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The special issue of the NAAIR Newsletter published an analytical review of investment projects in the cargo terminal industry. The largest capital investments in active projects are in the Leningrad Region, their volume is 345.3 billion rubles, or 21.3% of the total industry financial volume. “The interest of investors in the development of port logistics infrastructure projects in the Leningrad Region is obvious and there are grounds for this. The North-West is absolutely competitive as a direction for shipment to Latin America, India, North and East Africa. The route of cargo, for example, metallurgical coal from Kuzbass, to India is no longer through our ports than through the Far East. If you look at the main markets for fertilizers, the number one consumer is Brazil, Argentina, and here it is also obvious that shippers choose the North-West. In terms of non-energy cargo, it is Central Russia that is the location of the cargo base, from where it is also close to our port capacities. In addition, decisions were made in a timely manner to build new specialized terminals, and at the time when operations in the Baltics or through other unfriendly countries fell under sanctions, the port capacities of the Leningrad Region and St. Petersburg picked up the volume of cargo that used to go through other countries,” commented Dmitry Yalov, Deputy Chairman of the Leningrad Region Government for Economy. Recall that the following projects are planned to be launched in the Leningrad Region: Universal terminal of the Novotrans company in the port of Ust-Luga; Modernization of the Vysotsky port Port Favor mineral fertilizer terminal in Ust-Luga Expansion of the Ultramar terminal Planned for implementation: LUKOIL project in Vysotsk Global Ports project with the modernization of the container terminal in Ust-Luga. Primary data source: Digital platform "Investment projects".

Yuri Simachev, Director of Economic Policy at the National Research University Higher School of Economics, presented estimates of the factors limiting the growth of the manufacturing industry in Russia from March 2021 to December 2024. According to him, since mid-2024, a "new uncertainty" has formed due to the impact of secondary sanctions, changes in monetary policy, a possible adjustment of the US foreign economic course under the Donald Trump administration, as well as the return of a number of foreign companies to the Russian market. The speaker noted that among the key challenges is the accelerated growth in the significance of the problem of a shortage of skilled workers. In addition, the impact of seizures in the financial sector has increased: companies are faced with an increase in the tax burden and high interest rates on loans, which significantly constrains their investment opportunities.

The Russian-German Chamber of Commerce held an anniversary conference dedicated to the results and forecasts of foreign business in the North-West Federal District. Director of AERLO Anastasia Mikhalchenko told the participants about the industrial potential of the Leningrad Region and the investment climate, and also presented the region's personnel capabilities. For 11 months of 2024, the industrial production index in the region was 109.2%. According to experts, investments in fixed assets will exceed 880 billion rubles, and the growth of GRP will be 103.6%. The Agency for Economic Development helps businesses implement their most ambitious ideas. The developed client-centric system "Green Corridor" supports the investor at any stage of the project implementation. And the feedback mechanism, which was launched on the "Personal Account of the Investor" platform, speeds up the resolution of issues up to 7 working days. Since October last year, AERLO specialists have processed 210 requests! A separate section of the speech was devoted to the interaction of AERLO with the VTP RG. “This year, the organization turns 30 years old. We value our interaction, strengthening relations with foreign businesses, discussing joint initiatives, and working to support regional investors. We congratulate the VTP RG on its anniversary and wish it new achievements aimed at developing the economy of the Leningrad Region!”, noted Anastasia Mikhalchenko. Yuri Simachev, Director of the Center for Structural Policy Research at the Higher School of Economics, spoke about trends in Russian and foreign business in 2025. The main conclusions from his speech: today, economic shifts are observed during the period of tough sanctions, new priorities of state policy have been set growth leaders are finished metal products, computers, transport the leading partners of the Russian manufacturers market are changing the uncertainty of the economic situation is the main restraining factor for growth in manufacturing SMEs are characterized by high investment activity and rapid growth in capacity utilization there will be an increase in the globalization of companies. The results of the work of the Russian-German Chamber of Commerce on the eve of the organization's anniversary were presented by Executive Director Ruslan Kokarev.

In 40% of the country's regions, enterprises were opened more often than they were liquidated. The largest increase was recorded in Moscow (+24.9 thousand), the DPR (+1.2 thousand), the Moscow Region (+1 thousand), and the Leningrad Region (+913). This was reported by analysts at Finexpertiza. In 2024, the number of liquidated commercial enterprises decreased by 20% compared to 2023, to 203 thousand. This is a record low since 2010! In total, 215.9 thousand commercial organizations were opened in the country during the year, taking into account new regions. “Despite the sanctions and the generally difficult economic situation, companies in the Leningrad Region continue to operate steadily - they are expanding production, increasing the number of jobs, increasing labor productivity, and building cooperation chains for the sale of products both within the country and abroad. The region uses maximum tools to maintain a comfortable investment climate," commented Dmitry Yalov, Deputy Chairman of the Leningrad Region Government for Economics. Today, the Leningrad Region Economic Development Agency is supporting about 340 projects with a total investment volume of over 7 trillion rubles! The main volume is provided by megaprojects in the field of gas chemistry, as well as large and medium-sized companies in the food industry, mechanical engineering and metalworking, tourism and commercial real estate.

The world's largest oatmeal cookie manufacturer "Lyubimy Kray" opened its doors to a working group on the preparation of an industrial tourism development program. It consists of regional committees, municipalities, enterprises, LOTPP and a tour operator. The plant entered the pilot project together with 5 other industrial sites of the Leningrad Region. After the excursion, the industrial tourism team gathered to discuss the roadmap and excursions around the Leningrad Region. Work continues on the development program for this area in the 47th region.

This is not the first time that the sports project stimulates the motivation of investment agency employees, increases productivity, improves health, and attracts them to daily training. The competition among the opponents is tough, because the main prize is a trip to the Murmansk region, where you can see the Northern Lights live! The AERLO team consists of 7 people! Every day, amateur athletes complete the step norm, pump up their muscles in the gym, enter the ring, organize racket competitions, and do fitness exercises right at work! To win, the participants need to collect 75 thousand charges! We are on our way to this goal. And you can already watch our sports successes!

The winners of the All-Russian Award in International Cooperation and Export "Exporter of the Year-2024" have been announced. Among the best is the company "Bakery Production" (export brand of JSC "Lyubimy Krai" from the Lomonosov District), which has been nominated for the second year in a row. The company took first place in the additional nomination "Best Exporter in E-commerce" and third place in the nomination "Exporter of the Year in Ready Food Products." Well-deserved recognition! After all, "Lyubimy Krai" - Produces 2000 tons of finished products per month, which translates to over 100 million pieces. - The factory is the winner of the regional stage of the "Exporter of the Year" competition. - Supplies its products to 17 countries worldwide, actively develops the Chinese market, and collaborates with Belarusian factories. - Following almost every event organized by the Export Support Center of the Leningrad Region, the company signs several new export contracts. "Lyubimy Krai" is one of the most active exporters in the region's food industry.

A roadmap has been developed for converting forest fund lands into recreational lands to boost tourism and address the accommodation shortage. This was announced by the head of the investment project support department of AERLO, Stepan Kamenetsky, during the Forum of Tourist Territories. The event is taking place in Mineralnye Vody from October 3 to 6. "In the Leningrad Region, we have developed Russia's first regional investment strategy for developing tourism infrastructure. Its goal is to attract investments for the creation of collective accommodations. The strategy's outcomes include 10 growth points for tourism infrastructure development and 6 investment lots, including those on forest fund lands. As part of piloting this new mechanism, we invite all interested investors to embark on this journey with us," noted Stepan Kamenetsky. The investment lots are plots with preliminary concepts that best balance supply and demand. Currently, these include the shores of the Gulf of Finland, Cape Bobovy, and a park-hotel on the Vuoksa River. During the presentation, one of Russia's major hotel developers expressed interest in the proposed lots.

The head of the economic sector of the Leningrad Region government, Dmitry Yalov, will participate in the Strategic Session "Regional Export - New Solutions," where he will discuss the development of export activities in our region. Participants will discuss: - Prospects for the development of foreign economic activities - Changes in the Regional Export Standard and its impact on target indicators - New mechanisms for supporting regional export development programs The full program of the forum can be found at the link. The large-scale event is organized by JSC "Russian Export Center" as part of the national project "International Cooperation and Export."

Now businesses in the Leningrad region have the opportunity to give orders to bachelor's and master's students for free oral and written translation. The university is a forge of highly qualified personnel. It offers education in 62 languages of Asia and Africa. Among the popular fields are Arabic, Chinese, Korean, Turkish, and Japanese languages. Anastasia Mikhaylichenko, the director of AERLO, is also a graduate of the Faculty of Oriental Studies at St. Petersburg State University. "Students can help businesses with translating letters, agreements, and presentations, participate in negotiations and meetings, and later have a chance to gain employment," said Anastasia Mikhaylichenko. She also emphasized that the agency's team is strengthening cooperation with foreign partners in terms of attracting new investments to the region. Over five years, the AERLO team has participated in more than 100 international events. Representatives of the agency have held talks with delegations from the People's Republic of China, EU countries, the Republic of Turkey, and Belarus. During the ceremonial event, an agreement on cooperation between St. Petersburg State University and AERLO was signed.