Mergen Orjiik: ‘’Come to Tuva and you will return a different person’’

Tribuna’s guest is a member of the Federation Council Committee on Social Policy, the senator from the Tuva region, Mergen Orjiik

-Let's talk about the youth forum "Intellectual Gold of Eurasia," which will take place on September 1 in the Republic of Tuva, what is the event, tell us in detail, is it of a regular character?

-The initiator of the forum is the Ural State Economic University, together with our head of the republic it was decided to hold a forum unique in its significance on the territory of Tuva, attracting visitors from a great many countries of the Asian continent. I would like to note that this forum is unique because it is the same forum, but in Europe, in the center of Europe. It is unique because in the heart of Asia – on the territory of Tuva and in the center of Europe, the geographic center – a youth forum also will be held. Ekaterinburg is some kind of generator of this idea, it is the generator, the initiator of this idea, and accompanies this idea to its logical conclusion. The leaders of the republic of Tuva and that country in Europe, they will moderate these events. Our country will seek to attract more attention to the tourism plan. The fact is that, for us, this is very important.

-Tell us a little more about the social component of development in your region, because it is clear that for the subsidized regions it is harder to develop the social component than for the donor regions.

-Yes, our region is subsidized. Republican budget spendings are around 20 billion rubles. The biggest part of it is the social spendings. But I would like to say that while being a subsidized region, we are trying to attract more investments. I would like to do a little comparison. Literally, if 8 years ago the attraction level of investments, if we compare that number with the current one, then, the size of the investments and domestic investments amounted 2 billion rubles, the current investments are many times bigger, and amount 34 billion rubles.

This is, of course, the merit of the team. The teamwork and strategy of the movement of our republic determines a breakthrough, which we currently have. I would like to note that recently in our republic we summed up the results of investment activity over the past year and there are some very interesting figures in the results of 2014. Let's say that the inflow of investments into the fixed capital of Tuva from all sources of investment in 2014 reached 16.2 billion rubles, compared with 2013, its almost 11% more

I would like to note that a mining and processing plant in Kyzyl-Tashtyg field opened this year in our republic. Also we have a Mezhegey coal mine with high-tech mine, also the construction of a brick concrete plant is underway. Foreign companies Bentans. For us it is very important. We attract various foreign investors. Our region is rich with minerals and, above all, hard-working people.

We are trying to invest in our people, in their education, in their development, in our businessmen. Every year, the authorities of the republic are allocating huge money for the development of small business, and each year the republic finances internal projects on the development of rural producers. There is a unique project in the territory of the republic, which has a great resonance among people over the past three years - a project called "One village - one product". We have 143 villages in our territory. Each village has its own brand product. And they are trying to push every product through. Each administration identifies very talented entrepreneurs and seeks to promote them at their level, so that this project would develop.

The most important thing is that the public has given its opinion on whether or not the project is worthy of support. If the public also agrees with this project, yes, this project really needs support and it will help the development of the village, then accordingly the administration supports and the authorities of the republic, respectively, give the financial support.

I would like to say that the total volume of the investment potential of Companies operating in the territory of the republic is currently estimated at 350 billion rubles. It is an enormous amount of money for us. And we will not stop, we will go even further. And we will grow even stronger and will move further even more, because it is very important for us. We understand that our geographical location is not so convenient, I mean natural conditions, our terrain is pretty difficult to get to us. And natural conditions we have are not so stable: we have a sharply continental climate, yet we are trying, so that there would be other, at least somewhat favourable conditions for our investors in terms of lease of land and so on. We are creating favourable conditions for them.

-What do you think, in what way it is possible to positively contribute to the solution of the transportation issue? What is being done in this direction?

-Thanks to the efforts of the government of the republic, in particular the authority, the head of the republic, the plenipotentiary representative in Moscow, recently, just on March 27 of 2015, a direct flights Moscow-Kyzyl, Kyzyl-Moscow were opened. For us it is a great happiness, citizens today have the opportunity to fly a direct flight. Of course,  flight from Kyzyl to Moscow goes with the refueling through Novosibirsk. You can safely fly from Moscow to Kyzyl in 4-5 hours. It is not how it was before, when it was possible only through Abakan, then from Abakan to Kyzyl you have to go by car for five hours. Of course, it is not so difficult, but still.

The Republic and other regions bind a federal highway, which is a very good, high quality. That is, its content at high control. There is no days without any repairs. Someone always is there and do something. Therefore, it is ... Certainly, the category of the road is very high, and moreover, the danger of these places is also too high. It is picturesqueness and a canvas at the same. It is simply attractive for tourists, who come to us, and every year the number of them is more and more. 

We have investors, who have signed with the government concession agreement for repairing of the Agdaurak - Abazaroad road. It is located in the western highway and connects us with the Republic of Khakassia. This is also a part of the road, which is very important for those citizens who live on the western territory of the republic. The western area of the republic is more, about 70% of the population. We are trying as much as possible to create the necessary conditions for our citizens in order to provide favorable movement not only within our country but also beyond its boundaries. Therefore, in this sense, we try to use all available possibilities.

- Could you give us some another several examples of cooperation with the neighboring regions?

- I would like to note that we have an experienced practice of holding the Days of the Republic of Tuva in the neighboring regions. From the first day we are actively cooperating with our neighboring regions, such as the Republic of Khakassia. We organize the days of the republic of Tuva, in the Krasnoyarsk Territory and the Novosibirsk regions. We organize not only the days of the republic, but also the Twin Cities - Kyzyl and Kuragino. We have such cities, which organize together very nice, kind meetings and site visits. They make cooperation agreements in the sphere of culture and so on. Moreover, we cooperate with neighboring aimaks in Mongolia, because the whole southern part of the country is completely bordered by Mongolia. We have two checkpoints. We are also working hard to carry out the reconstruction of some of these checkpoints in order to ensure not only greater tourist flow, but also in order to citizens could  have the most convenient procedures with their baggage and so on.

-Now the so-called eco-tourism is becoming more and more popular. How much do you think, how can eco-tourism be successful in the Republic of Tuva?

- Certainly, Tuva has considerable tourist resources. It includes natural and recreational, historical and cultural aspects. Certainly, tourists mainly attracted to our clean air and beauty of the landscape. Tuva is a very interesting region. There are different natural climatic zones: from deserts to the high mountains to the west. We have the so-called alpine tundra, where we breed reindeer herders. We also have shepherd, who breed camels in desert areas, as well as breed alpine yak. We have a unique area in this regard. Our climate is sharply continental. In winter temperatures can drop below minus 50 and even lower in some areas. Now, we have a heat temperature in the country: 42 above zero. I think it is about 45. That is why we suffer from fires in our region... We have a sharply continental climate. In this respect differences are very sharp. But in general we have a stable temperature, and these differences are rare. They sometimes happen, but not so often. The weather is always most of the time, and we can say that more tourists are interested in our healing springs and salt lakes. Tourists from our neighboring regions: the Krasnoyarsk Territory, the Republic of Khakassia visit our region because of healing salt lakes that located near our capital. Its names can be translated as the salt lakes These are unique places where mud itself is curative. Certainly, telling about the healing and curative mud of the lake. First of all, we should say about healing of the lake itself. Above all, we are focusing our efforts in order to develop these areas quality infrastructure.

- Among other things the Republic of Tuva is very well known for its rich historical past, in particular, I know a number of archaeological excavations carried out on the territory of Tuva. I even know that there is a fortress, called Port-Bazhyn, and it is believed that this is the northern gate to Shambhala. Could you tell more about these sight of your region?

- Yes, there are different kinds of tourism. Including mystical. The Por-Bazhyn fortress translates as "clay fortress". Yes, some of our shamans believe that it is special, maybe someone really believes that it is the gateway to Shambhala. In fact, there are still many things to learn about this fortress. At one time our great compatriot Sergei Kuzhugetovich conducted a unique archaeological student expedition there, and many students, young people, spent a very good time there, you can say that not only did they master the basics of archeology, but maybe some learned a deeper spiritual component.

- I have been to Tuva and I know what Tuvan hospitality is, I think, apart from the spiritual component, they discovered the gastronomic component. Natural organic food, great local lamb and of course tea with milk, which warms you up in any weather, whether it's forty-degree frost, or some kind of evening cool, in this vein. Can you easily come to see the Por-Bazhyn fortress at will?

- Yes, of course, you can come. The fortress is located near the village of Kungurtuh. Moreover, that fortress recieved federal status. Entrepreneurs are working on the territory of the fortress, they can conduct a tour on the territory of fortress and of course, not only acquaint you with the fortress itself, but also show you the charm of the surrounding nature, maybe even show the lake, how crystal clear it is, and rich in fish, and so on. I would also like to note that on the territory of the republic we are holding a very unique archaeological camp "Valley of the Kings." This is an archaeological site. Each year students from various universities of Russia and abroad are participating in the camp. And our museum is replenished with new exhibits, for us it is some kind of forge of personnel and, of course, we hope that for the students it would be a great life experience, because anything touching on history yields many things, not only knowledge, but also experience.

I would like to invite everyone to our republic. Our republic is unique and beautiful. At the first glance, from the first time, it will inspire you. Maybe at first you will find it inaccessible, but at the same time when you get there, it will open many things for you, for your soul, you will return a different person, spiritualised, with the understanding that you are very strong, it will give you a lot of strength. Come, we will be very pleased to meet you, give you tea with milk and show our nature.