THE TAMBOV REGION

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION

The Tambov region has advantageous geographical location – in the centre of Russia near the capital. The Tambov region is a part of the Central Federal District (CFD) and Central-Chernozem (black soil) district. The territory of the region covers over 34,5 thousand km2, it’s length from  the north to the south is about 250 km, from the west to the east – about 200 km. The Tambov city – the administrative centre of the region is situated 480 km south-east from Moscow. The region bounders with  Ryazan, Penza, Saratov, Voronezh and Lipetsk regions.

 

LOGISTIC INFRASTRUCTURE

The competitive advantage of the Tambov region is the developed transport infrastructure represented by an extensive network of roads and pipelines, motor transport infrastructure, passenger and freight railroad infrastructure, as well as the existing airport of civil aviation "Tambov" (in the village Donskoe).

The total length of transport routes of the region is 20 055.4 km, including:

• railways 754.6 km;
• motor roads 19 300.8 km.

The  length of  the  Federal  roads  passing  through  the  territory of  the Tambov  region is 636.6 km,  the  length  of the  regional  roads – 1 964.25  km,  local  roads – 16 699.9 km, 7723.0 km of which are paved roads.

Michurinsk-the Science-city of the Tambov region connects the centre of the country with the southern regions central by means of the South-Eastern railway line. In addition, the territory of the region is crossed by other railways lines of regional importance (polygons of the South-Eastern and Kuibyshev railways).

There are Federal highway R-22 "Caspian" a/d M-4 "Don"-Tambov-Volgograd-Astrakhan" and other Federal roads (R-193 Voronezh-Tambov, R-208 Tambov-Penza with the Northern and Southern bypass of the city of Tambov, R-119 eagle-Livny-Yelets-Lipetsk-Tambov) in the Tambov region.

There is a modernized bus station "Severny" in Tambov that provides transportation on more than 100 interregional, inter-municipal and suburban routes of regular bus services, as well as the railway station “Tambov” that has recently been reconstructed.

The airport "Tambov" is located 10 km away from the regional centre in the village Donskoe. The airport is the only operating air infrastructure facility in the Central Chernozem district that provides regular flights. In 2024 there were regular flights to Moscow, St.Petersburg and Kazan. Air transportation is in demand among residents and visitors of the region. Passenger traffic (including charter flights) increased by 23.2% compared to 2023. 

Modernization of the airport infrastructure is continued in order to organize the reception/release of bigger aircraft, including Sukhoi Superjet and Embraer 170 aircraft. The certification of new low-intensity runway lighting equipment has been completed and permission for aircraft maintenance during daylight and night has been received. 

 

SCIENTIFIC POTENTIAL OF THE REGION. SECTOR OF HIGHER EDUCATION

 

The Tambov region has a significant scientific potential, conditions and resources necessary for scientific, technical and innovative activities development. Close cooperation with leading scientific foundations, carrying out fundamental and applied scientific research demanded by the real sector of the economy, appropriate innovation infrastructure formation has been acieved.

The higher education system in the Tambov region acts as one of the main branches designed to ensure a high life quality for the population. The key positions of strategic and budgetary policy for education development are based on the regional overall development strategy (investments in human capital, improving the quality of life for population based on priority sectors of the economy development and social sphere modernization), on the budgetary policy pursued in the field (using mechanisms that stimulate organizations to improve the quality of services provided).

Due to the region's development specifics scientific support is a necessary component of the key industries activities – agricultural sphere and industrial production. Industry departments, major manufacturers workout development strategies in close contact with leading universities and scientific organizations.

 

Tambov State University named after Gavriil Derzhavin (TSU named after G.Derzhavin) is the largest higher educational institution in the region, a modern scientific and educational center based on the best traditions of the classical university. The University is the winner of the Priority 2030 program for universities state support and development.

The university provides training in the fields of Medicine, Pedagogics, Information Technology, Natural and Mathematical Sciences, Humanitarian and Social Sciences, scenic, visual and applied Arts. In total, the university has more than 12 000 students and 191 fields of study.

The university has 6 educational and scientific institutes and 1 faculty, a scientific research institute of natural Sciences, a Military training center and the Derzhavinsky Lyceum, 42 scientific centers and laboratories, the innovation space "Boiling Point" and the Stromov Centre.

The organizational and structural changes of the university in 2024 were aimed at integrating research activities with education. Following the consolidation of educational units, there was a consolidation of research institutes. In 2024 the Scientific Research Institute of Natural Sciences was established. It includes such divisions as the scientific and educational centres "Nanotechnology and Nanomaterials", "Fundamental Mathematical Research", "Ecology and Biotechnology", the joint engineering center, as well as the youth laboratory "Seaweed  Biotechnologies". Currently, the university has 2 engineering centres, a design bureau, more than 40 research centres and laboratories.

Improvement of scientific and research infrastructure continues. Measures have been taken to develop the human resources potential of the collective use centre. The university staff took advanced training courses on working with equipment and obtained state-issued certificates.

The policy of developing the human potential of researchers is being actively implemented, primarily within the framework of the "Young Teachers-Researchers" program. The share of researchers under the age of 39 in the scientific groups makes 59%. Employees with experience in manufacturing enterprises (engineers, designers, technologists) are attracted to implement startprojects in engineering centres.

The research policy of TSU named after G.Derzhavin is aimed, among other things, at the popularization of science, which contributes to the promotion of the university's brand. The main task is to attract researchers, applicants and potential R&D customers. Thus, the results of the university's research activities in 2024 were repeatedly covered in regional and federal media.

Due to the implemented measures the quality of the university's research teams projects is growing. In 2024 the university's research teams received funding in the form of grants for 18 projects, including 3 projects within the framework of a state assignment in the amount of over 50 million rubles and 1 within the framework of the federal project "Development of domestic civil instrumentation for scientific research" in cooperation with the industrial partner PJSC "Tambov Plant Electropribor". The project of the youth laboratory "Seaweed Biotechnologies" was supported within the framework of the national project "Science and Universities".

The share of post graduate students who completed their PhD studies at the university continues to grow steadily: in 2022 – 26%, in 2023 – 32%, and in 2024 – 34% of post graduate students graduated from the university with a thesis defense. Dissertation councils present one of the main links in the system of state certification of scientific and scientific teaching staff at the university. Over the past three years, the number of dissertation councils at TSU named after G.Derzhavin has increased. Currently, there are 6 dissertation councils for the degree of candidate of Sciences and Doctor of Sciences, 2 of which are combined in 9 scientific specialties.

The promotion of the university's scientific journals plays an important role in popularization in the international scientific space. Thus, in 2024, two university scientific journals were included for the first time in the first and second quartiles of the international scientometric database Scopus.

Within the national Digital Economy program the TSU named after G.Derzhavin is implementing the Digital Departments project, which aims to create opportunities for advanced training in the field of information technology among students of any field of study. Within the framework of this project more than 1 000 people annually receive additional qualifications in the field of digital technologies.

TSU named after G.Derzhavin is one of the leaders among the country's universities in terms of the number of international students. About 3 000 international students from more than 40 countries study at the university, increasing the attractiveness and competitiveness of Russian education in the international market and developing non-primary exports in the region.

Derzhavin University is included in the Moscow International University Ranking "Three University Missions", the global rating of green universities UI GreenMetric, the global rating of EECA (Emerging Europe and Central Asia) of the British agency QS, the UN Sustainable Development Goals Impact Ranking (Times Higher Education Impact Rankings) of the British agency THE. The university is also included in the 1st league of the National Aggregated Ranking and in the top 100 universities in Russia according to the Interfax ranking in the field of Education.

Engineering, technical and IT education belongs to the national strategic interests of the Russian Federation, the priorities of the socio-economic development of the region. The Tambov State Technical University (TSTU) is the core of the region's engineering education system, a multi-level educational and scientific complex whose structure and development guidelines correspond to the national priorities of the state, strategies and programs for socio-economic, scientific and technological development of the region.

The university has 9 specialized integrated research and educational centres created jointly with institutes of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 4 specialized innovation centres, a Business incubator "Innovatika" for young scientists, post graduate students and students, a technology transfer center, a department of patenting and intellectual property protection, 8 small innovative enterprises organized with the participation of the university, 5 centres for collective use of unique equipment: "Robotics", "Radio Electronics and Communications", "Production and application of multifunctional nanomaterials", "BIM technologies", Digital Engineering; the Rostelecom Centre for Digital Technologies, the Digital Economy Centre (jointly with PJSC Sberbank); 4 basic departments at research institutes and high-tech enterprises in the region, postgraduate and doctoral studies in 34 scientific specialties, 8 specialized councils for the defense of candidate and doctoral dissertations in 15 scientific specialties, 4 scientific publications-practical journals recommended by the Higher Attestation Commission for the publication of the results obtained during dissertation research.

For the fourth year now, the Tambov Region Government has been a co-founder of the world-class scientific and educational centre "Engineering of the Future", which became the winner of the federal competitive selection and received the status of a world-class scientific and educational centre (Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation dated December 3rd, 2020 N 3182-r). The centre includes 6 regions, 18 committees of the governing council, 26 universities, 10 scientific institutes of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 48 enterprises in the real sector of the economy, and the implementation of 14 large-scale interregional investment projects. TSTU develops complex projects within the framework of specialized committees of the scientific and educational centre (smart agro, new materials, medical equipment, development of advanced unmanned systems and technologies, ecosystem monitoring and environmental safety). The region actively participates in the work of the cross-cutting committee on education and the youth wing within the framework of career guidance projects.

In order to implement the federal project "Development of advanced infrastructure for research and development in the Russian Federation" and "Development of scientific and scientific-industrial cooperation", the Vernadsky Student Technopark effectively operates on the basis of TSTU as an integrator of work on the commercialization of intellectual activity results based on the interaction of the engineering centre, centres for the collective use of unique scientific equipment, small innovative enterprises, technology transfer centres, and research laboratories. The creation of the Vernadsky-Tambov Consortium and the launch of the Vernadsky Technopark project served as an important foundation for the development of scientific and educational cooperation with Lomonosov Moscow State University.

For the development of scientific and scientific-industrial cooperation, on the TSTU initiative the educational, scientific and production consortia "TSIFRAPROM" and "TECHNOSPHERE" were created, which include the largest industrial enterprises in the region. In recent years TSTU has implemented 6 major projects within the framework of the implementation of the Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation N 218.

In 2023 the university launched a project funded by the Foundation for Advanced Research: "Development of technology for the production of supercapacitors with increased specific energy and capacity." The project covers the entire cycle of work from research, development and manufacture of samples to the development of domestic technology for the production of supercapacitors based on carbon electrode materials with a developed surface and porosity and strip electrode materials with reduced electrical resistance.

In 2024 the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation received financial support for 2 research laboratories led by young scientists: Intelligent Unmanned Robotic Platforms and Laboratory of Medical VR Simulator Systems for training, diagnosis and rehabilitation. The laboratories activities are aimed at attracting talented young people to the field of research and development, to solving urgent problems of fundamental science.

In 2024 the university launched two joint international projects with the BRICS countries (Brazil, India, China) "Utilization of fried potato production waste by combining various technologies for the efficient use of bioenergy, waste water and biofertilizers" and with African countries (Morocco, Ethiopia, Djibouti) "Dry and wet torrefaction of agricultural waste for production of biochar as a multifunctional product".  The amount of project financing is 50 million rubles.

The University is implementing the interregional project "Young Engineer School". Together with the Tambov Region Government and the Tambov Regional branch of the Russian Engineering Union LLC, the Soyuzmash Associated Schools project is successfully developed, which includes 12 schools, 3 colleges and 14 regional industrial enterprises. A separate area of the university work was the curation of the track "Science" in the Regional Centre "Cosmos" for the Identification, Support and Development of abilities among children and young people. In 2023 the project "Engineering classes 68" was launched for specialized training of schoolchildren (there are 21 classes in 23 educational institutions of the region, over 200 career guidance events have been implemented). TSTU is a pilot site of the Federal project of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation "TechnoNastavniki", recognized as the best according the results of 2024.

Special attention at TSTU is paid to the involvement of scientific and pedagogical staff and students in technological entrepreneurship. Since 2021 project-based learning has been introduced into all bachelor and specialist degree programs, and the Technological Entrepreneurship course has been included in master degree programs. The project teams of the winners of the educational intensive courses won in the "From Idea to Prototype" competition at NTI University 20.35, a number of projects were supported by the Tambov IT Park, the regional operator of the Skolkovo Foundation, became the winners of the U.M.N.I.K. program, 10 projects were supported by grants within the framework of the "Student Startup" competition of the Innovation Promotion Foundation. As part of the implementation of the federal project "Platform of University Technological Entrepreneurship" of the state program "Scientific and Technological Development of the Russian Federation" acceleration programs of TSTU "Technosphere" and "CifRaProm" are implemented annually with grant financial support, and the "Ministry Training" program has been implemented since 2023. TSTU Boiling Point and Entrepreneurial Boiling Point are functioning, and entrepreneurial competence trainings for students have been implemented. All this made it possible to make a significant step towards students involvement in technological entrepreneurship, to implement the Startup as a Diploma program.

Tambov State Technical University occupies a worthy position in the world according to a number of international rankings - QS BRICS, QS EECA, Webometrics, and has been consistently included in the top hundred Russian universities in the Interfax national rating for several years. According to the results of 2024 TSTU ranks 35-38th in the research category, and 47th in the Interfax rating in the innovation category.

 

The oldest and the only agricultural higher education institution in the Tambov Region is the Michurinsk State Agrarian University (MSAU), a training centre for qualified personnel in the field of agro-industrial complex.

The university is a member of the Association of Agricultural Universities of the Central Federal District and is one of the most important centres of the scientific and industrial complex of the city of Michurinsk in the Tambov region. In 2024 MSAU entered the TOP 20 agricultural universities in Russia according to the Global Consolidated Ranking of Agricultural Universities in Russia.

The university has 4 institutes, a college for applied qualifications, a centre for the development of modern competencies for children and a Tambov branch that implements educational programs for higher (bachelor's, master's, and postgraduate), secondary professional, and continuing education. The university has about 9 000 students. Training is conducted on the basis of 21 departments in 17 enlarged groups of specialties and areas of study.

Michurinsk State Agrarian University is implementing an innovative educational project "System of continuous Agribusiness education", created for early career guidance and effective training for the integrated development of rural areas within the framework of the integration of preschool, general, professional and higher agricultural education and agricultural enterprises of the Tambov region. Currently 42 schools, 12 colleges and 3 kindergartens are operating in the continuous agribusiness education system of the Tambov region together with the university. Modern educational technologies and programs in the fields of industrial, scientific, humanitarian and innovative activities are being developed.

MSAU participates in the agroclasses project in the region – specialized pre-professional classes of agrotechnological orientation, implemented jointly with the Ministry of Education and Science of the Tambov Region and the Institute for Advanced Training of Educators. The university staff has developed a new concept for the agroclasses work in accordance with the updated Federal State Educational Standards for Secondary General Education.  As part of the project, a grant was won to support applied scientific research by young scientists for the creation of a series of educational and methodological complexes "Agricultural education in a modern school". The project involves more than 200 students from 12 educational organizations and more than 100 teaching staff.

One of the large–scale projects of the Michurinsk State Agrarian University is the development of additional education for children as a new direction at the university and at the same time an element of continuous agribusiness education. The Centre for the development of modern competencies of children, created as part of the national project "Education", operates on the basis of the university.

The University is a member of the Association of Agricultural Universities of the Central Federal District and is one of the most important centres and of scientific and production complex of Michurinsk city of the Tambov region. In 2024 MSAU entered the top-20 agricultural universities in Russia according to the Global Consolidated Ranking of agricultural universities in Russia.

The Michurinsk State Agrarian University carries out research in accordance with the Program of Fundamental Scientific Research in the Russian Federation for the long–term period (2021-2030), and also works within the framework of priority areas of scientific, technical and innovative activities of Michurinsk, a science-city of the Russian Federation, approved by Decree of the President of the Russian Federation dated 04.11.2003 N 1306.

The Michurinsk State Agrarian University has developed an advanced infrastructure that ensures a high level of research and development and the implementation of programs for the training of highly qualified personnel for the agro-industrial complex. The university participates in the national project "Science and Universities", as well as federal projects "Integration", "Research Leadership", "Infrastructure" and "Personnel".

As a result of the research in 2024 the university staff received 15 patents for inventions, utility models and breeding achievements, and filed 18 patent applications. MSAU received a grant from the Russian Science Foundation for the implementation of a scientific project "Development of a methodology for forecasting agri-food economic systems based on machine learning using artificial neural networks."

The Michurinsk State Agrarian University is one of the world leaders in the breeding of low-growing clone rootstocks of apple trees for super-intensive industrial plantings. The State Register of Breeding Achievements allowed for use in the Russian Federation includes 28 clone rootstocks of apple trees selected by the Michurinsk State Agrarian University, which makes 51% of the total number of clone rootstocks of apple trees approved for cultivation on the territory of the Russian Federation.

Breeding work continues to obtain new genotypes of clone rootstocks of apple trees. Innovative methodological techniques have been developed to increase the efficiency of the breeding process based on the selection of apple tree genotypes of various growth strengths.

Ecological varietal testing of promising genotypes of clone rootstocks of apple trees selected by the Michurinsk State Agrarian University in various regions of the Russian Federation with contrasting natural and climatic conditions continues.

Scientific research work with vegetable crops continues on the basis of the educational and research greenhouse complex of the Michurinsk State Agrarian University. As part of the joint work with the Agrofirm "Poisk" the university started testing of elite forms of tomato breeding to create new varieties and organize seed production.

The implementation of a comprehensive scientific and technical project relevant to the Tambov region "Development of innovative technologies for the production of elite seed potatoes of promising domestic varieties in the Tambov region" continues (subprogram "Development of potato breeding and seed production in the Russian Federation" of the Federal Scientific and Technical Program "Development of agriculture in the Russian Federation for 2017-2025").

Work is conducted on restoring the most important scientific area – breeding and seed production of grain crops. A new promising variety of winter wheat has been prepared for transfer to the state variety testing.

In 2024 the resources of garden and field crops from the university genetic collection were studied for the content of biologically active substances.

Apple, strawberry, honeysuckle, mountain ash, blueberry, carrot, pumpkin and nightshade varieties were evaluated according to the levels of accumulation of functional components. Genotypes suitable for use as raw materials for production of food enriched with antioxidants, vitamins, macro- and microelements have been selected. New formulations and technologies for production of food enriched with hydroxycinnamic acids, anthocyanins and betaine have been developed under the University's own eco-brand "101 vitamins".

Michurinsk State Agrarian University is a co-coordinator of the Eurasian technology platform "Technologies of food and processing industry of the agroindustrial complex – healthy food products", which allows developing its innovative component "Fruit growing, vegetable growing, technology of products for functional and healthy nutrition". The members of the platform have created an industry register of food and processing industry enterprises and published a catalog of projects. The technology platform is one of the three leaders in the ranking of priority Russian platforms.

 

INNOVATIONS

The Tambov region has significant scientific potential, necessary conditions and resources for the development of scientific, technical and innovative activities.

Research activities are carried out in state higher educational institutions: Tambov State Technical University, Tambov University named after G.Derzhavin, Michurinsk State Agrarian University, Federal Scientific Centre named after I.Michurin, All-Russian Scientific Research Institute for the use of machinery and petroleum products, 68 organizations and 21 small innovative enterprises established on the basis of universities.

To ensure the accelerated development of high-tech sectors of the economy in the region a private technopark in the field of information technology "IT Park of the Tambov region" combining science and business have been established. The main goal of the technopark is creating a favorable environment for the innovative entrepreneurship development.

A regional representative office of the Skolkovo Foundation has been established on the basis of two technoparks - the IT Park of the Tambov Region and “Derzhavinsky” technopark. The purpose of the representative office is to increase the efficiency of innovative entrepreneurship within the framework of the key vectors of the Skolkovo Foundation work, which coincide with the priorities of the IT Park of the Tambov Region and “Derzhavinsky” technopark in the field of information technology. Among them are automation and Internet of Things technologies, radio engineering, biotechnologies, biomedical technologies and health care, and new materials.

The Tambov Innovative Business Incubator is a structural unit of the autonomous non-profit organization the Regional Centre for Management and Culture, focused on supporting small innovative businesses at an early stage of their activities by leasing non–residential premises and providing consulting, accounting, legal and other services.

To support small and medium-sized business in the Tambov region regarding development, modernization and implementation of new technologies in the production process, the regional engineering centre functions in the region on the basis of “My Business” centre. Its services include assessing the technological readiness index of manufacturing enterprises, conducting various types of audits, developing modernization programs, preparing a feasibility study, and assisting in prototyping new technological products.

To ensure effective cooperation in providing support to small and medium-sized business in the field of innovation a representative office of the Fund for assistance to small enterprises in the scientific and technical sphere has been established on the basis of the “My Business” centre, which contributes to an increase in the number of regional enterprises that have received financial support from the Fund.

The Tambov Region is an agrarian region of the country, agriculture being one of the most important sectors of the Russian economy. In this regard the agro-industrial policy of the region is aimed at making this industry highly efficient and highly profitable.

The most important role in the development of the region's innovation system belongs to the city of Michurinsk - the Science city of the Russian Federation (the first and the only Science city in the field of the agro-industrial complex of Russia), whose main task is to conduct comprehensive fundamental and applied research in the field of genetics, breeding, biotechnology, physiology, biochemistry, ecology of fruit, berry and vegetable crops, development of effective, environmentally friendly technologies for production, long-term storage, transportation and creation of new types of food, development of innovative infrastructure and training the highly qualified personnel.

The Federal Research Centre named after I.Michurin was established on the basis of combining the research potential of 3 specialized research institutes subordinate to the Federal Agency of Scientific Organizations.

 

INVESTMENT POLICY

The regional investment policy implementation is aimed at creating comfortable conditions for business, investments attraction, as well as increasing investors' confidence in the government. The region has created the necessary regulatory framework in the field of investment activities and support measures system for investors aimed at stimulating investment activity in priority sectors of the regional economy. It guarantees all procedures transparency ensuring equal rights to investors and provides various organizational and financial types of state support*:

• tax benefits;
• special investment contracts;
• investment protection and promotion agreements:
• investment tax deduction:
• sites for enterprises construction (industrial parks);
• greenfield and brownfield investment sites;
• leading engineering communications to the object’s borders;
• territory of advanced development;

-  investment site of Tambov region (https://крто.рф/). 

The authorities, together with the business community, continue the work to improve business environment.

A set of tools for providing consulting services using modern information exchange means in real time has been created. There is a mechanism that provides work with the investor on "one window" principle. The investment site provides an opportunity for investors to address the Russian Federation region’s government with the regulated terms of receiving feedback.

* State support measures are presented within the framework of regional and Federal legislation.

 

 INFRASTRUCTURE OF SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES (SME) SUPPORT

There are several effective mechanisms of SME support in the Tambov region:

1) Business support centre – a structural unit of the Autonomous non-profit organization “Regional centre of management and culture”;

2) Tambov innovative business incubator - a structural unit of the Autonomous non-profit organization “Regional center of management and culture”;

3) Innovations centre in the social sphere – a structural unit of the Autonomous non-profit organization “Regional management and culture centre”;

4) Cluster development centre - a structural unit of the Autonomous non-profit organization "Business coordination support centre of the Tambov region";

5) Regional engineering centre - a structural unit of the Autonomous non-profit organization "Business coordination support centre of the Tambov region";

6) Export support centre - sized businesses - a structural unit of the Autonomous non-profit organization "Business coordination support centre of the Tambov region";

7) Regional guarantee organization – joint-stock company microcredit company “Fund for assistance in lending to small and medium-sized businesses of the Tambov region”;

8) Microfinance organizations - joint-stock company microcredit company “Fund for assistance in lending to small and medium-sized businesses of the Tambov region”;

9) Tambov regional state budgetary institution "Regional information and consulting centre of agro-industrial complex";

10) Business space "Business Geometry";

11) Industry development fund of the Tambov region.

 

KEY INDICATORS OF DEVELOPMENT

In the National Rating of the state of the investment climate in the Russian Federation regions according to the results announced in June 2024 at the International economic forum in St Petersburg the Tambov Region is in Top-20 (18th place).

According to the results of the regulatory impact assessment and expertise quality ranking in the subjects of the Russian Federation, conducted by the Ministry of Economic Development, the region has entered the "Medium Level" group.

The region got ESG-rating (ESG – Ecology, Social responsibility, Management) on BBB level [esg], which positively characterizes risks and opportunities management in this sphere. The highest rating among the key components is assigned to the rating of state management in the region (AA).

In February 2025 the Analytic credit rating agency confirmed the credit rating of the Tambov region on BBB+(RU) level changing the prognosis into “positive”, and the obligations rating – on the BBB+(RU) level.

Programs aimed at popularizing and supporting social business are being implemented in the Tambov Region, such as Mentoring in business, “Business with a soul” club, business breakfasts, inter-regional meetings of social entrepreneurs and business missions.

Social entrepreneurs of the region can also benefit from grant support, special microloans from the Fund for the lending promotion to small and medium-sized business in the Tambov Region at a rate of ½ of the key rate of the Bank of Russia, tax benefits, and property support on favorable terms.

In the National ranking of event tourism the region is in the "Golden League" of the regions.

Information and tourism portal of the Tambov region (turtmb.ru) is recognized as one of the best in Russia.

In 2024 regional brands of the Tambov Region participated in the “Flavors of Russia” gastronomic festival.

According to the results of 2024 in the livestock industry the Tambov Region ranks the 5th in the Central Federal District and Russia in the production of livestock and poultry meat for slaughter (in live weight) in all categories of farms: the 2nd place in the Central Federal District and the 3rd place in Russia for poultry meat production, the 5th place in the Central Federal District and the 6th place in Russia for pork production.

In the field of crop production the Tambov Region is one of Russia's leading regions in the production of grain, sunflower, sugar beet, and soybeans.

In food and processing industry by the end of 2024 the Tambov region ranks: the 1st place in the Central Federal District and the 2nd place in Russia (for the first time in the history of the region) for the production of flour from grain crops, the 3rd place in the Central Federal District and Russia for the production of meat products, the 3rd place in the Central Federal District and the 4th place in Russia for sugar production, the 4th place in the Central Federal District and the 5th place in Russia for the production of compound feed, the 6th place in the Central Federal District and the 17th  place in Russia for the production of vegetable oil.

 

INVESTMENT ACTIVITY

The region has formed a set of tax and other measures of state support, which is constantly expanding and involving new participants in the investment process and leads to the implementation of major investment projects. Currently, about 100 investment projects are being implemented in the region with different stages of completion.

The priority areas of investment are: agriculture, food and processing industry using local raw materials, chemical production and production of other non-metallic mineral products, tourist and recreation potential development.

To form a system of support for new investment projects in the region in 2022, elements of the Regional Investment Standard were introduced in the Tambov Region in accordance with the methodological recommendations approved by the Order of the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation No. 591 dated 30.09.2021 "On the system of support for new investment projects in the subjects of the Russian Federation ("Regional Investment Standard")":

an investment declaration has been adopted that establishes a general description of the investment development goals, key characteristics and investment obligations of the subject of the Russian Federation;

a set of investment rules has been developed containing optimized algorithms for key services and procedures for investors;

an investment map has been formed to display the infrastructure for investors;

an operational centre for the support of investment projects on the principle of one window has been created – the Regional development agency;

a Headquarters has been established to protect the rights and legitimate interests of investment and business entities to resolve disputes and problems arising during the implementation of projects and discuss issues related to improving the investment climate in the region.

 

AGRO-INDUSTRIAL POTENTIAL

Agro-industrial complex is a driving force of the regional economy development. It helps to solve the task of increasing food production as well as improving its competitiveness due to later technologies implementation, new equipment use, bringing ready products to the final consumer.

 About 100 thousand people of the region are employed in agricultural sphere together with personal subsidiary farms (1/3 of the rural population).

The biggest wealth of the Tambov region is fertile black soil – the most fertile in Russia.

The land fund of the region is over 3.4 hectares, 79% of it being agricultural land 87% of which is black soil.

According to the preliminary results of 2024 the share of the region in the production of agriculture in Russia is:

-        grains and legumes (in the original registered weight) – 3.1%;

-        sunflower (in the original registered weight) – 5.1%;

-        soybean – 7.3%;

-    meat of cattle and poultry for slaughter (live weight) – 3.9%;

-        sugar – 10.8%;

-        flour – 6.6%;

-        compound feed – 3.6%.

The ROST Group of Companies commissioned two stages of a high-tech greenhouse complex using advanced science-based technologies for growing vegetable crops at Llc “Michurinsk Greenhouse Combine” with an area of 60 hectares. According the results of 2024 37.4 thousand tones of the closed ground vegetables were collected in the region.

The priorities of investors in crop production correspond to the urgent task of ensuring independence from imported seeds, dictated by the Food Security Doctrine of the Russian Federation. In 2024 construction of a seed-growing complex and an irrigation system for experimental fields in the Sosnovsky Municipal District began on the basis of Agrofirma Zhupikov LLC (the volume of seed production will amount to 18 thousand tons of sunflower seeds, winter and spring wheat, soybeans).

In animal husbandry sector of the Tambov region the production of livestock and poultry meat is intensively developing. In 2024 another historical maximum was recorded in the production of meat in live weight in the amount of 653.4 thousand tons. Pork and poultry account for the largest share in meat production (the share of the region in the Russian Federation in the production of pig meat by the end of 2024 is 3.9%, poultry meat - 5.4%). In these areas the region is developing export potential, which implies the food production competitive on the international market.

The steady increase in the raw material base gives an impuls to the intensive development of food and processing industry in the region.

The following investment projects aimed at increasing the capacity of processing enterprises are being implemented in the Tambov Region:

- reconstruction of the Kirsanov sugar factory with a capacity of at least 20,000 tons of sugar beet processing per day by Kristall LLC (2014-2024, reaching design capacity is expected in 2027);

- construction of the oil extraction plant of Morshansky MEZ LLC with a processing capacity of 600 tons sunflower seeds per day (2020-2024);

- construction of a sunflower cake extraction workshop with a capacity of 750 tons per day and an increase in capacity for part-time processing, storage and transshipment of grain and oilseed crops on the territory of Ecoil JSC (2018-2025);

- construction of a logistics centre for the formation of a route for shipment of grain and oilseed crops, sunflower oil and construction of an elevator with a storage capacity of 250 thousand tons of one-time storage (JSC Ecoil, 2021-2025). The production facilities of the future logistics centre will allow to ship up to 1 thousand tons of products daily and increase the volume of exports of agricultural products;

- reconstruction of industrial buildings with a total area of 10,000 m2 for the production of feed for unproductive animals with a capacity of 60 million packages per month (2024-2026). The investor is Petfood Perspektiva LLC.

In 2024 exports of products of the agro-industrial complex of the region in value terms (in actual prices) amounted to 321.5 million dollars (at the level of 2023).

Tambov products are exported to more than 30 countries around the world, the leaders being the Republic of Uzbekistan, Turkey, the Republic of Belarus, Nigeria, and the People's Republic of China.

According to preliminary results the region is among the TOP 30 regions of Russia in terms of exported agricultural products.

 

INDUSTRIAL POTENTIAL

Industry of Tambov region is one of the leading sectors of the regional economy, and has a strong influence on the socio-economic situation.

Industrial production of the region provides:

• over 15 % of gross regional product;
• over 35% of tax and non-tax payments to the budgets of all levels;
• over 17 % of the employed in the regional economy.

The importance of industrial production in the region is largely determined by processing industries.

The share of the Tambov region in the all-Russian production of certain types of industrial products:

•  100 % organic pigments;
•  100 % collective respiratory organs protection means of the isolating type;
• 73 %  collective respiratory organs protection means of the isolating type;
• 36 % galvanic equipment;
•  32 % cement-shaving plates;
•  15 % non-woven materials;
•  13 % heat-insulting materials.

 

TERRITORY OF ADVANCED DEVELOPMENT (TAD)

One of the mechanisms of stimulating entrepreneurial and investment activity is the creation of territories of advanced development (TAD). In December 2017  the Russian Federation government adopted Resolution N 1607 dated 22.12.2017 "About creation of the territory of advanced socio-economic development "Kotovsk". On January 19th 2018 the Ministry of economic development of Russia, the regional administration and the administration of the city of Kotovsk signed an Agreement on the establishment of the territory of advanced socio-economic development "Kotovsk" on the territory of the municipality of Kotovsk of the Tambov region.

Benefits valid on the territory of the TOP in Kotovsk:

• income tax reduction by 100% during the first 5 years and up to 13% over the next 5 years;
• land tax reduction by 100% for 10 years;
• corporate property tax reduction by 100% for 10 years.

Currently 10 organizations in the Tambov Region are included in the register of TAD residents, and their projects are expected to attract more than 7.4 billion rubles of investment into the region's economy and contribute to the organization of about 5,700 jobs.

 

 

 

KEY INDUSTRIES

Key activities of the industrial complex are chemical production, machinery and equipment production, metal construction, radio and optical equipment production, metallurgy industry, transport means and equipment, food and drinks production, non-metal mineral products. The developed military-industrial complex of the region is currently being actively modernized and transformed into a new integrated structure combining resources from several enterprises.

 

69 COUNTRIES - TRADE PARTNERS OF THE TAMBOV REGION

Participants of foreign economic activity of the region are trading with partners from 69 countries.

The main exported goods are food products and raw materials for their production, chemical products, metals and metal goods, other products, machinery.

The key export partners are Belarus, Uzbekistan, Turkey, Kazakhstan, Brazil.

The imported goods are chemical products, food products and raw materials for their production, textile, metals and metal goods.

The key import partners are China, Belarus, Kazakhstan, India.

 

CONSUMER MARKET

The consumer market of the region provides:

         - 14.8% of the gross regional product;

- 16,1% of tax payments to all budgets;

- 14,6% of tax payments to consolidated budget of the Tambov region;

- 20,0% of the total number of people employed in the economy of the region (about 90 thousand people).

Retail trade turnover in all sales channels in 2024 amounted to 294.5 billion rubles, the physical volume index was 108.5%, and the increase was 41.6 billion rubles.

The retail trade turnover at retail markets and fairs is 13.8 billion rubles, the physical volume index is 100.1%.

The Tambov region continues to maintain a leading position among the Central Federal District regions regarding the development of fair and market trade. In terms of the number of fairs and trading places on them, the region ranks the 1st, in terms of the number of markets and trade places at them – the 4th.

The wholesale trade turnover in 2024 amounted to 371.8 billion rubles.

The public catering turnover in 2024 was 11.3 billion rubles, the physical volume index - 104.5%, and the increase - 1.5 billion rubles.

The sales volume of paid services to the population of the region amounted to 69.9 billion rubles, the index of physical volume – 102.6%, including the volume of sales of household services – 14.0 billion rubles, the index of physical volume – 105.8%. The increase in the volume of paid services to the population amounted to 7.3 billion rubles, including household services to the population – 2.1 billion rubles.

The development of the material and technical base of consumer market enterprises continued. In 2024 13.9 thousand square meters of retail space were put into operation (141.8% to 2023).

 

SPORT INFRASTRUCTURE

Within the state program of the Tambov region "Physical culture and sports development" and municipal programs in the field of physical culture and sports, a set of measures aimed at strengthening the health of the population, creating conditions and forming motivation for a healthy lifestyle, promoting a healthy lifestyle of the population, purposeful involvement of the population and students of the region in physical culture and sports, development of various sports, including adaptive ones is provided. Currently, more than 67% of the total population of the region aged 3-79 are systematically engaged in physical culture and sports.

More than 70 sports are developing in the Tambov region. Traditionally, the most popular are: football, volleyball, martial arts (judo, Greco-Roman wrestling,  freestyle  wrestling,  karate,  boxing, etc.),  basketball, athletics, ski racing, table tennis, ice hockey, swimming, fishing and others.

In 2024 together with regional sports federations and sports societies more than 300 regional sports and sports events  were organized,  municipalities of the region  carried out over 1000 sports competitions and tournaments in various sports, including soccer, volleyball, track and field athletics, Greco-Roman wrestling, judo and other sports. More than 200 participations at all-Russia competitions and more than 30 training events were organized for athletes of the region.

Traditional regional sports and mass competitions are: Spartakiad among urban districts and municipal districts of the region, regional summer rural games, various tournaments in football, beach volleyball, Greco-Roman wrestling, judo, boxing, chess, swimming.

Realizing the importance of the problem of population involvement, including children, in systematic physical culture and sports, the regional department of physical training and sport organizes  and  conducts  a  number  of  all-Russian  mass  competitions  "Ski Track of Russia", “Orange ball”, “All-Russian bicycle day”, “Nation cross”, “All-Russian running half-marathon “ZaBeg RF”.

Currently the regional sport infrastructure consists of 4 379 sport facilities, including 21 stadiums, 2 863 flat sports facilities  (basketball, football, volleyball courts, sports grounds, athletics sport grounds), 663 gyms, 6 indoor sports facilities with artificial ice, 1 athletics arena, 1 football arena, 1 bike track, 41 swimming pools, 36 ski bases, 68 shooting sports facilities, 259 other sport facilities (gyms, hockey fields and others).

There are 419 urban and recreation infrastructure objects including 200 universal-type playgrounds, 2 bike tracks, 78 sports grounds with exercise equipment, 139 seasonal skating rinks.

The creation and modernization of sports infrastructure facilities for physical education and sports in 2024 were carried out in accordance with the activities of the Tambov Region state program "Development of Physical Culture and Sports", approved by the decree of the Tambov Region administration dated September 27, 2013 N 1075.

As part of the implementation of the regional project "Sport is the norm of life", the construction of a sport and recreation complex located at the Spartak stadium has been finished.

In accordance with the complex of process measures "Conducting sports events and training sports reserves":

the overhaul of the asphalt surface of two ski-roller trails (1500 m and 3000 m) at the ski stadium of sports school N 3 in Tambov has been completed;

the positive conclusion of the state expertise "Reconstruction of the Ski Stadium in Tambov (ski roller track)" has been received.

During the implementation of the regional project "Development of physical culture and mass sports", the garage is being reconstructed into a sports and training building of the Complex of the martial arts centre in Tambov.

 

TOURISTIC POTENTIAL

 Tourism is one of the important areas influencing the growth of the economy, including the development of such areas of economic activity as services of tourism companies, collective accommodation facilities, transport, communications, trade, production of souvenirs and other products, catering, agriculture, construction and other industries, thereby acting as a catalyst for socio-economic development.economic development of many regions of Russia, including the Tambov region.

The development of tourism plays an important role in solving various social problems, has a direct impact on the creation of new jobs, maintaining a high standard of living for the population, and preserving cultural wealth. The tourism industry combines the functions of recreation and cultural development, accompanying any activity at a certain stage of society's development.

The regional tourism industry has a wide range of resources, which are being improved in accordance with the geographical and climatic location of the Tambov region.

The Tambov region is at the stage of forming a positive image of the region as an attractive tourist destination. It is provided due to its wonderful nature, rich history and culture, unique architecture, represented by unique merchant estates, town houses of cultural and artistic figures.

The growth of the tourist flow in 2024 was 25% (in 2023 - 18%). 

There are more than 150 hotels and other collective accommodation facilities in the region, with 3 667 rooms for 11 006 people.

By the end of 2024 11 tour operators listed in the Unified Federal Register of Tour Operators functioned in the Tambov Region.

Currently the following types of tourism are developing in the region: cultural and educational, ecological, event, automobile, pilgrimage, popular science, youth (pedestrian and sports), industrial, children's, educational, religious, rural. Cultural, educational, environmental, event, automobile and pilgrimage tourism are identified as priority directions.

Cultural and educational tourism

Familiarization with the history and heritage of the place of visit, travelling  to cultural attractions is a sought-after and affordable way to organize recreation. Cultural places of interest increase the tourist attractiveness of the region and become mandatory points of the main routes of cultural and educational tourism.

The popularity of this type of tourism can be explained by the fact that the Tambov region has managed to preserve its main wealth — historical and cultural heritage, and carefully combine it with modern life.

Dvelopment of cultural and educational tourism helps to increase the recognition and importance of the region at the interregional and international levels, contributes to the development of the region's economy, and helps preserve its unique heritage for future generations.

Traveling through the Tambov region provides an opportunity to visit places where such figures as Sergei Rachmaninov, Ivan Michurin, Vladimir Vernadsky, Alexander Gerasimov, St. Pitirim, St. Luke (V.Voino-Yasenetsky) and others lived and worked at different times.

Ecological tourism

The nature of the Tambov region is distinguished by its originality, beauty and uniqueness, which creates favorable conditions for the development of ecological tourism.

There are 109 specially protected natural areas in the region: state Nature Reserve – 1, natural monuments – 103, nature reserves – 4, others – 1.

The most important point of attraction here is the Voroninsky State Nature Reserve. There are walking and water routes on its territory, educational programs for children and youth.

As part of the fulfillment of the instructions of the President of the Russian Federation to create touristic trails and hiking routes in the Tambov region, there are more than 27 hiking and water tourism routes, the list of which is updated on an ongoing basis.

In the suburban forest of Tambov the eco-trail “Ples Active” is equipped in accordance with GOST and is included in the top 10 eco-trails of Russia.

Special attention is paid to the creation of patriotic walking routes. As part of the All-Russian program "Great Country" the Tambov Heroic route was developed, which includes visits to sites related to the heroic deeds of Tambov heroes: the Museum of the Second Guards Army at Gymnasium N 12 named after G.Derzhavin, the monument to Zoya Kosmodemyanskaya, the Eternal Glory Memorial and others.

 

Event tourism

One of the important tools for the development of tourism is the organization and holding of events dedicated to memorable events, dates or traditions of national life. The number of event events is steadily increasing.

The regional measure of municipalities support on holding events is being implemented for the second year and shows an improvement in the dynamics of the tourist block.

An analysis of the tourist flow and the funds left by tourists in the territories of the main events shows a 30% increase in the number of tourists and a 50% increase in tourists spending. This dynamics helps to trace priority municipalities for development.

 

 

 

Automobile tourism

The Tambov region possesses a great potential for development of automobile tourism. In order to create comfortable and safe conditions for traveling by road and conditions for the construction and development of related and supporting infrastructure the Concept for the automobile tourism development in the Tambov Region until 2035 has been developed.

The priority areas for the automobile tourism development in the Tambov region until 2035 are the increase in the share of travelers by personal cars, buses, motorcycles or trailers, creation of conditions for the related and supporting infrastructure intensive development, including road service facilities, campgrounds, parking lots and engineering networks, as well as the involvement of the local business community and tourist display facilities in the automobile tourism sector.

A draft digital passport for an automobile tourist route has been developed. Routes with the status of a "National Tourist Route" are prioritized for filling out on the Etalon Operational Management System platform for the regions of the Central Federal District.

Additionally a personal account of the Ministry of Tourism of the Tambov region has been created on the digital platform of small and medium entrepreneurship to implement measures to support entrepreneurship in the automobile tourism development.

Pilgrimage tourism

Tambov region is very popular with pilgrims. There are 288 active Orthodox churches and 6 monasteries in the Tambov region, including such significant Orthodox shrines as the Cathedral of the Savior’s Transfiguration in Tambov, St. Elijah's Church and Bogolyubsky Cathedral in Michurinsk, the Morshansky Trinity Cathedral in Morshansk and the bell tower of the Kazan Monastery in the centre of Tambov.

This type of tourism is also a priority in terms of the primary automobile tourism implementation in the territories of the Central Federal District and has a high level of requests for the development of interregional tourist routes.

Investment activity in the sphere of tourism

Within the framework of the national project "Tourism and the Hospitality Industry" in the Tambov region in 2023-2024 activities were implemented in several areas.

According to the results of the competitive selection for the creation and development of beaches in 2023 5 water areas have been established in Tambov, Kotovsk, Michurinsky and Zherdevsky districts.

The projects included both the development of the beaches territory (paths, changing rooms, showers, observation towers, benches, ramps, non-residential buildings for vacationers, pontoons, gazebos, boat marinas) and recreational equipment (boats, catamarans, sapboards, sun benches, umbrellas). All beaches have undergone mandatory registration with the Ministry on Emergency Situations, diving inspection and bottom cleaning within the boundaries of the bathing area.

In order to create and develop a modern and high-quality tourist infrastructure, funds from a single subsidy for the purchase of tourist equipment were allocated in 2024 as part of the national project "Tourism and the Hospitality Industry".

According to the results of the competitive selection the subsidy was granted to 3 sanatoriums, 3 hotels and 2 recreation centres. They purchased boats, catamarans, bicycles, snowboards, ATVs, jet skis, skis, skates, scooters, sapboards, tourist tents, tourist furniture, etc.

During 2023-2024 7 investment projects were implemented to create modular hotels, which increased the number of rooms in the region by 75 units. The objects are located in Tambov, Uvarovo, Michurinsky and Injavinsky districts.

 

CULTURAL LIFE

The Tambov Region is a unique historical and cultural region of Russia with a rich material and intangible cultural heritage.

Cultural sphere is represented by an extensive multidisciplinary network of cultural and art organizations with various ownership forms in all types of cultural activities, including:

- libraries: state libraries (the Tambov regional universal scientific library named after A.Pushkin with the branch "Special library for the blind named after N.Ostrovsky", the Tambov regional children's library) and municipal libraries. In total 461 libraries. Within the national project "Culture" 16 libraries were opened;

- museums: regional state museums (Tambov regional local lore museum and its branches: Museum and exhibition centre of the Tambov Region, Medicine history museum of the Tambov Region, Chicherin’s house-museum, Vernadsky’s estate-museum, Ivanov’s Morshansk historical art museum; Tambov regional art gallery with a branch-museum Gerasimov’s estate museum; Rachmaninov’s museum-reserve "Ivanovka"; Historical and cultural museum complex "Aseev’s estate") and 29 municipal museums, Archbishop Luke's Memorial house-museum of the autonomous non-profit organization "Historical and Cultural Centre named after St. Luke". In total 40 museums. Since 2022 as part of the national project "Culture" the technical equipment of museums has begun in the Tambov region. A total of 12 museums have been equipped with modern technical equipment during the project’s implementation;

- professional art: 2 state theatres (Tambov Theatre, including Tambov state academic drama theatre and Tambov state puppet theatre; Michurinsk drama theatre) and 1 municipal theatre “Tambov youth drama theatre”; 5 state concert organizations (Tambovconcert; Centre for Folk art development "Ivushka"; Chamber choir named after S.Rachmaninov; State ballroom dance ensemble "Rainbow Colors" and Academic symphony orchestra named after S.Rachmaninov);

- cultural and leisure activities: 2 municipal parks for culture and recreation,  state institution “Scientific and methodological centre of folk art and leisure”, as well as municipal club-type institutions. In total 441 organizations. Within the national project "Culture" 4 cultural houses were renovated in the Tambov region. In total 15 units during the project’s implementation);

- art education: 1 state higher education institution (Tambov state music and pedagogical institute named after S.Rachmaninov), 1 state secondary vocational education institution (Tambov arts college), municipal institutions of additional education for children and their branches. In total 46 organizations. Within the national project "Culture" 17 children's art schools received instruments, equipment  and literature. 1 children’s art school was modernized and 1 children’s art school was repaired;

- analytical centre of culture development.

On the basis of club type municipal cultural institutions cinema clubs operate.

A system of festival movement has been formed in the region. The following events are held on a regular basis:

International music festival named after S.Rachmaninov;

International brass festival named after V.Agapkin and I.Shatrov;

International festival named after Valery Khalilov;

International chore music festival “Songs over the river Tsna”;

Theatre festival named after N.Rybakov;

International puppet theatre festival “Legends of the olden times”;

PRIMA DOMRA Contemporary domra Art Festival;

International Theatre Festival "In V. Zeldin’s homeland;

International Festival "Days of bayan, accordion and harmonica in Tambov";

Festival named after People's Artist of the USSR V.Merzhanov "I see salvation in music..."

International theatre festival “In V.Zeldin homeland” and others. 

 

REVIVAL OF TRADITIONS

Tambov Land carefully keeps and revives intangible cultural heritage: traditions and customs, ceremonies and rituals, folk art and festivals. Various competitions and festivals are held by the Scientific and methodological centre of folk art and leisure.

There are different folk and ethnic exhibitions in state and local museums.

The art of old ceramic craft Fedorovskaya Toy has become an academic discipline of the ceramic department of the art schools “Children art school for sculpture and ornamental art named after V.Polenov”.