Interregional Relations

Inter-regional cooperation is one of the leading spheres of social and economic policy of the Government of Karelia that in 2004 acoomplished active work on expansion and strengthening inter-regional relations, development of trade, economic, scientific, technical and cultural relations with regions as in the Russian Federation, and with the CIS countries, and with regions of the CIS countries.

Our republic supports inter-regional cooperation in such spheres, as engineering industry, timber and mining industry, construction, housing and communal services, agriculture and fish industry, tourism, culture, education, and public health services.

Inter-regional cooperation of Karelia covers 20 regions of Russia, Byelorussia, Autonomous republic of Crimea and the Odessa region of Ukraine. Total number of agreements completed makes 23. Agreements possesing reports containing specific actions on their implementation are the most effective. There 10 agreements of this kind: with the Government of Moscow, administrations the Leningrad, Vologda, Murmansk, Archangelsk, Saratov regions, republics of Bashkortostan, Adygea, Komi and Belarus. It is possible to note, that commodity circulation with these regions in 2004 has made 7 billion 650 million roubles (2% growth to the level of 2003), or 70% of commodity circulation of Karelia with regions of Russia.

Almost all republican executive authorities participate in inter-regional cooperation. Administrations of local self-government of the republic and the interested enterprises and establishments join in this work more and more actively. The given work in 2004 resulted in signing documents on trade, economic, scientific, technical and cultural cooperation with Moscow, St.-Petersburg, Leningrad region, Republic of Komi and Autonomous republic of Crimea of Ukraine. Now reports to agreements with the Odessa region and Autonomous republic of Crimea are under coordination.

Hosting Days of the Republic of Karelia by regions and, accordingly, Days of regions by the Republic of Karelia has become a good tradition. In 2004 Days of St.-Petersburg in Karelia, visits of delegations of the Government of Moscow and Leningrad region to Karelia took place.

With the purpose of expansion of cooperation establishinfof cooperation between institutions of local government of the regions has become customary. In 2004 agreements between Pryazha, Prionezhsky and Kalevala districts of Karelia with Petrograd, Kurortny and Moscow areas of St.-Petersburg have been signed.

The greatest effect ie provided by cooperation with regions being potential investors, first of all with cities of Moscow and St.-Petersburg and Leningrad region. Within the framework of inter-regional cooperation with Moscow, due to the investment program of Moscow financing of extraction of block granites from "Kalguvara" and "Soskujansaari" quarries, reconstruction of the quarry of Pitkarantsky Quarry Administration and a factory, construction of experimental-industrial manufacture of schungite crumbs and filling in Karelsky granite, Ltd., is acomplished, the "MKK-Onego" enterprise on stone extraction in Pudozh district is organized. Productive capacity for manufacture of 100 thousand tons of crushed schungites per year that satisfies annual requirement of Moscow market is created. Moscow investments in development of the mining complex of our republic in 2004 have made 32 million roubles

Due to inter-regional cooperation deliveries of Karelian fish products to St.-Petersburg and Moscow, whole-milk and distillery production to Murmansk region, delivery of young trouts from Leningrad region to Kareliya are established.

Cooperation in the field of road construction develop. Leningrad region and Karelia actively cooperate in the sphere of development of a road route from St.-Petersburg to Petrozavodsk throgh Sortavala and Pryazha. Result of implementation of cooperation with the Government of Leningrad region is development of the Program of Weather Monitoring of the Basic Road Routes, considering planning of expansion of a network of automated information-measuring system "Meteotrassa". Cooperation of Karelia with the Government of Archangelsk region promoted outlet to the border with Archangelsk region on the site of Dolmatovo-Nyandoma-Kargopol-Pudozh (Northern Transport Corridor highway). Cooperation with Vologda region has allowed to share a deposit of sand-gravel materials on the site of a motorway in Vytegra district.

Cooperation in engineering, logging and mining industries is accomplished actively. Petrozavodskmash Close Corporation and Onega Tractor Factory, Inc., in comparison with 2003 have 79% increased standard items of production in Vologda and Ackhangelsk regions.

Within the framework of inter-regional cooperation extraction of 200 tons of kelp by "Archangelsk Algal Industrial Complex" Federal State Unitary Enterprise in the Karelian part of the White Sea and trawling of the White Sea herring by vessels of the Karelian enterprises within the administrative border of Archangelsk area have been arranged. The opened route Byelomorsk - Solovki has solved the problem of delivering tourists received by Karelian tour operators and agencies.

Conclusion of contracts between the fish-breeding enterprises of Murmansk region and fish-breeding farms of our republic is a positive result of regional cooperation with Murmansk region. In 2004 fish-breeding farms of Karelia received 20 tons of young fish of rainbow, Karelian enterprises have delivered 2,3 thousand tons of fish and seafood to Murmansk region.

Important issue of inter-regional cooperation is participation of theatre toupes of our republic in festivals and concerts dated for significant events, tours of theatre and musical collectives, participation of children in various competitions.

In 2005 the Government of the RK planns to prepare 4 working reports to agreements for signing with Vologda region, St.-Petersburg, Odessa region and Autonomous republic of Crimea of Ukraine.