The dialogue of the Smolensk authorities and business community with the representatives of the Republic of Iran

After the working meeting of Governor Alexey Ostrovskiy with Governor of Lorestan province of the Islamic Republic of Iran Bazovand Houshang, there was a business meeting of the Head of our region and other officials representing the Russian side with the Iranian delegation in the conference hall of the Administration of Smolensk region.

The Russian side was represented by a State Duma deputy Vitaly Zolochevsky, Vice-Governors Nikolai Kuznetsov and Igor Skobelev and others. The Iranian side, in addition to the Governor of the Province, was represented by the Deputy Governor of the Lorestan province on planning Hadi Chaconi Ali and a number of top managers of various commercial companies.

This event was a logical continuation of the joint work done by the regional Administration and the LDPR faction in the State Duma, according to the plans of interaction adopted in the framework of the Party leader Vladimir Zhirinovsky’s visit to Smolensk in May this year.

Addressing the meeting, the Governor said about the wish of the regional Administration to cooperate closely with the Iranian businessmen and companies, to create the most favorable business conditions for the Iranian partners in Smolensk region. Among the advantages of Smolensk region for foreign investors Alexey Ostrovskiy highlighted the extremely advantageous geographical location, which makes it one of the most comfortable Russian regions for the development of logistics centers and terminals.

"The second geographical advantage is that the "Moscow-Minsk" motorway passes through Smolensk region, which is crucial for the development of business, - said the Head of the region. - In addition, the regional Administration is willing to consider options to mitigate the taxation burden of foreign investors for the period of setting up the company and depending on the volume of the invested funds, as well as to provide other benefits, including provision of land to build their business premises and electricity supply. This practice has allowed our Administration for two and a half years of work to attract 58 billion rubles to the region's economy".

The Governor also pointed out the developed structure of the processing complex, a considerable fund of free land for agricultural production. And this is not the full list of factors that ensure the investment attractiveness of Smolensk region for the Iranian investors.

During the conversation with Iranian partners Alexey Ostrovskiy brought up the up-to-date topic of import replacement. In his turn, Bazovand Houshang noted that our regions could interact constructively in some areas of agriculture and industry.

Next, the regional Administration hosted the meeting of the Iranian delegation with the industry and business community of Smolensk region. The representatives of agricultural enterprises, large retail chains, sawing and chemical industry took part in the meeting with the potential Iranian business partners.

Anticipating the interest of the participants, Deputy Governor Igor Skobelev informed the Iranian colleagues about the significant economic potential of the region. The Administration of Smolensk region has prepared 350 investment sites. Thus, it is likely that the example of Smolensk region will show that the Russian-Iranian business contacts can develop dynamically, based on the mutual understanding and trust, equal cooperation and open dialogue.

Because all endeavors to attract foreign investment a huge role, along with the dominant purposeful activity of the federal center, belongs to the regions. At the end of the meeting the parties signed an agreement on cooperation between the two regional chambers of commerce and industry.