The Russian Ministry of Regional Development has presented a strategy
for the social-economic development of the North Caucasus Federal
District until 2025 to the government. The strategy involves the
construction of its own Foreign Economic Activity Bank and several
development centers, similar to the Moscow Region's 'Skolkovo
Yuga.ru reports.
The project has 3 scenarios of development: inertial, basic and
optimal. The optimal scenario forecasts an economic growth of over 10%
annually, 400,000 new jobs, the growth of nominal wages 2.5-fold, and
an increase in Gross Regional Product. The optimal scenarios will be
working in 2 stages: 2010-2012 - launching priority projects and
improving investment climate; 2013-2025 - 'active growth phase'.
The creators of this project believe that it should help deal with
internal challenges and threats in the region such as: clans,
corruption, orientation on natural forms of agriculture, ethnic
separatism, religious radicalism, he lack of professional skills, and
the dependency of some parts of the population.
Its realization will firstly require the establishment of the
institution of development (a Foreign Economic Activity Bank), and a
monitoring council headed by presidential envoy to the region
Alexander Khloponin. The banks' financial resources will be formed
from the finances of the Russian Foreign Economic Activity Bank, large
Russian banks and federal budget. It will co-finance priority projects
of the region, manage the guarantee fund for investors, and realize
mortgage programs.
The regions will also have zones of territorial development based on
several regions and cities. Such zones will have special conditions
for business, tax, beneficial services and tax credits, similar to the
investment center of 'Skolkovo'.
The project emphasizes the tourist-recreational potential of
Stavropol, Karachay-Cherkessia, Kabardino-Balkaria, Sernovodsk),
mountain tourism (Arkhyz, Prielbrusye, Matlas, Mamison, Veduchi), and
beach tourism (Caspian coast), the newspaper 'Vedomosti' reports.
Attention is also paid to the transport infrastructure. A lot of road
construction will be involved, as well as the construction of
railroads to connect with Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan and on the
Caspian coast from Makhachkala to Derbent. It also includes coastal
stations for sea transport.
The document shows the amount of additional finances of the Russian
budget necessary for realization of the 'optimal' scenario.
