The Governor of the Novgorod Region, Alexander Dronov, took part in an online press conference dedicated to the development of the region's investment potential. It was organized by the Interfax Press Center in the North-Western Federal District. The event was also attended by Evgenii Bogdanov, First Deputy Governor of the Novgorod Region, and Artur Ayupov, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Novgorod Special Economic Zone.
The regional governor said that this year, the Novgorod Region will participate in the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum for the ninth time.
"This year, we are presenting the region with the slogan 'Invest in the Great.' The main symbol of the Novgorod region, the collective image of our country, the monument to the Millennium of Russia, has been chosen as the visual basis for the stand. As part of the forum, we plan to sign investment agreements worth more than 8 billion rubles. For some of these agreements, this will be the first time we have signed them, while for others, it will be the second or third stage of cooperation. This demonstrates that the Novgorod region is a reliable partner," said Alexander Dronov, inviting everyone to visit the region's stand.
In response to a question about the region's economic potential, the Governor said that about 40% of our economy is industry. The region has a positive trend in industrial production. In January-March 2026, the index was 104.1% compared to the same period in 2025. Retail and wholesale trade, as well as the volume of paid services to the population, are growing. In 2025, the average monthly salary increased.
"The region ranks first in the North-West in terms of potato production and second in terms of vegetable production. We almost completely provide ourselves with all food products and focus not only on the development of large agricultural holdings, but also on supporting farmers," the head of the region emphasized.
During the meeting, Alexander Dronov noted that the main strategy for the region's development is to attract investors. According to the governor, about 280 billion rubles have been attracted over the past five years. In the National Investment Climate Rating, the Novgorod Region has risen from 53rd to 9th place in eight years.
"We are in second place in the North-Western Federal District, after St. Petersburg. This is a clear indication that our region provides a comfortable, safe, and profitable environment for entrepreneurs to operate in. We consider the investor to be a long-term partner and are ready to accompany them at all stages: from the idea to the launch of production,” the regional governor said.
Evgenii Bogdanov elaborated on investor support at a press conference. He said that the Novgorod Region Development Agency provides comprehensive support for investment projects in a "one-stop shop" mode. This allows the investor to receive up-to-date information on all available support measures, and ensures that personnel issues are worked out in conjunction with technical schools and colleges in the region. It also guarantees assistance in effective cooperation with resource supply organizations and local Governments to accelerate the implementation of projects. Currently, the agency supports 50 investment projects with a planned investment volume of more than 85 billion rubles. As a result of their implementation, more than 4,600 new jobs will be created. The First Deputy Governor also spoke about the measures to support investors in the region, which meets the objectives of the national project "Efficient and Competitive Economy".
During the press conference, Artur Ayupov spoke about the advantages of the Novgorod Special Economic Zone for investors. In 2025, it was ranked among the top 10 special economic zones in the country. As a result of the implementation of investment projects, residents plan to create over 1,500 new jobs. In June 2024, a production building was opened on the territory of the special economic zone. Currently, eight companies have already launched their production facilities. To date, residents have created 540 jobs and invested 4.2 billion rubles.
The personnel policy of the region was also discussed during the press conference. Evgeny Bogdanov said that the region pays special attention to attracting young professionals. The priority regional project "University City" is being implemented. A modern university campus is being built under the national Youth and Children project, which will also help attract specialists, including from other regions of the country.
28 мая 2026 09:52:00
