Stavropol has summed up the results of social-economic development of the city. The statistics, despite the depressive climate, show that
industrial recession in the city has stopped.
Drawbacks in investments
The head of the committee for economic development and commerce, Vadim Grebennikov, says that there are visible repercussions from the financial crisis, the key problem being employment. 10,583 people were unemployed in 2009, 68% higher than 2008. There were 2,557 vacancies, 11% less than before the crisis. Tax and non-tax revenue to the budget was 16.9 billion roubles, a drop of 3% compared to 2008.
Investment volume in basic capital dropped by a quarter. Small and medium organizations managed to invest only 7.5 billion roubles for the development of economic and social spheres, 4.5 times less than the Russian average. Industrial decline has not yet ended. The volume of work carried out by construction organizations last year was half that of 2008. However, there is growth in housing, supported by
individual construction. Last year 6,467 apartments were put in commission (18% higher than 2008). The growth indicators made Stavropol the leader in the South Federal District and North Caucasus Federal District and Russia (105.5% and 93% correspondingly).
Advantages for manufacturing
Nonetheless, Stavropol, with its varied economy, didn’t suffer from destructive repercussions like some other cities, it became clear in the middle of last year. Manufacturing demonstrated vitality. In 2009 they shipped products worth 15.2 billion roubles, 111% higher than 2008 (the same indicator in Stavropol region was 104%). The growth rate of Stavropol outstrips the rate in the leading cities of the South and North Caucasus Federal Districts. Improvements can be seen in enterprises producing electronics and optical equipment, food products and chemical production. Companies like “Eskom” (133%), EKSITON” (117%) and “Stavropol Biofactory” (115.0%) all show growth.
Manufacturing companies show a growth of an average of 10.5%. Stavropol’s consumer market is developing as well. The turnover of retail business amounted to 117.6 billion roubles, 1.5% higher than 2008 level. This indicator is 5.5% lower than the Russian average.
And finally, the most important issue – wages. The average monthly wage last year was 17,423.4 roubles. But this is relative. State employees’ wages were increased in 2009, making it close to the wage level in the industrial sphere. The average wage in large and medium-scale manufacturing enterprises was 13,433 roubles, in educational institutions – 12,749 roubles, in healthcare – 12,681 roubles.
Prospects
Summarizing the report, Vice-Mayor Igor Bestujiy noted that “the general picture in Stavropol is positive, but today we need real steps and proposals, to determine what the city’s future appearance will, where its points of growth are.” In the strategy developed to 2020, Stavropol positions itself as a city of innovative technology, with a
pharmaceutical cluster and industrial park. The announcement shouldn’t be a declaration of intentions. It needs clear steps, a concrete program of actions, including decisions on various technical issues and securing of land. The program should be presented in the near future.
Lada Ledeniova under the auspices of the Stavropol administration press-service
