Press conference in RIA Novosti
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On June 21 Head of Karelia Sergey Katanandov gave a press conference in RIA Novosti Moscow news agency.
Annual Sergey Katanandov's large press conferences are held in Moscow and St.-Petersburg, first of all, to attraction of large investors' attention to Karelia and to tell about potential of the republic.
For federal journalists it is an opportunity to receive true objective information on the region firsthand. Finally, attention of capital press to the republic is converted into investments, new enterprises and workplaces, as well as increase in tourist flows. This press conference's subject was declared as follows: "What attracts investors and tourists to Karelia: beauty of its nature, mysterious stones, or closeness to the European Union?"
This press conference was unusual - country-famous people came to RIA Novosti to support Sergey Katanandov, and Karelia in his person: National Actress of Russia Nadezhda Babkina, National Actress of Russia Ilze Liepa, businessman Ralif Safin, NewsAlive broadcasting company Director General Mikhail Shirvind and artist Sergey Tsigal.
Head of the RK awards Nadezhda Babkina with the rank of the National Actress of Karelia
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Head of Karelia Sergey Katanandov thanked his supporting team having presented Nadezhda Babkina, Ilze Liepa, and Mikhail Shirvind certificates and lapel badges of National Actors of the Republic of Karelia right at the press conference. Mikhail Shirvind is awarded this rank for making a film from the Hunters for Recipes series in Karelia, and Nadezhda Babkina has noted that Karelian music has a special place in the program of her ensemble Russian Song: this creative cooperation with the republic has been lasting for more than a year and even more than a decade.
After famous actors told about their attitude to the republic and their new creative plans related to Karelia, journalists returned to questions concerning developments of the region. Representatives of mass-media wanted to learn about plans on increasing tourist business in the republic, prospects of attracting investments and such unexpected topics, as, for example, opportunity to transport the Bronze Soldier monument from Tallinn to Petrozavodsk.
The answer on development of tourism in Karelia became indicative. According to Sergey Katanandov, within the nearest years one billion dollars will be invested in development of tourist branch of Karelia, and the republic instead of the fourth or fifth attended in Russia Karelia will become the third after Moscow and St.-Petersburg.
Journalists at the press conference in RIA Novosti
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This subject was continued by famous Russian businessman and politician Ralif Safin. According to Mr Safin, as well as many other citizens of the country, he read a lot about Karelia and two years ago he decided to visit Kizhi island as an ordinary tourist. Fascinated by beauty of local places, the businessman addressed to the Government of Karelia with the offer of complex development of tourism in the region. As a result, in a year a new modern hotel will open in Petrozavodsk, where right after opening it is plammed to host the World Chess Championship. As a whole, Ralif Safin plans to invest about 250 million dollars in development of tourism in Karelia, which means new workplaces in the capital of the republic and number of regions of Karelia, as well as additional budget revenues.
Conversation regarding other spheres of life in Karelia was interesting as well. Summarizing his speaking, Sergey Katanandov has told that the republic faces the task to leave the list of subsidized regions in 3-4 years due to development of its largest enterprises and tourism. By estimations of economic observers, who shared opinions after the press conference, it is real.
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