This became known during the presentation ceremony of the results of the National rating of the investment climate on the second day of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. Thus, for the year the most western region rose immediately to 24 positions and was among the leaders among the subjects in terms of growth rates in the rating.
Commenting on the results of the updated National Rating, the Governor of the Kaliningrad region Anton Alikhanov named such reason as well-coordinated teamwork of the government, municipalities and business structures of the region. "When we first started, we were at 71 place. I thought that it was impossible to get out from this bottom. But by the results of the last year we climbed 32 positions, this is 24. I am pleasantly surprised. I'm glad that the work done has brought such results. The main directions that have made it possible to achieve them are a change in the control system. Now all checks are coordinated by my signature. By the year, there is a decrease of 3,300 inspections. It was useful to restructure measures of small and medium-sized businesses support. We made one instead of five funds. The entrepreneur now receives all the necessary information, necessary subsidies and guarantees in one place. This is the MFC for business, which provides more than 100 services in electronic form. This is coworking, a lecture hall. The training of business, representatives of municipalities has also borne fruit. The amendments to the law on SEZ that came into force also made the difference. From the beginning of the year, 31 residents, announced investments of 9 billion rubles, 3,000 new jobs", Anton Alikhanov said.
According to the Director General of the Development Corporation Vladimir Zarudny also present at the National Rating results presentation, the breakthrough of the region in it is an important signal for both already active SEZ residents and potential investors who are only going to localize production in the Kaliningrad region. "Business should be engaged in production, new technologies, scaling of successful business models. The task of regional authorities and development institutions is to create comfortable conditions for work, provide infrastructure, minimize administrative and legal costs, remove barriers, and provide effective support mechanisms. This is reflected in the implementation of target models, monitored regularly by the project office of the Development Corporation. A high result is shown, but, as numerous meetings with business show, it is inadmissible to calm down at the achieved level", Vladimir Zarudny explained.
It should be noted that the Tyumen region topped the investment attractiveness of the regions in 2018, the second place was taken by Moscow, the third - by the Republic of Tatarstan.
For reference. The national investment climate rating is a project implemented by the Agency for Strategic Initiatives for the Promotion of New Projects. In the Kaliningrad region it also supports and implements projects in several key areas: "Improving the investment climate", "Staffing the economy" and social projects.