Information about Leningrad Region
Leningrad Region was formed on August 1, 1927. Leningrad Region is one of 11 constituent entities of the Russian Federation included in the North-Western Federal District.
Territory: 94.667 thous. sq. km
Geographical location and climate:
Leningrad Region borders with five constituent entities of the Russian Federation: Saint Petersburg (federal city), the Republic of Karelia, Vologda Region, Novgorod Region, Pskov Region, as well as with two states: the Republic of Finland and the Republic of Estonia.
Nature: Near the headwaters of the Oyat river, there is the highest point above sea level in Leningrad Region, the Vepsian Upland (291 m).
The territory of the region has about 1,800 lakes. The largest of them is Ladoga, the first largest lake in Europe, 18.135 thous. sq. km. The total length of all rivers in Leningrad Region is about 50 thous. km. The largest of them are the Neva river, the Svir river, the Volkhov river and the Vuoksi river.
55.5 % of the territory is occupied by forests. The following objects are located in Leningrad Region: Nizhnesvirsky State Natural Reserve, Mshinskoye Boloto Federal State Natural Sanctuary, Vepssky Les State Natural Park, 22 regional state natural sanctuaries and 14 regional natural monuments. The area of specially protected natural reservations occupies about 6 % of the Leningrad Region territory.
Mineral resources: bauxites, clay, phosphorites, shales, granites, limestone, sand. Over 80 mineral deposits are exploited in the region. Due to its forest reserves, the region is one of the leading areas in the north-west of Russia in forest harvesting operations, woodworking and forest export.
Climate is transitional from marine to continental. Winter is moderately warm; temperatures in January are from 7 to 11 °С below zero. Summer is cool; temperatures in July are from 15 to 17.5 °С above zero. The average annual air temperature within the territory of the region is 2.2-3.6 °С above zero; the absolute maximum is 33-36 °С above zero; the absolute minimum is 40–52 °С below zero. On average, there are 200 days with an average daily temperature above 0 °С in a year, 35-91 days — with a temperature below 10 °С. The territory of the region is located in a humid zone; the average annual air humidity is 80–82 %. Annual precipitation: 715-823 mm. Snow cover: 120–160 days.
Population: The number of resident population of Leningrad Region as of January 1, 2023, was equal to 2,023.8 thous. people, including urban residents 67 %, rural — 33 %.
ETHNIC MAKE-UP
|
Based on the results of the 2020 National Census, the ethnic composition in Leningrad Region is most represented by all ethnicities of 1,000 people and more as well as indigenous minorities. Ethnic make-up as of January 1, 2024: |
|
|
Ethnicity |
Number of persons who stated the relevant ethnicity |
|
Persons who stated their ethnical identity |
1,752,846 |
|
Russians |
1,642,897 |
|
Ukrainians |
12,905 |
|
Uzbeks |
7,797 |
|
Belarusians |
7,527 |
|
Tartars |
6,805 |
|
Armenians |
6,182 |
|
Tajiks |
4,896 |
|
Azerbaijani |
3,814 |
|
Kirghiz |
2,004 |
|
Gypsies |
1,509 |
|
Moldavians |
1,464 |
|
Finns |
1,381 |
|
Kazakhs |
1,316 |
|
Georgians |
1,137 |
|
Chuvashes |
1,120 |
|
Bashkirs |
1,038 |
|
Germans |
1,000 |
|
Vepsians |
925 |
|
Ingrian Finns |
130 |
|
Izhorians |
116 |
|
Votians |
40 |
|
Other ethnicities (not mentioned above) |
46,843 |
CONFESSIONAL MAKE-UP
At the moment, 411 religious organizations are officially registered and operate within the territory of the region.
The most common religion within the territory of Leningrad Region is Christianity (Orthodox Christianity). The Russian Orthodox Church is represented by 315 local religious organizations.
The following organizations are represented in Leningrad Region as well:
- Evangelical Lutheran local religious organizations — 20;
- Roman Catholic Church — 3 local religious organizations;
- Judaism — 2 religious organizations;
- Islam — 4 local religious organizations;
- Buddhism — 1 local religious organization;
- Old Believers — 1 local religious organization;
- Christians of Evangelical Faith (Pentecostals) — 15 organizations;
- Evangelical Christians-Baptists — 15 organizations;
- Evangelical Christians — 8 organizations;
- Christians of Evangelical Faith — 15 organizations;
- Seventh-Day Adventists — 6 organizations;
- Protestant Christian Evangelical Organization — 1 organization;
- Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Latter-Day Saints) — 1 organization;
- United Methodist Church — 1 organization;
- Churikovtsy (Evangelical Temperance Christians) — 3 religious organizations.
The specified religious organizations have state registration.
A complete list is given on the website of the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation: http://unro.minjust.ru.
Administrative-territorial division
Leningrad Region includes one city district and 17 municipal districts, as part of municipal districts — 67 urban settlements and 120 rural settlements. The number of inhabited localities is 2,940, including: urban ones — 70, rural ones — 2,870.
Updated information about the administrative and territorial structure of Leningrad Region is posted at the portal of the Administration of Leningrad Region (https://lenobl.ru/ru/o-regione/administrativno-territorialnoe-ustrojstvo). Moreover, here you can find a map of the administrative and territorial structure of Leningrad Region of 2023 as well as maps reflecting the previous status of Leningrad Region in this field since 2010.
GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES IN LENINGRAD REGION
The Governor of Leningrad Region — the Chairman of the Government of Leningrad Region — is Alexander Yurievich Drozdenko (website: https://lenobl.ru/ru/gubernator).
The Government of Leningrad Region is the highest body of executive power of Leningrad Region headed by the principal officer of Leningrad Region — the Governor of Leningrad Region — the Chairman of the Government of Leningrad Region (website: https://lenobl.ru).
MAIN POLITICAL PARTIES
Upon the election of deputies of the 7th session in September 2021, 4 parliamentary parties were formed at the Legislative Assembly of Leningrad Region in accordance with the parties got into the parliament: United Russia, Just Russia — For Truth, CPRF and LDPR.
ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL SITUATION
Leningrad Region is one of the leading regions of the Russian Federation with a high investment grade, socially oriented development programs and actively developing civil society institutions.
Dynamics of gross regional product in base prices, RUB bn
|
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
|
849.6 |
953.7 |
1,002.5 |
1,147.6 |
1,223.7 |
1,238.6 |
1,473.3 |
1,657.8 |
1,796, 4 |
INDUSTRY
Over 600 large and medium enterprises are included in the industrial complex of Leningrad Region, and some of them belong to the leading organizations of Russia, of which over 155 subjects make a total contribution to shipment of over 90 %, i.e., have a great impact on regional economy.
The regional industry is shaped by manufacturing activities, which account for over 86 % of the industrial output of the region.
The processing industry of the region is represented by production of: coke and oil products; food, other vehicles and equipment, paper and paper products, chemicals and chemical products, tobacco products, non-metal mineral products and other industries.
The Industrial Production Index (IPP) for the full circle of enterprises in January – December 2024 by the relevant period of the previous year amounted to 108.2 %, including: extraction of minerals — 111.5 %; water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities — 112.1 %; electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply — 105.0 %; manufacturing — 108.7 %.
Creation of conditions for sustainable development of the industry of Leningrad Region is one of the main objectives set for governmental authorities of Leningrad Region. In order to implement top priorities in development of the region, work is in progress to improve measures for support of the industry, development of industrial infrastructure, cooperation and export.
Financial measures are provided to support industrial, strategic enterprises, small- and medium-business subjects, enterprises of the agroindustrial complex, as well as social support measures, including support of the labor market, etc.
INVESTMENTS
The attractiveness of Leningrad Region as a territory for stable and successful business operations is confirmed by consistent growth of the volume of investments in equity. Leningrad Region is dynamically developing and continues to occupy leading positions for many indices.
Ratings of the leading Russian rating agencies:
Based on the results of the National Investment Climate Index, Leningrad Region took the 10th place in 2024 and was included in the list of top 10 leading regions with the most favorable conditions for doing business.
At the year-end of 2024, according to the results of the quality rating of regulatory impact assessments, assessments of actual effect and expert review in the constituent entities of the Russian Federation, Leningrad Region is among the regions classified as "the highest-level regions."
The volume of investments in equity from all sources of financing in 2023 amounted to RUB 739.3 bn, which is 122.0 % as compared to 2022 in comparable prices.
The volume of investments in equity for the full range of enterprises in January–September 2024 amounted to RUB 637.4 bn (137.3 % as compared to the corresponding period in 2023), for large and medium-sized organizations — RUB 587.0 bn (141.6 %, respectively).
Of the volume of investments in equity of large and medium-sized enterprises in January–September 2024, RUB 364.9 bn (62.2 % of the total investment) were investments in manufacturing. Investments in transportation and storage amounted to RUB 95.1 bn (16.2 % of the total investment) — this is logistics and everything connected with it: modernization and creation of new port infrastructure, construction of hubs, development of new logistics flows, etc.
The main source of financing investments in equity of large and medium-sized organizations in January–September 2024 was represented by attracted funds from organizations (RUB 401.3 bn, or 68.4 % of the total investment), including RUB 22.6 bn raised from budget funds (of which RUB 8.7 bn is from the federal budget, RUB 9.3 bn from the regional budget, RUB 4.6 bn from the local budget). Own funds (RUB 185.7 bn) amounted to 31.6 %.
In terms of the volume of investments in equity among all Russian constituent entities in January–September 2024, Leningrad Region ranks 9th.
Key areas of activity in 2023–2024:
1) Providing government support measures.
In 2022, the following regulations were in force in the region, stimulating investment activity and providing preferences to investors:
By Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 271 dated 16.03.2018 on the Creation of the Territory of Priority Social and Economic Development "Pikalevo," the territory of priority social and economic development "Pikalevo" (hereinafter referred to as "the Pikalevo TPD") was created within the territory of Pikalevo urban settlement of Boksitogorsk municipal district of Leningrad Region, and the residents of this territory are provided with significant tax benefits on corporate property tax, corporate profit tax, land tax, preferential rates for insurance premiums as well as property support in the form of providing land plots for lease without bidding.
Currently, 4 residents are located within the territory of the Pikalevo TPD: F. Skrupskoy LLC, PRINCIP NOVO Nursery LLC, Krugliy God LLC, BlokFire LLC.
In accordance with Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 949 dated 25.05.2022 and Agreement No. С-138-ДВ/Д14 dated 23.06.2022, concluded between the Government of the Russian Federation, the Government of Leningrad Region and the administration of the municipal formation "Kingisepp Municipal District" of Leningrad Region, a special economic zone of the industrial-production type "Ust-Luga" (hereinafter referred to as "the SEZ") was created within the territory of Ust-Luga rural settlement of Kingisepp municipal district of Leningrad Region, and the residents of this zone are provided with a tax benefit on corporate property tax and a tax benefit on corporate profit tax.
In order to ensure the development and effective functioning of the SEZ, on the basis of Agreement on the Transfer of Powers to Manage the SEZ No. С-165-ДВ/Д14 dated 09.08.2022, the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia transferred certain powers to manage the SEZ to the Government of Leningrad Region, in connection with which the Government of Leningrad Region adopted Decree No. 643 dated 02.09.2022 on the Executive Authorities of Leningrad Region Ensuring the Implementation of Certain Powers Transferred to the Government of Leningrad Region to Manage the Special Economic Zone of the Industrial-Production Type "Ust-Luga" Created Within the Territory of the Municipal Formation "Kingisepp Municipal District" of Leningrad Region.
Leningrad Region has connected to the State Information System "Capital Investments," through the use of which the IPPA was concluded with Dary Prirody LLC (a project for the second construction phase for a greenhouse complex for the production of fruit and vegetable products under coverage with an area of 11.5 ha). By means of the State Information System "Capital Investments," Leningrad Region also regularly monitors the progress of investment projects concluded within the framework of the IPPA. In February 2024, a report on the results of monitoring the IPPAs concluded with investors of Leningrad Region was prepared and uploaded to the State Information System "Capital Investments."
2) Creation and development of infrastructure to attract investments.
In order to increase the investment attractiveness of Leningrad Region and provide access for organizations and citizens to complete and up-to-date information on the integrated development of the region territory, the Integrated Regional Information System "Investment Development of the Territory of Leningrad Region" (hereinafter referred to as "the IRIS") was created, which is represented by an interactive map clearly demonstrating the investment advantages of Leningrad Region.
In 2024, in order to develop the IRIS:
– integration with the investment map of Leningrad Region, located on the investment map of the Russian Federation, was carried out to ensure automated exchange of information on free investment sites and its prompt updating;
– new functions were developed and implemented in a specialized investment project management system based on the IRIS with access for a limited number of users (executive authorities of Leningrad Region), including the introduction of a new module with extracts from the Unified State Real Estate Cadastre in relation to land plots for the implementation of investment projects, filling with information was made and structuring was performed for updating and filling with new data, as well as the creation of new information layers.
To learn more about the work of the IRIS map on the Internet please visit the investment portal of Leningrad Region http://map.lenoblinvest.ru.
3) Support of investment projects in the "one-stop" mode.
Since 2013, the Front Office of the Leningrad Region Administration for Interaction with Investors (hereinafter referred to as "the Front Office") has been operating in the region, which manually accompanies each project being strategic for the region (with an investment amount from RUB 200 mln, RUB 30 mln for remote areas) from a business idea to commissioning. The Front Office was created on the basis of the State Public Institution "Economic Development Agency of Leningrad Region" (hereinafter referred to as "SPI "AERLO," "the Agency") being subordinate to the Committee for Economic Development and Investment Activities of Leningrad Region.
In order to increase the effectiveness of interdepartmental interaction when working with investors in the region, starting from 2021, the Front Office has been implementing the priority project "Customer-Centric System "Green Corridor for an Investor" (hereinafter referred to as "the system," "the Green Corridor").
The investment portal of Leningrad Region (www.lenoblinvest.ru) is a unified information and analytical center for business support in Leningrad Region. The portal contains up-to-date information about the region's investment potential, government support measures, success stories.
4) Interaction with business.
In order to keep an open dialog between government authorities and entrepreneurs on investment issues, the Council for Improving the Investment Climate in Leningrad Region (hereinafter referred to as "the Council") operates under the Governor of Leningrad Region. At meetings of the Council, requests from investors on issues related to conducting investment activities in Leningrad Region are considered, among other things.
On 12.09.2024, a meeting of the Council was held under the chairmanship of the Governor of Leningrad Region within the framework of the Baltic Regional Investment Forum — BRIEF'24.
By Resolution of the Government of Leningrad Region No. 594 dated 29.08.2024, the Procedure for the Formation of the Feedback Mechanism with Investment Entities of Leningrad Region was approved, and by Order of the Committee for Economic Development and Investment Activities of Leningrad Region No. 105 dated 04.07.2024, the Interdepartmental Working Group for the consideration of appeals within the Council was established. Through the Feedback Mechanism, business requests are resolved on a single digital window basis. The Feedback Mechanism is located in the IA. Since the start of operation, 210 business applications were processed by 18.10.2024.
AGROINDUSTRIAL COMPLEX
The agroindustrial complex of Leningrad Region includes 626 enterprises that provide jobs for 31 thous. people. According to the 2021 Agricultural Census, 762 peasant (farm) households and more than 254 thous. personal subsidiary plots are registered in Leningrad Region.
Crop production
According to the Federal State Statistics Service, in 2024, farms of all categories produced:
|
Indicator name |
Unit of measurement |
2023 |
2024 |
2024 (+;-) as compared to 2023 |
2024 as compared to 2023, in % |
|
|
Cereal crops (weight after processing) |
thous. tonnes |
157.0 |
149.5 |
-7.5 |
95.2 |
|
|
Rapeseed |
10.6 |
17.3 |
+6.7 |
163.2 |
||
|
Potato |
196.1 |
171.0 |
-25.1 |
87.2 |
||
|
Field vegetables |
123.1 |
117.4 |
-5.7 |
95.4 |
||
|
Indoor vegetables |
55.5 |
60.9 |
+5.4 |
109.7 |
||
|
Mushrooms (agricultural associations and peasant households) |
8.2 |
8.2 |
0.0 |
100.0 |
||
|
Fruit and berries (agricultural associations and peasant households) |
tonnes |
740 |
1,070 |
+330 |
144.6 |
|
|
Rough and succulent feeds |
thous. tonnes of feed units |
376 |
440 |
+64 |
117.0 |
|
|
Rough and succulent feeds (per one livestock unit) |
centners of feed units |
31.8 |
37.4 |
+5.6 |
117.6 |
|
The foundation for the 2024 harvest was laid in the fall of 2023 — 15.5 thous. ha of winter crops was sown, of which 12.3 thous. ha was cereal crops and 3.2 thous. ha was rapeseed. Following the wintering, the loss of winter crops due to unfavorable weather conditions was small — 455 ha, (cereal crops — 223 ha, rapeseed — 232 ha), or 2.5 % of the winter crop area. All winter crops were promptly reseeded with spring crops (cereal crops, rapeseed, annuals). Leningrad Region, in accordance with its geographical location, is located in a zone of risky agriculture. Many farms refuse to grow potatoes and field vegetables due to low profitability of production. In 2024, we saw a decrease in the sown area of these crops and, accordingly, a decrease in production volumes.
Cattle breeding
Production of main types of livestock products
in 2024 according to the Federal State Statistics Service:
|
Indicator name |
Unit of measurement |
2023 |
2024 |
2024 (+;-) as compared to 2023 |
2024 as compared to 2023, in % |
|
Farms of all categories |
|||||
|
Meat (cattle and poultry |
thous. tonnes |
376.6 |
380.0 |
+3.4 |
100.9 |
|
Milk |
714.7 |
715.0 |
+0.3 |
100.04 |
|
|
Eggs |
mln pieces |
3,496.2 |
3,660.2 |
+164 |
104.7 |
|
In agricultural organizations |
|||||
|
Milk yield per cow (without SMEs), kg |
kg |
10,342 |
10,461 |
+119 |
101.2 |
|
Hen-day average, pieces |
pcs |
318 |
322 |
+4 |
101.3 |
Food and processing industry
The index of production of food and processing industry products in January–December 2024 amounted to 106.5 %.
|
Name of food products |
Unit of measurement |
2023 |
2024 |
2024 (+;-) as compared to 2023 |
2024 as compared to 2023, in % |
|
Meat and by-products |
thous. tonnes |
314.6 |
326.2 |
+11.6 |
103.7 |
|
Sausage products |
21.2 |
24.0 |
+2.8 |
113.3 |
|
|
Cheese and cottage cheese |
3.9 |
4.4 |
+0.5 |
111.9 |
|
|
Fermented milk products (except for cottage cheese and curd products) |
35.7 |
37.2 |
+1.5 |
104.3 |
|
|
Bread and bakery products |
37.7 |
40.4 |
+2.7 |
107.1 |
|
|
Confectionery |
44.4 |
58.6 |
+14.2 |
132.0 |
|
|
Canned fruit and vegetables |
mln conv. units |
196.9 |
238.7 |
+41.8 |
121.2 |
|
Butter |
tonnes |
122.9 |
128.9 |
+6.0 |
104.9 |
Fishery
|
Name of food products |
Unit of measurement |
2023 |
2024 |
2024 (+;-) as compared to 2023 |
2024 as compared to 2023, in % |
|
Commercial release of fish food products |
thous. tonnes |
64.0 |
70.4 |
+6.4 |
110.0 |
|
Extraction (catch) of aquatic biological resources |
22.8 |
29.9 |
+7.1 |
131.1 |
|
|
Production (growing) of commercial fish farming (aquaculture) products |
13.6 |
11.1 |
-2.5 |
81.7 |
|
|
Processing of aquatic biological resources (fish and seafood) |
34.0 |
36.0 |
+2 |
106.0 |
TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS
The transport complex of Leningrad Region is an integral part of the transport system of the Russian Federation, the most important link in the global transport system, which is determined by the following factors: favorable transport and geographical position at the intersection of road, rail, water and air routes in the area of international transport corridors; adjacency to the borders of the countries of the European Union; close integration with St. Petersburg.
The need for transit and intraregional transportation within the territory of Leningrad Region is met due to a developed communications system, including all modes of transport: water, rail, road and air.
The operational length of ground transport communications is as follows: public railways - 2.5 thous. km; public roads - 22.8 thous. km, including hard surfaced - 79 % (18.0 thous. km).
Railway transport
The railway junction of St. Petersburg and Leningrad Region provides the bulk of freight and passenger rail traffic in the North-Western Federal District and is one of the largest in the Russian Federation.
The length of public railways in Leningrad Region is more than 2.5 thous. km, of which about 30 % is electrified.
There are 169 railway stations within the territory of Leningrad Region, including: 1 marshalling station (Volkhovstroy), 3 border stations (Ivangorod-Narvsky, Buslovskaya, Svetogorsk), 4 hub stations (Vyborg, Vysotsk, Primorsk and Luzhskaya) as well as more than 200 flag stations.
Passenger transportation by rail is carried out in suburban services as well as by long-distance trains.
The route network of suburban railway transport includes more than 100 routes.
Communication by long-distance trains is carried out mainly through the St. Petersburg railway junction.
The largest volumes of cargo work on railway transport in Leningrad Region are associated with export cargo flows through the seaports of the region. The main cargoes transported are petroleum products, mineral and construction raw materials, and coal.
Non-surface passenger transport
Non-surface passenger transport in Leningrad Region is represented by the Devyatkino metro station. The station is located in the city of Murino, Murino urban settlement, Vsevolozhsk municipal district, is the final station of the northern direction of the Kirovsko-Vyborg line of St. Petersburg metro and is combined with the railway station with the same name in the Priozersk direction.
Automobile tra
The fleet of individual cars in Leningrad Region is 605.9 thous. units; the car ownership level is higher than in the Russian Federation as a whole and amounts to 327 passenger cars per 1,000 people; this figure has remained almost at the same level over the past 3 years.
Within the territory of Leningrad Region, more than 800 regular bus routes are organized, which serve the population on intracity, suburban and intercity connections. The total length of bus routes is more than 28 thous. km.
There are more than 2,000 buses of various capacities on the route network in Leningrad Region, of which: 1,694 vehicles are equipped with a cashless payment system; 1,095 vehicles: publicly available information about actual movement along the route is displayed; 1,657 vehicles are equipped with interior video surveillance systems (with recording function) that comply with the personal data protection requirements.
Departure and reception of passengers are carried out at 12 bus terminals (bus stations), and there are more than 3.5 thous. bus stop shelters.
Sea transport
Sea transport plays a key role in the development of the transport and logistics system of Leningrad Region.
The federal seaports of Vyborg, Vysotsk, Primorsk and Ust-Luga are located within the territory of Leningrad Region.
River transport
Inland waterways within the territory of Leningrad Region are represented by a section of the Volga-Baltic Waterway, which provides communication with the Azov, Baltic, White, Caspian and Black Seas.
The basis of inland waterways is represented by the rivers Neva, Svir, Volkhov and Lake Ladoga, Lake Onega as well as the Ladoga canals (along the southern shore of Lake Ladoga).
The total length of inland waterways operated in Leningrad Region is more than 1.8 thous. km; all of them are federal objects.
Air transport
State aviation airfields are located within the territory of Leningrad Region: Gromovo, located in the Priozersk municipal district; Pribylovo, located in the Vyborg municipal district; Sivoritsy, located in the Gatchina municipal district.
There are currently no air transport facilities of regional significance within the territory of Leningrad Region. There are also more than 80 landing sites, some of them are privately owned, some are located within the territory of medical institutions.
CONSTRUCTION
In Leningrad Region in January–December 2024, the volume of work for the type of activity "construction" amounted to RUB 404.5 bn, which in comparable prices is 137.6 % more than for the same period in 2023.
The commissioning of residential buildings in 2024 amounted to 4,065 thous. m2, while the plan approved by the federal project "Housing" developed as part of the national project "Housing and Urban Environment" was exceeded by 23.2 %.
In 2024, 34,509 apartments with a total area of 1,365 thous. m2 were put into operation; 20,900 houses with a total area of 2,700 thous. m2 were put into operation at the expense of citizens' own funds and with the help of attracted funds.
International economic activity
The foreign trade turnover of Leningrad Region in the first half of 2024 amounted to USD 5 bn 116.8 mln. Trade turnover decreased by 14.2 %, while exports increased by 10.3 % and imports decreased by 37.5 %. The import coverage ratio by exports is 168 %. In the first half of 2024, the trade balance with non-CIS countries and the CIS countries was positive. 90.9 % of trade turnover is with non-CIS countries, 9.1 % — with the CIS countries.
Among the constituent entities of the Russian Federation being part of the North-Western Federal District (hereinafter referred to as "the NWFD"), Leningrad Region, based on the results of foreign trade activities (hereinafter referred to as "the FTA") in the first half of 2024, ranks second in terms of import volumes (11.0 % of the value volumes of the NWFD), export volumes (13.3 %) and trade turnover (12.3 %).
In the first half of 2024, 1,420 participants in foreign economic activity in Leningrad Region carried out foreign economic activities: 878 participants in foreign economic activity exported goods, 809 — imported goods.
The largest participants in foreign economic activity in Leningrad Region were the following enterprises: Novatek-Ust-Luga LLC, Volkhov branch of Apatit JSC, Philip Morris Izhora JSC, Jacobs Dow Egberts Rus LLC, Baltic Chemical Complex LLC, Orimi LLC, SEB-Vostok Group CJSC, TFZ LLC, Kres Neva LLC, and Svetogorsk Pulp and Paper Mill NPJSC.
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Leningrad Region has valid cooperation agreements with administrative-territorial units and government bodies of 15 foreign countries, and at the municipal level, there are over 130 agreements with foreign partners.
The development of international relations at the regional and municipal levels is carried out taking into account the current foreign policy situation. Active work is being carried out to diversify them. The priority in the development of international relations of Leningrad Region is the search for additional opportunities to develop cooperation with countries of the CIS, Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America that are constructively disposed towards Russia.
Deepening integration with the member states of the Commonwealth of Independent States and friendly states of the post-Soviet territory is a key aspect of the development of international cooperation in Leningrad Region.
Our work with foreign partners is aimed, first of all, at improving the well-being and quality of life of the citizens of our region, developing international youth cooperation as well as patriotic education and promotion of Russian traditional values abroad.
The strategic partnership interaction with the Republic of Belarus, which ranks first among the CIS partner countries, is built on the basis of economic feasibility and the protection of the interests of our citizens.
SCIENCE AND EDUCATION
Leningrad Region is one of the leading regions in social and economic development. An important strategic direction of the social and economic development of Leningrad Region is the transition of the regional economy to an innovative path of development.
Currently, Leningrad Region has significant scientific and technical potential the basis of which is formed by academic and university science, industry research institutes, scientific departments of industrial and agroindustrial enterprises, scientific, educational and technology and innovation centers.
Today, the network of educational organizations in Leningrad Region includes: 369 secondary schools, 315 kindergartens, 81 organizations of further education (76 municipal ones, 5 state ones), 26 professional educational organizations, 1 non-standard professional educational organization, 1 additional professional education organization, 2 higher education organizations.
Culture, Local Traditions
Today, the cultural sector of Leningrad Region is a wide network of state and municipal institutions: theaters — 5 (5 regional); museums — 43 (regional and municipal); concert organizations — 2 (2 regional: SBIC LR "Metelitsa Orchestra of Russian Folk Instruments," SBIC LR "Symphony Orchestra of Leningrad Region"); cultural and leisure chain units — 367 (4 regional; 363 municipal); libraries — 381 (2 regional; 379 municipal); cinema and video service institutions — 24 (1 regional, 9 municipal, 18 — others); educational institutions — 69 (1 regional: SBPEI "Leningrad Regional College of Culture and Art"; 68 municipal children's schools of arts); culture and recreation parks — 2 (1 regional, 1 municipal);
TOURIST AND RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
Leningrad Region is located in the north-west of Russia and is part of the North-Western Federal District. The region neighbors three regions — Vologda, Pskov and Novgorod, the Republic of Karelia, the city of St. Petersburg and two countries — Finland and Estonia.
Leningrad Region has a great cultural and tourist potential for the development of both traditional types of tourism and new destinations: eco-tourism, rural tourism, outdoor activities.
Cultural and educational, environmental, event, water, active, children's, religious, military and patriotic, gastronomic types of tourism as well as ethno-tourism are actively developing in the region.
Up-to-date information about the region's attractions, accommodation and food facilities, routes, news and the calendar of events for the current year are posted at the official tourist portal of Leningrad Region www.lentravel.ru.
Ecological and active tourism
In Leningrad Region, there are 58 SPNR located on an area that makes up more than 7 % of the region's territory. Of these, 3 territories have federal significance, 51 have regional significance, and 4 have local significance.
In order to create a network of functioning tourist routes and trails in the natural areas of Leningrad Region, the project "Trail 47" is being implemented in the region.
At present, 51 routes have been marked and equipped. The total length of marked and equipped routes is more than 150 km.
Water tourism in Leningrad Region
Leningrad Region has rich water resources
and high potential for the development of water tourism. There are more than 1,800 lakes in the region. Lake Ladoga is the largest lake in Europe (area: 18.135 thousand square kilometers). The total length of all rivers in Leningrad region is about 50 thousand kilometers, the length of shipping routes in the region is more than 1,900 km.
The region's water resources allow water tourism to actively develop. Three main activities are popular among tourists: cruise, yacht (sail-motor) and hiking tourism (using non-motorized watercraft).
Leningrad Region and other regions are connected by a network of cruise routes, which are very popular among tourists. Cruise travel is arranged on Lake Ladoga as well as on the largest rivers (Neva, Volkhov, and Svir).
Military and patriotic tourism
Military and patriotic tourism involves visiting places of military battles, memorials, museums of history and local history and serves as a means of reconciliation and strengthening the unity and friendship of peoples and patriotic education of citizens.
In the last millennium, the territory of Leningrad Region has been the scene of bloody battles and wars that sometimes lasted for decades. Every inch of land keeps the memory of those difficult times. Today there are more than 800 monuments of military glory in the region. In Leningrad Region there are war monuments included in the UNESCO list of cultural heritage — Green Belt of Glory, Road of Life, etc. The task of preserving, maintaining in perfect order and developing these monuments is one of the main directions of work for the Government of Leningrad Region.
Chidlren's tourism
The project "My Native Land — Leningrad Region" involves two-day trips for school students of Forms 5–11 from all districts of Leningrad Region, including children with disabilities, during which children travel around their native region as part of organized groups (buses), learning about the history and sights of their native region.
Event tourism in Leningrad Region
In 2024, 5 large-scale events were held to promote the tourism potential of Leningrad Region: the gastronomic festival "Smelt is coming!" (May 18 in Novaya Ladoga, Volkhovsky District), the tourist motorcycle festival "Baltic Rally" (July 18–21 in Vyborg), the music festival "Smoke over the Water. From Classics to Rock" (July 27 in Gatchina), the gastronomic festival "Kaleidoscope of Taste" (August 3 in Tosno), the Historical Festival "To the Origins of Rus'" (May 18–19 in Staraya Ladoga, Volkhovsky district), the annual tourist trip for the title of "Tourist of Leningrad Region" (September 3–8, Luzhsky district).
Ethnographic tourism
Ethnographic tourism involves introducing tourists to the history, culture and life of the indigenous peoples of our region as well as to folk arts and crafts. Leningrad Region is a unique land inhabited by peoples of different cultures: Russians, Karelians, Vepsians, Izhorians, Votians, Finns, etc. In the eastern areas of the region, folk crafts, song, music and dance culture of the indigenous peoples of Leningrad Region have been preserved, which determines a high potential for the development of ethnographic tourism in the region.
Gastronomy tourism
One of the gastronomic brands in our region with a rich history and even its own legends is the Vyborg pretzel. The unique pretzel recipe has been known since the 14th century — since the appearance of Franciscan monks in the town of Vyborg. Another bright gastronomic symbol of Leningrad Region is smelt — a small silvery fish with a characteristic smell of cucumbers, caught in April–May in clean and fresh waters of Lake Ladoga. Leningrad smelt is popular not only in Leningrad Region, but is also becoming famous throughout Russia. In honor of this fish, since 2019, the festival "Smelt is Coming!" has been held annually in Novaya Ladoga, which immediately became one of the brightest and largest events in the region.