The Murmansk Region has completed an on-site training of regional investment teams, which was conducted by the National Association of Investment and Development Agencies (NAAIR) together with the Murmansk Region Development Corporation. Over the course of several days, representatives of more than twenty regions studied the experience of the Arctic in attracting investment, and also discussed how the development of local cuisine affects the dynamics of new investment projects in the regions.

On March 14, the Murmansk Region government team presented the region’s experience in working with investors, including support for projects implemented through public-private partnership mechanisms and the creation of special project companies based on the regional Development Corporation. 

"The Arctic is currently of interest not only within the country, but also on the international stage. Over the past five to six years, the region has achieved good results: projects have been launched, decisions are being made at the federal level that stimulate new projects, plans are being formed to develop key settlements, which, in turn, give businesses an understanding of the long-term prospects of how these territories will develop and what can be invested here. And of course, if we talk about the experience of attracting and working with investors, we have something to share," said Svetlana Panfilova, Deputy Governor and Minister of Arctic Development and Economy of the Murmansk Region.

As part of the business program of the internship, the Murmansk Region Development Corporation signed an agreement with the Yenisei Siberia Development Corporation, implying cooperation in exchanging positive practices in working with investors, consulting on current issues and holding joint events. A presentation of the new expert platform "NAAIR. Arctic" was also held, which will be supervised by the Murmansk Region. 

"In addition to the fact that we presented the experience of the Murmansk Region in working with investors, and we managed to discuss in sufficient detail with colleagues all the issues raised, during the internship we decided to launch an industry platform for the Arctic on the basis of the National Association of Investment and Development Agencies, where we will work together with corporations to develop effective solutions to improve the investment climate in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation. In fact, we want to join forces," said Artem Kuksa, General Director of the Murmansk Region Development Corporation. 

One of the main topics of the internship was the topic of attracting investment through the development of gastrotourism. A meeting of the expert platform "NAAIR. Arctic" was held on March 14. Tourism", during which the Tourist Information Center of the Murmansk Region presented the concept of developing Arctic cuisine. The participants talked to restaurateurs who are successfully developing Arctic cuisine in Murmansk - brand chef of the congress hotel "Meridian" and resident of the "Gastronomic Map of Russia" Maxim Galetsky and brand chef of the restaurant "Tsarskaya Okhota" Maxim Volkov. The greatest interest of the internship participants was aroused by the system of organizing personnel training. Thus, in the Murmansk Industrial College, cooks have been trained in the "Arctic cuisine" direction for two years. Students learn to cook dishes from local products and undergo practical training in the city's restaurants.

"In the Murmansk Region, the systematic work of the team of Governor Andrei Chibis is visible. Usually, when an investor comes to the region, he comes to a specific locality. And here it is very important that government representatives at all levels can solve the investor's problem in a short time. In the Murmansk Region, we see this relationship. As for the topic of attracting investment through gastrotourism, this is a fast-growing niche, a large number of investment proposals are currently being formed around this topic. Thus, about 80% of travelers, when choosing a territory, pay attention to the food and drinks that are offered on the territory. And we have received a large request from the regions to study the experience of the Murmansk region in developing local cuisine, building consistent work with the business community and with educational institutions," said the executive director of NAAIR Rafael Khusyainshin.

Also, as part of the internship, the participants studied the experience of the Pechenga District in developing local cuisine, where for several years the gastronomic festival "Gastro Industry Fest" has been successfully held, which has become famous beyond the region and has become a platform for the development of an original direction of Arctic cuisine in the municipality - industrial. Local entrepreneurs introduce dishes with names such as "miner's lunch" and "hidden in stone" in their cafes.

Let us recall that earlier, as part of the internship, regional investment teams  got acquainted  with the specifics of working with investors in municipalities and studied the best practices of investment commissioners.

/ Murmansk Region Development Corporation /