Experts find Adygea most attractive Russian region for investors

The leading Russian rating agency "Expert" made a study, which concludes that Adygea was ranked first in nomination "High level of public safety" and took the lead in the rating of investment attractiveness among Russian regions by the outcomes of 2008-2009.

The rating analyzed the investment climate of Russia's 83 regions as of January 1, 2010. The following risks were calculated: economic, financial, social, ecological, criminal, legislative and managerial.

"Such studies are held for fourteen years already," the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was told at the press service of the agency. "The rating of investment attractiveness consists of two estimations: of investment potentials and investment risks."

The expert group includes regional and foreign experts and bank employees.

"As to Adygea's neighbours," said Olga Machulskaya, "then, as compared with the previous rating, three North-Caucasian republics have improved their standings - the Chechen Republic, the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania and the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic."

In her opinion, this is a result of social-economic stabilization.

Natalia Zubarevich, director of the regional program of the Independent Institute of Social Policy, believes, in her turn, that it is rather irresponsible to define the winner in nomination "High Level of Public Safety" by the existing criteria.

Thus, the NCFD (North-Caucasian Federal District) traditionally has low level of domestic criminality. "It's not a habit among the nations of Northern Caucasus to grasp a knife, amidst a kitchen quarrel, and throw it at one's neighbour, brother or a matchmaker. This is more specific for Russian regions, especially those with plenty of colonies," the expert marked.

Let us note here that the global financial crisis was the main aspect of the 2009 economic life and influenced the development of all Caucasian regions. In the south of Russia the crisis effects mainly found their embodiment in poorer operation of businesses at all levels, growth of unemployment and accumulation of wage debts. At the same time, in 2009 many regions managed to finalize major projects and signed promising investment agreements.

Thus, at the International Investment Forum in Sochi Adygea signed a number of agreements, including the project of a gas piston power plant in the Koshekhabl District, which will work on the condensate extracted by the British company. The sum of the investment agreement makes 2.1 billion roubles.

In 2010, Adygea will also start building the section "Tikhoretsk-Zarechye" of the new main oil pipeline "Tikhoretsk-Tuapse-2".