Alexey Ostrovsky Spoke at the Conference Devoted to Developing Investment and Business Environment of the Smolensk Region: Achievements, Challenges, Prospects
Governor Alexey Ostrovsky participated in the conference on Developing Investment and Business Environment of the Smolensk Region: Achievements, Challenges, Prospects as part of the Fourth Regional Social and Economic Forum “Territory of Development”. During his speech the region’s chief executive reported on the progress of the Regional Administration Office in investment activities and outlined plans for 2019.
“This significant event is of crucial importance for my team and me personally, as it gives the Smolensk Region a chance to demonstrate its success in investment promotion. And these achievements are proven not only by words but also by clear and specific figures and indicators. My subordinates and I spare no pains to draw new investment projects of various kind and scope to the region, and we are always open to a dialogue and are ready to cooperate. The investors are ensured optimum conditions for successful business starting and running, that means necessary support, prompt resolution of problems, transparency and inclusive dialogue, which represent my personal principles and approach of the Regional Administration to building investor relations. The Regional Administration team treats each investor as the most important one!” noted Alexey Ostrovsky in his opening speech.
According to the Governor, one of the most powerful practices which helps find out the opinion of entrepreneurs, identify growth areas for the state and municipal authorities in order to create congenial business environment is the Russian Regional Investment Climate Index: “As a result of a fierce competition, the Smolensk Region continues to rank 31st and has moved into the group of regions which are considered to be successfully developing. But as a chief executive of the region, I consider this is not enough – that I why my subordinates have been set a task to improve these results next year. This has become possible, in particular, due to a higher ranking for 8 indicators related to infrastructure availability and various forms of business support. In addition, the Agency for Strategic Initiatives included the Smolensk Region into the top 5 regions that are most successful in small business development which was announced at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.”
The report shows that this has been achieved due to consistent interaction of the Regional Administration Office and relevant authorities with different business community members, varying from startuppers to major investors, as well as due to the partnership approach to business associations, such as the Scientific and Industrial Union, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, local branch offices of the Business Russia and OPORA ROSSIA organizations.
Worth mentioning is the significant importance of a training project introduced by the Agency for Strategic Initiatives and the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA) aimed to achieve management excellence for the regional teams, which is extremely important for a smart personnel policy. “I am pleased with the fact that a local project entitled Smolensk Flax – from Field to Market and drawn up by the regional team from Smolensk has been recognized as the best in the Central Federal District this year. I think it is a milestone achievement for our region due to a special focus put on developing flax growing industry which is considered to be a top priority sector of the regional agribusiness,” concluded the Governor.