special attention. The process of determining the rating of the investment attractiveness of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation is under control of the country's leadership. The fact that the majority of Russian governors took part in the work of the St. Petersburg Forum also shows much. They reported to the general public about the work done in this direction, talked about modern methods and approaches to attract investment in the development of the regions they lead, they said that they are doing in order to improve the investment appeal rating.

It is noteworthy that initially the heads of Russian regions were cautious, even skeptical about the very idea. But, as it turned out, according to this rating, the country's leadership subsequently assessed the work of the governors. As a result, now every head of the subject of the Russian Federation is trying to take maximum steps to ensure that the investment attractiveness rating is growing. This is a complex work with investors, and in the direction of reducing administrative barriers, establishing a dialogue with entrepreneurs to hear, know and take into account their opinion. After all, it is business - the basis of the budget, the basis of social security for citizens, the state's fulfillment of obligations to them. The entrepreneur should not be at the backyard of the attention of regional leaders, on the contrary - in the foreground. The comprehensive approach of governors seeking leadership in the rating of investment attractiveness leads to tangible results and positive changes in both the economy and the social sphere of this or that Russian region. This indicates that in Russia the issue of investment attractiveness is paid special attention.

It was surprising for many that the Tyumen region became the leader of the investment attractiveness rating, the second place - Moscow, the third - the Republic of Tatarstan, the fourth - St. Petersburg. It was at the St. Petersburg Economic Forum that it became clear: the Russian Federation, proceeding from those ambitious tasks set by the President Vladimir Putin for the next six years, will do everything to develop the economy, the share of the non-primary sector in GDP increased. I am sure: they will be solved.

One of the most important sections of the SPIEF-18 was the section on the topic of promoting Russian goods to foreign markets. The Russian leadership set the task of increasing the share of non-primary sectors of the economy in export deliveries. It was important to find out what tools Russian representatives are using today to promote their products abroad for Pridnestrovians who took part in the St. Petersburg Forum. This topic is even more relevant for our export-oriented economy, in effect, unlike the Russian Federation, small volumes of the domestic market. Meetings were held at the government's site, the Ministry of Economic Development with exporters, road maps were created to improve conditions for exports, but still the experience in the Russian Federation is somewhat different from ours. First of all, it differs by the fact that the government allocates significant resources from the federal budget to promote goods produced in Russia to foreign markets. A special export center operates there, which purposefully, every day works to assist Russian enterprises in exporting their products. The Russian export-import bank was established with the federal budget. It provides loans to exporters on preferential terms, not only for the technical re-equipment of export-oriented enterprises, but also for the production that they produce to be competitive in foreign markets. This bank also deals with various lending programs, leasing of foreign economic entities that have shown interest in Russian products and are ready to buy it.

Russian experience associated with the allocation of credit resources, administrative work, which in the complex should yield positive results is very interesting for us.

One can draw the main conclusion of all the information received at the St. Petersburg International Forum: as far as legislation is concerned, our republic is not somewhere far from Russia. The example of the investment legislation recently passed by the Supreme Council to that eloquent confirmation. We clearly see the current trends in the development of the economy in the neighboring countries. We form our legislative base, using the best practices of other states. However, unfortunately, we cannot use the whole set of tools to achieve some results in the short term. And the main tool that we cannot fully use today is financial resources, which we are sorely lacking. We have a problem with lack of funds, cheap resources so that we can assist our enterprises in technical modernization, equipment upgrades. We do not have enough resources today to have a developed network of trade missions outside the country, the countries we trade with, as the Russian Federation itself can afford. Because of this, we, of course, are more difficult.

Even in such conditions, we try to use all the existing potential. I suppose that our task is not to wait for someone to remember us, not to wait for someone to help, including financially. We should make maximum use of the tools and mechanisms available to us at the disposal of the Russian Federation to promote our products to foreign markets. From how we can use non-traditional approaches in relations with Russia, it depends on what successes we can achieve in the future.

Victor GUZUN, Chairman of the Committee of the Supreme Council for the Development of Entrepreneurship and Industry.