The Project of the Tomsk region Development Strategy till 2030 relies on the intensive development model

12.12.2014

"The previous strategy was updated in 2012. Since then the external and internal economic factors has changed, priorities in the region development have been reviewed and a new Federal Law on strategic planning has been adopted. Moreover, the strategy shall take into account provisions of May Orders of the President, our updated concept "INOTomsk" and other federal and regional documents", noted A.Antonov, Deputy Governor on Economy when opening the joint meeting of Expert Councils.

Evaluating the results of the previous strategy V. Klimanov, Head of RANHiGS (Russian Academy of National Economy and State Service) Chair (project developer) informed that the Tomsk region economy in 2009-2013 demonstrated a moderate growth. Gross regional product grew by 10.5% (the same in Russia as a whole grew by 5.3%), industrial production grew by 16.1% (the same in Russia as a whole grew by 4.4%). Forecast indicators on attracting the foreign investments (for 2015) were surpassed as early as in 2013 (223.4% of the forecast indicator), and on export of goods (without fuel and energy complex) were 11.4% higher than the forecast one. As to the public sphere, the rate birth indicator was surpassed (+162.5%), and the share of population regularly going in for sports grew by 96.1%. There are improvements in the unemployment rate, in the incomes of population, in housing provision.

Unlike the previous strategy that was based on the industry-related concept, developers of the updated document specified five conceptual priorities: innovations, human capital, favourable investments environment, efficient territorial policy, efficient management. These priorities agree with goals and objectives of the strategy and for their solution the regional governmental programs are adopted.

Another innovation is developers' proposal to identify three (rather than two, as it was previously) economic belts on the territory of the region. The Northern belt includes areas with mining activities; the Southern belt embraces the agglomeration of Tomsk, Seversk, Tomsk province, and adjacent municipalities; the Central belt includes borderline areas (Kolpashevo, Bely Yar, Bakchar, and Molchanovo). Realization of large-scale infrastructure projects (Northern latitudinal road, Tomsk-Taiga motor road and some others) play a key role in overcoming the spatial and economic disintegration of the areas.

According to the authors' forecasts, the share of goods manufactured by high-tech industries in the Tomsk region GRP by 2030 will grow up to 30%, the share of highly productive jobs will go up to 224 thousand, and investments of Tomsk Special Economic Zone residents will be as high as RUB 5 billion. Unemployment rate and poverty are also expected to be declined.

In the course of discussion the experts noted the disputable nature of dividing the region into "economic belts" and offered that authors should more thoroughly investigate the ways of levelling the disproportions in the municipalities' development. In the opinion of experts, the competitive environment of the Tomsk region has not been given due consideration, as well as the strategy for establishing the inter-regional relations. With view of the rapidly changing circumstances inside the country, the RANHiGS specialists were posed a task of analysing the short-term forecasts.

A draft concept of investment development of the region that shall become a component part of the economic development strategy was presented at a joint meeting of two Expert Councils. The Project of up-to-date strategy of social and economic development of the Tomsk region up to 2030 was previously discussed at strategic sessions, including sessions with participation of representatives from municipalities. The document is planned to be adopted in 2015.

Source: Press-Service of the Tomsk Region Administration
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