The Republic of Adygeya This information is provided by Chamber intern Christian Schaller, a student at the University of Leipzig/Germany. Facts at a Glance: The Republic of Adygeya President: Aslan Dsharimov Address: Shukovskovo ul. 22, Russian Federation, 352700 Maikop Tel.: 7-87722-2-1900, 2-19-01 Fax: 7-87722-2-5958 Location: Northwest Caucasus Area: 7,600 sq km Population: 437,000 people. Capital: Maikop (155,000 inhabitants) Native Adygey number 110.000 people in their own republic. They share one language with the Kabardians and Cherkess, but they have a different Cyrillic script. History The population of the republic consists of the following groups: the Adygey, the Kabardians and the Circassians. The Adygey emerged as a distinct ethnic group from the Circassians in the 13th century. After being conquered by the Mongol Empire during that period, the Adygey allied with the Russian Empire in the 1550s for protection from Tatar and Turkic groups. The movement of Russian settlers into the Don and Kuban regions caused unrest among the Adygey and other Circassian groups that supported the Ottoman Empire against Russia in the Crimean War of 1853-1856. When the Circassians were defeated by the Russians in 1864, most were forced to emigrate or move to areas under Russian control. Adygey Autonomous Oblast was established on July 27, 1922 and was called Adygey (Circassian) Autonomous Oblast from August 1922 until August 1928. The Adygey-Khase Movement formed during glasnost and raised issues of nationalism and independence. An Adegey commission began calling for the return of ex-patriots in 1991. Adygeya officially declared sovereignty on June 28, 1991 and was recognized as a republic at the signing of the Federation Treaty in March 1992. From March 1992 - an autonomous republic, though in reality it had the status of an autonomous region within the Krasnodar District (Kray). Since 1936 the centre of the region was the town of Maikop, which is today its capital. Geographical Location The republic of Adygea is situated in the south of Russia, in the north-western part of the Caucasus and occupies the left banks of Kuban and Laba. The climate is temperate continental. The republic possesses rich water supplies. There are 85 big and small rivers. About 2/5 of the republican territory is covered by forests. Administrative Division The republic is divided into 7 districts, 2 towns, 5 town settlements, 226 villages and 55 rural districts (okrugs). Economy and Business Adyghe Republic has great potential for boosting its industrial development. The republics major industry is the food industry. Food enterprises produce canned meat, vegetables and fruit, confectionery, pasta, vodkas and wines, rose and sage oil, and many other products. The joint stock companies Adygeya Canned Food Works, Fabmai and Maikop Confectionery churn out high-quality products which are in great demand in Adygeya, Russia and beyond. Adygeya exports products manufactured by the mechanical engineering, woodworking and food industries to 17 countries worldwide. Agricultural produce is widely assorted and ecologically clean. Favorable climactic conditions and fertile soil allow for cultivating various cereals and crops such as wheat, barley, corn, rape, rice, sunflower and many scent and oil-bearing plants. The republic takes pride in its tea, which is grown farther north than any other in the world does, and is very popular with connoisseurs. Poultry farming is another major agricultural branch. The republic produces chicken, geese and duck. A farm producing dietary turkey meat, one of the largest in the CIS, is located in the Republic. Joint stock and other companies are the basic organizational and legal form of economic activity in Adygeya’s agricultural sector. Horse-breeding has been the Adyghe peoples’ national pride since immemorial times. Now the once-forgotten industry is being revived. Specialists of the Maikop horse-breeding factory and the state pedigree horse stable are preparing to breed racehorses. Horse racing is not only an exciting sport, but also a highly viable source of capital investment. The Maikop Experimental Station of the Vavilov AU-Russian Institute of Horticulture was established over 60 years ago. New varieties and hybrids of fruit and vegetables are created here. The station boasts one of the largest collections of fruit trees in the world, including valuable varieties of apples, pears, plums, cherries, grapes and other fruit, as well as medicinal herbs that are grown in Adygeya. Every year, young sturgeons bred by the Adyghrybkhoz association are released into the Azov Sea. The republic’s economy is not just agriculture, however. Adyghe Republic has a rather well-developed industry: aside from the food industry, mechanical engineering and metal-working play an important role in the republic’s economy. The woodworking industry is one of Adyghe Republic’s traditional strengths, and this sector produces commercial timber, saw-timber, parquet and furniture. Recent years have witnessed increasing ties with foreign countries. The republic’s foreign trade is on the rise and reached $30 million last year. Currently, dozens of countries maintain business relations with Adyghe Republic, including Germany, the U.S., Turkey, Britain, and Italy. Adyghe Republic exports machines, various types of reduction gear, furniture, cardboard, seeds of oil-bearing plants and food. Major import items are mechanical engineering products, consumer goods, ferrous metals and petroleum products. A total of 480 enterprises, representing 61 percent of the national economy, have been privatized in the republic, spawning dramatic changes in the production sphere. The private sector of the economy accounts for 51 percent of industrial production, while private trade represents 62 percent of the national total. The share of private farms in production of major agricultural produce is also growing. The development of small business in the republic efficiently solves many problems that arise during the transition to a market economy. As many as 1,947 small businesses have been registered in Adygeya Republic. Nearly 13,000 people, or almost 10 percent of the republic’s work force, are employed in small businesses, which alleviate unemployment problems. The rate of development of small businesses in industrial branches is also increasing. At the beginning of 1996, there were 506 industrial small businesses, which is 26 percent of the total number of small businesses. A preferential customs regime is in force on the territory of the republic. Adygeya’s enterprises and organizations are exempt from customs duties on goods imported to the republic for the needs of the state. The Russian government has assigned regional export quotas for saw-timber, commercial timber, and fuel oil and aluminium powder. Those privileges boost foreign economic activity and are aimed at attracting investors. Seventeen joint ventures with foreign companies of Britain, France, the U.S., Turkey, Syria, the Czech Republic and other countries have been set up in the Republic of Adygeya on the basis of close cooperation with representatives of the government and other partners. Export commodities, including for Britain, are supplied by the joint stock companies Tochradiomash (washing machines), Druzhba (furniture, chairs, parquet), Frunze Plant (vertical borers), Reduction Gear (reduction gear of various modifications), Vneshkontrokt (casein, rape seeds, oil-bearing plants), and the Republican Consumers’ Union (honey, medicinal herbs) among many others. It will be of great economic advantage if investors and entrepreneurs focus their attention on the development of tourism and sports hunting, the broad application of the healing qualities of our thermal mineral water, and the completion of structures at the Maikop Center for Production of Highly Pure Insulin. Adygeya Republic has a rather well-developed industry. It launched production of highly pure insulin in Maikop. For the first time in Russian Adyghe scientists together with their colleagues from St. Petersburg have developed and applied successfully a new technology for production of natural insulin whose pharmacological properties match world standards. The capacity of the Maikop-based production association of the Center of New Medical Technology of the Russian Federation Ministry of Healthcare and Medical Industry allows providing all people suffering from diabetes in Russia with this valuable medicine. A number of foreign countries have shown great interest in Russian insulin produced Maikop. Export commodities are supplied by joint stock companies Tochradiomash (washing machines), Druzhba (furniture, chairs, and parquet), Frunze Plant (vertical machines), Reduction Gear (reduction gears of various modifications). Agricultural produce is various and ecologically clean. The favorable climatic conditions and fertile soil allow for growing various cereals and crops such as wheat, barley, corn, rape, rice, sun flower as well as ether- and oil-bearing plants. The republic takes pride in its northernmost tea in the world. Poultry farming is a major agricultural branch. The republic produces meat of chicken, geese and ducks, turkeys. Horse-breeding has been Adygeya’s national pride since time immemorial. Currently, the once forgotten industry is being revived. Specialists of the Maikop-based horse-breeding factory and the state-hold pedigree horse stable are developing sports horse-breeding. Mineral Wealth Oil and gas are Adygeya’s most valuable minerals. Maikop “white” oil is known the world over. The properties and resources of the republic’s thermal and mineral water are also unique. They contain a wide range of microelements such as iodine, bromine, boron, arsenic, zinc, cobalt and barium, to name but a few. The republic has considerable reserves of raw materials for production of cement, lime and glass. The deposits of building, facing and semiprecious stones are located in the republic’s mountainous regions. Clay and mixtures of sand and gravel are found on the plains. The greater part of the region’s huge clay deposits is now being developed. Bricks and expanded clay aggregate are in production. Maikop’s clay has remarkable properties that allow for production of tile, glazed tile, ceramic sewer-pipes, Mettlach tiles and faience (a type of glazed earthenware). In addition, the republic has high-quality limestone. Manifestations of molybdenum, tungsten, polymetals, rare-earth metals, silver and gold have also been discovered in Adygeya Republic’s mountainous areas. Forest Treasure-House Forests cover almost 40 percent of the republic’s territory. Oaks, beeches, hornbills, ash-trees, maples, Caucasian silver firs, spruce and pines grow in the mountains, while poplars, elms, willows and limes decorate the valleys. The Republic’s forests (oak, beech, hornbill and ash-tree) are used for making furniture and by the woodworking industry of the Northern Caucasus. Some 150 tons of medicinal raw materials and 170 tons of wild fruit are procured annually. Financiers who fund the development of this natural treasure will quickly regain their initial investment. The Best Location For Tourism, Vacation and Recuperation It seems as though Adygea was created for tourism. The gorgeous foothills of the Caucasus, the fascinating Lagonaki plateau, an abundance of deep caves, snowcapped mountain tops, luxuriant Alpine meadows, the vast steppes, ancient forests, mountain rivers with waterfalls and calm lakes will enthrall any traveler with their breathtaking beauty. The bulk of Adygea’s territory lies in the Kuban and Laba river valleys. A stunning combination of unique landscapes, moderate climate, mineral springs, flora and fauna, exotic nature and wildlife preserves create unique conditions for active rest and recuperation. Adygea has good sanatoriurns and spas and a great potential for developing tourism. The Lagonaki plateau has attracted downhill racers and tourists for over a quarter of a century (snow there doesn’t melt until June). A peculiar relief on the left bank of the Kurdzhips River provides for over 20 ski routes, ski-jumps, sled routes and skating rinks. The republic also has a horse path, one of the oldest in Russia. It starts at the Romantika tourist center, and without doubt makes for an unforgettable trip along the Caucasus. The upper reaches of the Belaya River have drawn water sport lovers for a long time. Tourists began to master the wild river in the 1970s. The Belaya attracts both professional and amateur sportsmen. Adygea is popular with both downhill racers and recreational skiers. The snowy slopes of the Lagonaki plateau are so various that both amateurs and professional alpine skiers will find suitable routes. Spelunking is also well developed in Adygea, which boasts 125 mines and caves. The local mountains also attract gliders. The first Russian gliding championship was held in Adygea in 1991. Since then, gliding lovers have frequently visited the republic. Excellent rock routes draw rock-climbers from Russia and other CIS countries. In addition, Adygea has a unique spa potential. The mineral water reserves will last for half a century, even if 1,500 cubic meters of water per day are taken. Therapeutic mud, reserves of which stand at about 60,000 cubic meters, acquires the qualities of the famous Yeisk mud when enriched with hydrogen sulfide water. The Lago-naki, Kurdzhips, Lesnaya Skazka and Shapsug sanatoriums, as well as the national physical therapeutic polyclinic, are Adygea’s best therapeutic institutions. They can accommodate up to 16,000 people suffering from cardiovascular diseases, illnesses of the central and peripheral nervous system including functional neurosis, diseases of the locomotor system, digestive organs, and gynecological and endocrine diseases. The opening of a new treatment and health restoration center in the republic’s mountainous area will allow for treatment of patients suffering from allergic diseases of the respiratory tract and bronchial asthma. The most potent treatment factor-the climate and clean allergen-free air-will help defeat all of these ailments. Inhabitants Of Mountains, Forests and Steppes Adyghe Republic is the home of nearly 60 types of mammals and about 200 kinds of birds. Bison, deer, Kuban goats, North Caucasian chamoises, bears, lynxes, wild boars and wild goats live in the mountains. Hares, foxes, wolves, goats, pheasants, thrushes, quails, woodcocks, wild ducks and pigeons populate the steppe. The Russian-American Chamber of Commerce® is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization acting to promote American business interests in the Russian marketplace. The Russian-American Chamber of Commerce® Last Updated: June 6, 2002. Copyright the Russian-American Chamber of Commerce® 1995-2003. All rights reserved.