Enter, it is open: Tomsk authorities on investing and plans for 2018

TOMSK, Dec 28 – RIA Tomsk, Natalya Brusnitsyna. More than 50 investment projects worth 350 billion rubles implemented in the Tomsk region in 2017. About how the region attracts investors, whether federal retailers will come, and when the first production in the industrial park will be opened, the head of the regional investment department Alexander Fedchenko told RIA Tomsk.

- Alexander Sergeevich, I suggest to start our conversation with the traditional question - with what indicators does the Tomsk region complete 2017 in terms of investment volume in comparison with the previous year?

- At present, due to the persistence of difficult economic conditions and restrained investors' expectations regarding the improvement of the economic situation, the tendencies of the past are preserved in the investment sphere of the region. We do not expect the growth of investor activity following the results of 2017.

Including due to the completion in the previous 2016 investment stage for a number of major projects in the manufacturing industry. I am referring to the projects of Tomskneftekhim, Sibmetakhim, the first stage of the project of the Research and Production Association ReaSib, Tomlesdrev and other organizations. On these projects there is a payback of invested funds now.

If we talk about the extractive industry, then here is increasing of investment is hampered by a decrease in the volume of production drilling as a result of the depletion of the explored deposits.

The implementation of new projects in the consumer sector and the real estate market largely depends on the purchasing power of the population. In addition, the current budgetary constraints do not allow to increase the volume of budget investments directed to capital construction and reconstruction.

Thus, the volume of investment in fixed assets in the Tomsk region in 2017 is projected at around 100 billion rubles.

At the same time, in terms of investment per capita, our region continues to be held in the top three in the Siberian Federal District. We are inferior only to the Krasnoyarsk Territory and the Irkutsk Region. For the nine months of 2017, this figure at us - is 57.9 thousand rubles. On average, in Siberia, it is about 47 thousand rubles.

- What significant investment projects have been implemented in the region during this year?

- Despite various economic and financial difficulties,  this year more than 50 investment projects worth over 350 billion rubles (for the entire period of their implementation) in all basic sectors and spheres of the economy were implemented this year in the region.

These are projects that were mainly aimed at creating, modernizing or expanding production. Also among them there are infrastructure projects.

For example, was launched the production line for the import-substituting antisurge and regulating axial valves at the Tomsk Electromechanical Plant (TEMP). Another import substituting project is the opening of the Tomsk garment factory "Tsarina" for the production of knitted pile fabric, with a capacity of more than 200 tons per year.

In the agrarian sector - Siberian Agrarian Group completed the reconstruction of the "Tomsky" pig breeding complex, a new cattle breeding complex LLC "Berezovskaya farm" in Pervomaysky district was opened. The latter was built within the framework of the Russian-Chinese partnership between the Tomsk region and the province of Shandong of the PRC. The complex was named "marble" farm, as there Herefords are grown. The volume of investments - is 185 million rubles.

The "Siberian milk" company this year completed the first phase of the investment project for 400 forage cows. In 2018 and 2019 the company will introduce two more lines, increasing the breeding stock up to 1.7 thousand cows. The total investment in the project will reach 1.1 billion rubles.

Speaking about the consumer sector, at the end of November the Nakhimov market was opened for 350 trade places in the Kirovsky district of Tomsk. In July - the first official dealer center Lexus.

In the social sphere, a vivid example was the opening of school for 1,1 thousand places on Dizaynerov Street. In November, the reconstructed section of the Kamaevka-Asino-Pervomaiskoye highway was placed into operation, its length is 12.5 kilometers. Completely the road will be reconstructed until 2020.

- In addition to the construction of the Kamaevka-Asino highway, what other projects will be continued in the coming year?

- Among the largest - is the construction of an experimental and demonstration power complex with the reactor on fast neutrons "BREST-OD-300". The project is being implemented by the Siberian Chemical Combine (SCC) and State Corporation Rosatom.

Work on creation of the timber industry park in Asino, which is being implemented by RusKitInvest with attraction of the Chinese investments will be continued. At the final stage is the project of LLC "Cryogenmash-Gas" for the construction of a new production of technical gases and compressed air. The use of modern equipment will allow the region to completely close the need for technical gases. The commissioning of production is scheduled for February 2018.

In the agricultural sector will continue the work on the project for the production of fodder for livestock farms, which is being implemented by the "Pervomaisky" agro-complex.

- Alexander Sergeevich, what is the investment forecast for our region for 2018?

- The mining sector, including oil and gas transportation, processing industry, real estate transactions, in particular, housing construction, is traditionally one of the sectors of the region's economy with the largest share in investment volume. Also, a significant amount of investments fall on agriculture, energy and education.

In order to increase investment activity, the non-oil sectors of the economy are being supported, are being implemented the measures to develop hard-to-recover reserves, work is under way to improve the investment climate, and the practice of public-private partnership is developing.

With taking into account the gradual adaptation of investors to the new economic conditions and increasing business activity in 2018-2019, we expect the recovery of investment activity with the subsequent growth in investment rates.

- Haven't large retailers lost interest in Tomsk?

- The companies "Trade Quarter", IKEA, Leroy Merlin and "Auchan" considered questions about the opening of new shopping centers in Tomsk. Representatives of these companies in previous years met with the authorities, offered sites. The further development of the situation now depends only on the investment policy and financial capabilities of parent companies.

At present, the regional authorities are ready to continue cooperation with both the mentioned trade networks and with other investors, providing comprehensive assistance in locating in the region.

- And what is known about the intentions of McDonald's to build a second facility in Tomsk?

- Investor plans for the construction of the second McDonald's restaurant in Tomsk for 2018 remain. Currently, are being resolved the issues on the acquisition of a land plot for the construction of a restaurant. Only after that it will become possible to obtain from the investor more detailed information about the project.

- Have there been investors for the construction of elite hotels?

- The issue on construction of the hotel was considered earlier in the framework of the project "Tomsk Embankments", at present this issue is being worked out within the framework of the development of the SEZ infrastructure.

The administration of the region invited to cooperate the main Russian hotel chains and international hotel operators, most widely represented in Russia. However, according to the received answers, while these companies do not make direct investments in the construction of new hotels.

At the same time they express interest and readiness to discuss participation in the development of the facility as an operator or a management company. Thus, the issue of finding an investor for the construction of a hotel on the territory of the SEZ for us is still relevant.

Nevertheless, the development of hotel services in the city of Tomsk in general continues. In addition to the functioning of a significant number of mini-hotels, one of the examples is the opening in August 2017 on Krylova Street of the Xander Hotel with 20 rooms.

After the stage-by-stage introduction of the hotel complex facilities (restaurant, spa, conference halls) they plan to be certified for four "stars".

- In previous years, much work was done to improve the investment climate in the region. With what results in this direction Tomsk region completes the year? And what else do you need to work on?

- Tomsk region in the National rating of the investment climate in the subjects of the Russian Federation took the 24th place out of 85 regions and the first place among the subjects of the Siberian Federal District.

During the implementation of the road map, it was possible to reduce the average time of registering property rights by 3.6 times, legal entities almost twice. According to the national rating, the share of participation of small business entities in the implementation of state and municipal contracts increased by 2.2 times as against 2016.

We also managed to improve the availability of services for business as a whole: the MFC network for entrepreneurs has been created, and the quality of telecommunications services has grown.

Meanwhile, we have yet to direct additional efforts to improve the procedures for connecting to electrical and engineering networks, issuing building permits, and developing electronic services for business.

Also is continuing the work on the introduction of municipal practices. By the end of 2017, already 12 Tomsk districts had joined this work.

- How popular at the investors the "Berezovaya" and "Severnaya" platforms of the Tomsk industrial park?

- The interest of organizations in placing on the territory of the industrial park is constantly growing. For two years the status of the resident was received by seven companies.

On the "Berezovaya" platform there are three residents - "Organic Soya Product", "Siberian Nut", "Ecofood". The total cost of these projects is about 120 million rubles. On the "Severnaya" site there are  four residents - Metallurg, ReaSib, Sibstalkonstruktsiya and Stirax, and the total investment in projects is 570 million rubles.

I will note that in 2018 start of production at "NPO Reasib, "Metallurgist" and "Organik Soya a product" is expected.

In addition, at present, investors are considering the possibility of placing on the site "Severnaya" the chemical and petrochemical products.

With taking into account the interest of potential residents, the sites can be completely filled in five to seven years. This fully corresponds to the world practice of developing industrial parks.

- The "Tomsk" special economic zone  - what results were achieved after the transfer of authority to the region?

- Delegation of authority has made it possible to increase the speed of decision-making in attracting investors to the SEZ and promoting the development of their projects.

So, for today the created expert council made decisions on supporting business plans of 14 innovative companies. Nine of them - are the projects of new residents. Thus, currently the total number of SEZ residents is 72 companies.

The Tomsk SEZ, by the way, is one of the five of the best in Russia.

- What significant projects are planned for 2018? Is the arrival of new investors expected?

- Implementation of the project "Derevenskoye molochko - Syrniy dvor" is planned for the construction of a milk processing plant with a capacity of 280 tons per day in Seversk, worth more than 1.2 billion rubles.

Also, within the framework of the mono-city support program and attraction of funds from the Fund of development of monotowns it is planned to build a gas pipeline to the production site of the "Derevenskoye molochko", which will ensure the infrastructure needs of the project.

The "Mazalovskaya farm" will begin the investment stage for the construction of a dairy farm for 2.6 thousand heads of a dairy herd and a capacity of 22.5 thousand tons of products per year. The project will increase the total milk production in the region by one third. Investments in the project will amount to 3.2 billion rubles (until 2021).

JSC "Sibkabel" plans to purchase equipment for the production of high-temperature oil-immersed cable, the release of which is scheduled for 2019. In 2018, the "TGOK Ilmenite" enterprise is likely to enter the design of a mining and processing plant with a capacity of 7.5 million tons of ore sands per year, and the investment in the project will amount to more than 13 billion rubles (until 2024).

In addition, a number of investors are negotiating on the implementation of new projects in the region. The process of making a final decision on investing in the creation of new industries, as a rule, is a lengthy process.

Therefore, as soon as we receive a final confirmation of investors on the implementation of projects, we will necessarily share this information with the media.