Pskov Region by Alisher Bekkulbekov The Pskov Region (oblast) is located in North-Western Russia and is bordered by Estonia, Latvia, and Belarus. The region covers approximately 13,700,000 acres (55,500 square km) and supports a population of 841,000, 64 percent of whom live in urbanized areas. The major city of Pskov (207,400 people) is 4 hours from St. Petersburg and Tallin (Estonia), 12 hours (by train) from Moscow. The city has an international airport, river port, railroad, and bus stations. About 10 percent of all Russian export is shipped through Pskov each year. Gateway to Europe: · a frontier region in Russia · 10% of Russian exports are shipped via Pskov each year · an expected 50% increase in population · increase in privatization of land As a result of the physical restructuring of the former Soviet Union, Pskov has emerged as a frontier region in North-Western Russia bordering two Baltic nations and Belarus. Its population is expected to increase by 50 percent within the next five years due to increased immigration from neighboring states. Research, studies and other development related projects are currently underway to accommodate such dramatical political, demographic, economic, and land use changes.   Exports: timber, peat, flax, linen, electric engines and generators, cables and wiring, clothing and footwear Imports: cereals, foodstuffs, general consumer goods, machinery and equipment, chemicals and fertilizers The area is positioned extremely well for eco-tourism and cultural tourism. The region is environmentally the purest state in Russia. It has the largest lake system in Europe (over 3,700 lakes with overall water area of 2,100 sq. km). Almost one third of its territory (1.8 m hectares is covered with forests. The city of Pskov was established in 903 AD making it one of the oldest in Russia and is therefore rich in historical and cultural sites. Over the past 1,090 years the city has survived no less than 26 major sieges from external warring factions. There are over a hundred churches, monasteries, and cathedrals including the Pechorsky monastery, one of the world's best preserved Orthodox monasteries. Mikhailovskoye, a village-museum of the famous Russian poet Alexander Pushkin, attracts hundreds of tourists each year. The region is especially anxious to generate new business activity and international trade with the U.S. As of January 1995 more than two thirds of its 163 large and medium businesses had been registered as joint-stock companies producing 87 percent of the total industrial output. The foreign sales for 1994 totaled USD $29.7 million, with Baltic countries accounting for almost 50 percent of it. Almost 200 joint ventures and foreign subsidiaries were operating in that region by January 1995. The region is working aggressively on the development of the democratic political system and market economy. The leadership of the region is well known to the principals in this Partnership Program as people of great capacity and deep commitment to the concepts of democratic government and market reforms. There is a high level of readiness on both sides to work on and complete several projects contributing not only to the economic development of the area but also to its political stability. Key Investment Areas: · construction · transportation · tourism · agribusiness · wood processing · foodstuff processing The Pskov region is rapidly growing. It is an excellent position to develop a secure and prosperous future and a good standard of living for its people. It has a wealth of agricultural lands that are currently under-utilized, and an excellent location for trade and tourism, substantial forestry and water resources, an environment of very high quality, and an educated, healthy, and motivated population. The Partnership Program and its U.S.-Russian Trade Office encourage all interested U.S. parties to offer the training, products, capital, and expertise that will allow for the effective and rapid development of these resources and potentials. Reprinted with permission from The U.S.-Russian Trade Office Newsletter, Issue 1, January 1996, editor Andrei V. Izurov. He can be reached at 413-545-5681. 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: November 27, 2001. Copyright the Russian-American Chamber of Commerce® 1995-2003. All rights reserved.