The Government of the Russian Federation issued a resolution establishing Khibiny National Park, with a total area of ​​84,804 hectares, in the Murmansk Region.

Reference

The national park will be under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Natural Resources.

The areas included in the national park will not be removed from economic use, but will be granted to the Tundra farming cooperative run by a group of Sami, the local indigenous people, for reindeer herding.

The purpose of the national park is to preserve the practically unspoiled natural systems of mountain tundra and northern taiga of the Khibiny and Lovozero mountain ranges in the western part of the Kola Peninsula, which have great environmental, scientific and recreational significance.

The national park area contains unique natural landmarks – geological, geomorphologic, hydrological, botanical, zoological, landscape, historical and cultural sites – that have educational and aesthetic value and are attractive for the development of tourism.

The Khibiny Mountain Range is unique in its landscape diversity and the variety of rocks and minerals. Almost all animal species and the main types of vegetation of the Murmansk Region are found there. A number of plant and animal species are under special protection and are listed in the Red Data Book of the Russian Federation and the Red Data Book of the Murmansk Region.

The projected national park includes historical and cultural heritage sites such as Neolithic camp sites (from around the 8^th-3^rd millennium BC), and those of the Sami medieval period, artifacts of Sami history and culture, and the history of the development of the Khibiny and Lovozero tundra mineral deposits.

The message reads, in part:

“Prominent statesman and public figure, Ruud Lubbers made a great personal contribution to the development of the friendly Russian-Dutch relations. Ruud Lubbers’s work in the United Nations is worthy of high praise.”

The Prime Minister answered questions from television host Maria Bondareva.

Dmitry Medvedev: We have recently launched an import substitution programme for several reasons, primarily domestic ones. I would like to point out that we did not do this because of the sanctions. We did this for other reasons, although the sanctions were an additional incentive.  We did this so as to create healthy production facilities in the industry, transport and agriculture, as well as to develop the digital economy and critically important sectors such as energy and the pharmaceutical industry. We launched import substitution in all of these industries so as to boost our capabilities. All Government departments are involved in this work. We have reported the first achievements; we have moved forward considerably in a number of spheres.

For example, our pharmaceutical industry is growing by 25 percent a year. This is completely unprecedented. What did we do in the past? We used foreign currency to buy pills abroad. Today we are investing in research, production, packaging and marketing. And the same is happening in an increasing number of industries.

I recently had a meeting with the Transneft CEO. He told me that 93 percent of the equipment they buy, including the most sophisticated equipment – control systems, pumps, engines, turbines and pipes – are made in Russia. The situation is the same at Rosneft and Gazprom. All major Russian companies, which are straining under foreign pressure designed to drive us into a corner, are working to convert to Russian technologies and Russian suppliers. I am sure that they can do this.

Only recently, 50 to 60 percent, sometimes up to 80 percent of food on our tables was foreign. Now we have the Food Security Doctrine. We have reached and even exceeded its targets in the most important areas. This concerns such essential products for the country as grain and, specifically, wheat. This concerns sugar, a whole range of feed supplements, and poultry. Not so long ago, we imported chickens and other livestock from abroad. Now everything is domestic. Our goal is to fully resolve the food problem regarding all animal products, meat, milk and butter. Once we succeed we can become absolutely self-sufficient food-wise, and even start realising our massive export potential. Even now, we are the largest net exporter of grain and pulse crops. Last year, we produced an unprecedented harvest of 135 million tonnes, even slightly higher. This allows us to supply crops to  the largest countries’ markets.

Maria Bondareva: What about the so-called finance import substitution? It looks like the circle is closing in.

Dmitry Medvedev: As much as it is closing in, they will not be able to box us in completely so that we cannot get out. This has never happened in Russian history.

To a large extent, we are meeting our financial demands using our domestic opportunities, by looking for new financial markets. Of course, an entire range of projects has been at risk since the financial sanctions were introduced. We managed to find other financial resources and mobilise our internal capacities. But, frankly speaking, I wish none of that had happened because it is damaging to both Russian and foreign businesses. Sanctions always hit both sides. 

More to be posted soon…

Plenary session Investing in the Regions, Investing in the Future.

The main theme of the forum this year is Forming the Image of the Future. The programme comprises three blocks: New Regional Policy: Improving Administration, A Fresh Boost for Regional Business, and Improving the Quality of Life.

The Russian Investment Forum exhibition includes promising investment projects from the regions and companies.

Plenary session Investing in the Regions, Investing in the Future

15 February 2018

Touring the exhibition stands of the Russian Investment Forum Sochi 2018

15 February 2018

Touring the exhibition stands of the Russian Investment Forum Sochi 2018

15 February 2018

Plenary session Investing in the Regions, Investing in the Future

Предыдущая новость Следующая новость

A signed directive has included the International Bank for Economic Cooperation (IBEC) on the list of international financial institutions the securities of which have been accepted for placement and public trading on Russian territory. This will help expand the IBEC’s opportunities in implementing investment projects and enhance the development of the Russian financial market.

Reference

Submitted by the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation.

The International Bank for Economic Cooperation (hereinafter referred to as the IBEC) was established by the countries of the Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (CMEA) on October 22, 1963. The IBEC’s authorized charter capital is 400 million euros, including the paid-in capital of 200 million euros. The Russian Federation’s share in the IBEC’s paid-in capital is 51.59 percent. As the biggest shareholder Russia is a priority region for the bank’s transactions.

At its 126^th session on December 9, 2015, the IBEC’s Council approved the 2016−2020 Resumption and Development Strategy. According to this strategy, the mission of the bank is to promote the development of the economies, enhance foreign economic and trade contacts between the companies and organisations of its member countries, and also between them and the companies and organisations of other states, facilitate the formation and development of joint ventures and small and medium companies and provide them with financial support. One of the areas of this support is the IBEC’s participation in projects on developing the eastern regions of Asia that are part of the IBEC member states, including Russia’s Far Eastern Federal District.

At present, the IBEC is expanding its loan portfolio, partly by taking part in projects carried out in Russia. In December 2017, the bank endorsed the funding of an infrastructure project on rebuilding an Ufa International Airport passenger terminal. The IBEC is now reviewing applications on the funding of other projects on Russian territory.

The Fitch Ratings international agency has given it an investment level rating that corresponds to the rating of the Russian Federation. 

Federal Law on Security Market (No. 39-FZ) of April 22, 1996 did not allow the IBEC to place its securities on Russian territory.

The securities of a number of international financial institutions, such as the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the Eurasian Development Bank, the International Investment Bank, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, the New Development Bank, and the International Development Association have been included, by the Russian Government decision, on the list of securities accepted for placement and public trading on the Russian stock market.

The signed directive has included the IBEC on the list of international financial institutions the securities of which have been accepted for placement and public trading on Russian territory.

This will help expand the IBEC’s opportunities in implementing investment projects and enhance the development of the Russian financial market.