Altai territory

(passport of the region)

 

Geographical location

Altai Territory is located in the southeast of Western Siberia, 3,419 km from Moscow. In the north of the region there is a border with the Novosibirsk region, in the east - with the Kemerovo region, in the southeast - with The Altai Republic in the southwest and west runs the state borders of the Russian Federation with the Republic of Kazakhstan with a length of 843.6 km.

Territory

168 thousand sq. km (approximately 1% of the territory of Russia, 3.85% of the territory of the Siberian Federal District). In terms of area, it ranks 21st in Russia and 6th in the Siberian Federal District. The length from north to south is 400 km, from west to east – 600 km.

Climate

Moderate sharply continental. The average maximum temperature in July reaches +28°C, the average minimum temperature in January is -24°C, and the absolute winter minimum is -55°C. The frost-free period lasts about 120 days.

Population

According to the Federal State Statistics Service in the Altai Territory and the Altai Republic, the population at the beginning of 2023 is 2.13 million people, including urban population - 1.24 million people. (58.2%), rural - 0.89 million people. (41.8%). According to the national composition, the subject of the Federation is to multi-ethnic regions, representatives of more than 100 nationalities live on its territory: Russians - 93.9%, Germans - 2.1%, Ukrainians - 1.35%.

The top ten most numerous also include Kazakhs (0.34%), Armenians (0.32%), Tatars (0.29%), Azerbaijanis (0.21%), Belarusians (0.19%), Romany (0. 13%) and Mordovians (0.13%).

In the Altai Territory live the Kumandins, who belong to the indigenous people of the North, Siberia and the Far East of the Russian Federation, whose places of compact residence are the Krasnogorsk, Solton regions and town of Biysk.

There are more than 20 denominations in the region. The confessional portrait of the Altai region is represented by Orthodox, Catholic, Lutheran associations, the community of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Muslim organizations, the Buddhist community, and Jewish communities.

Administrative center and largest cities

The administrative center of the region is the town of Barnaul, founded in 1730, population as of January 1, 2023 - 690.1 thousand people. Other large towns: Biysk (189.6 thousand people), Rubtsovsk (124.6 thousand people), Novoaltaysk (73.1 thousand people).

Administrative-territorial structure

The Altai Territory includes 12 cities, 56 rural districts, 4 urban-type settlements, 1587 rural settlements.

Heads of executive and legislative authorities, major political parties in accordance with election results

Governor of the Altai Territory, Chairman of the Government of the Altai Territory - TOMENKO Viktor Petrovich. Chairman of the Altai Regional Legislative Assembly - ROMANENKO Alexander Alekseevich.

In the current composition of the Altai Regional Legislative Assembly, permanent deputy associations-factions have been formed: “United Russia” - 33 deputies, “Communist Party of the Russian Federation” - 18 deputies, “A Just Russia” - 5 deputies, “LDPR” – 4 deputies, “Communist Party Communists of Russia” – 4 deputies.

Heraldic attribute

The Law “On the Coat of Arms of the Altai Territory” was adopted on May 25, 2000 by the session of the Altai Regional Council of People's Deputies. The coat of arms is a shield of the French heraldic form, the base of which is equal to eight-ninths of the height, with the tip protruding in the middle of the lower part of the shield.

The lower corners of the shield are rounded. The shield is divided by a horizontal strip into two equal parts.

In the upper part of the coat of arms, on an azure background, symbolizing greatness, a smoking blast furnace of the 18th century is depicted as a reflection of the historical past of the subject of the Federation.

At the bottom of the coat of arms, on a red (scarlet) background, symbolizing dignity, bravery and courage, there is an image of the Kolyvan “Queen of Vases” (jasper with a predominant green color), which is kept in the State Hermitage. The shield of the coat of arms is framed by a wreath of golden ears of wheat, personifying agriculture as the leading sector of the region's economy. The wreath is intertwined with an azure ribbon.

The Law “On the Flag of the Altai Territory” was adopted on June 29, 2000. The flag is a red panel with a blue stripe at the pole and a stylized image on this strip of a yellow ear as a symbol of agriculture. In the center of the flag is the image of the coat of arms of the Altai Territory.

Brief historical background

In the middle of the 18th century, a special administrative unit was formed in Russia - the Kolyvano-Voskresensky mountain district, renamed in 1834 into the Altai mountain district. It included the territories of the present Altai Territory, Novosibirsk, Kemerovo, as well as parts of the Tomsk and East Kazakhstan regions.

In the first half of the 19th century, Altai Territory ranked first in Russia for the production of silver, the second for copper, the third for gold. He turned in the second industrial region after the Urals in the east of the country. However, the mining industry, which was the main industry of the district's economy, entered a period of crisis after 1861. At the beginning of the twentieth century, the basis of the economy of the Altai district (the name was adopted in 1896) was agriculture, and its leading direction was dairy farming and butter making. Altai oil was exported to countries Western Europe, which was favored by government preferential railway tariffs for Siberian goods.

In June 1917, the Altai province was created with the center in Barnaul, which existed until 1925. From 1925 to 1930. the Altai Territory was part of the Siberian, and then, until 1937, the West Siberian Territory. On September 28, 1937, as a result of the division of the West Siberian Territory, the Altai Territory was formed. The new administrative unit included the Oirot Autonomous Region (renamed Gorno-Altaisk on January 7, 1948), the city of Barnaul and 5 districts of the West Siberian Territory. On July 3, 1991, in accordance with the decision of the Supreme Council of the Russian Federation, the Gorno-Altai Autonomous Region, which by that time had been transformed into the Altai Republic, seceded from the region.

During the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, a number of enterprises from the European part of the USSR were evacuated to the Altai Territory. In Barnaul alone the production facilities of 14 factories were located and plants. For the significant contribution of residents to achieving Victory, by Decree of the President of Russia V.V. Putin No. 304 dated May 20, 2021, Barnaul was awarded the honorary title of the Russian Federation “City of Labor Valor”.

Socio-economic situation

According to the Ministry of Economic Development of the Altai Territory, in 2023 the growth of the regional economy was 1.2%. According to preliminary estimates, the amount of gross regional product in comparable prices will exceed 1 trillion rubles. The positive dynamics are due to an increase in production volumes of products and services in key sectors of the economy. About 60% of GRP is formed by industry, agriculture and trade.

Based on the results of January-December 2023, the composite index of industrial production in the constituent entity of the Federation amounted to 105.8%. The highest growth rates were noted in the production of finished metal products, except machinery and equipment, other vehicles and equipment, chemicals and chemical products, coke and petroleum products, and food products. Industry companies shipped products worth 668 billion rubles (+5.9%).

The manufacturing sector occupies a significant share in the structure of the industrial complex of the region (about 87% of the volume of goods shipped). Total exports of enterprises amounted to 586.5 billion rubles (+5.5%). The region is the largest producer of organic food in Russia: it ranks 1st in the country in terms of production of flour, breakfast cereals, 2nd - cereals, cheeses, 3rd - biologically active food additives, 4th - pasta, butter, 5th - dry whey.

In January-December 2023, the amount of agricultural production in the region amounted to 216.3 billion rubles. The gross harvest (in weight after processing) of grain and leguminous crops in 2023 reached 4.5 million tons, including 2.5 million tons of wheat. The gross harvest of oilseeds is 1.7 million tons, including sunflower - 925 thousand tons. The Altai Territory is the only region from the Urals to the Far East where sugar beets are grown (about 1.3 million tons in 2023). In terms of production volumes of spring wheat, buckwheat, and oats, the region traditionally occupies a leading position in the country.

At the end of 2023, the region maintains a high position in the Siberian Federal District in terms of production volumes of milk (1.1 million tons), meat (262 thousand tons, +3.6%) and eggs (1.1 billion units, +1 ,9%).

In January-December 2023, retail trade turnover in the Altai Territory amounted to 505.9 billion rubles (+3%). The number of paid services provided to the population exceeded 142.5 billion rubles (+2.4%).

As of January 1, 2024, the number of officially registered unemployed citizens amounted to 10.9 thousand people or 1% of the working population of the subject of the Federation. At the end of 2023, the average monthly nominal wage in the region reached 45.4 thousand rubles, an increase of 17.4% compared to last year. The highest growth rates are observed in agriculture (112.2%), in manufacturing enterprises: in the production of furniture (1.8 times), clothing (141.4%), finished metal products, except machinery and equipment (140.7 %), motor vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers (131.2%), other vehicles and equipment (131.2%), textile products (126.8%), rubber and plastic products (124.5%), food products ( 123.7%), electrical equipment (121.7%), drinks (121.0%), medicines and materials used for medical purposes (120.8%), in printing activities and copying of information media (120.7 %).

Investment attractiveness of the region

Altai Territory is a dynamically developing territory with comfortable conditions for business development. Favorable natural and climatic background, favorable geographical location, diversified economy and the presence of high-tech industries, significant scientific, labor and infrastructural potential create attractive opportunities for external and domestic investors. According to the regional Government, the volume of investments in the economy in 2023 amounted to 180 billion rubles (+9.6%).

In order to further improve the conditions for attracting capital, the implementation of a support system for new investment projects (Regional Investment Standard) has been completed, within which 5 elements have been developed:

1) the Investment Committee of the Altai Territory was created;
2) the new edition of the Charter of the regional development agency was approved;
3) the investment declaration of the Altai Territory was approved;
4) algorithms for investors’ actions to undergo administrative procedures have been developed;
5) the regulations for the preparation of information and its placement on the Investment Map of the Altai Territory were approved.

There is a specialized operator in the region for interaction with investors - Regional autonomous institution “Altai Center for Public-Private Partnership and Investment Attraction”. The center constantly develops investment proposals that are adapted to the conditions for doing business in the region. Their development takes into account the real need for opening new production facilities and the potential of the region. This organization is authorized to support projects on a “one-window” principle, according to which the initiator can receive all the necessary consulting assistance, including the selection of a site and the necessary government support measures.

In 2023, the Altai Territory Development Fund continued its work. This institution, being part of the infrastructure to support investment activities, is designated as a regional state fund for industrial development. In the reporting year, capitalization exceeded 1.43 billion rubles. In 2023-2024 at the expense of federal subsidies within the framework of the individual program for the socio-economic development of the Altai Territory for 2020-2024. the volume is expected to increase by 404 million rubles.

The Altai Territory is actively attracting federal resources to implement development plans, including within the framework of the “Infrastructure Menu” tools. To date, the region has received infrastructure budget loans for 2022-2025. 12.3 billion rubles were approved. In 2023, 4.1 billion rubles were allocated for the implementation of programs using these funds, 11 activities were completed. By the end of 2024, more than 3.8 billion rubles will be allocated to finance 7 projects.

In 2018, in the single-industry towns of Zarinsk and Novoaltaisk, territories of advanced socio-economic development (ASED) were created, which provide certain preferences for investors: preferential income tax rate (5% for 5 years from the date of first profit), tax exemption for property and land for 5 years, insurance premium rates reduced to 7.6%. In total, during the period of its operation, 18 organizations were included in the register of TASED residents (9 – Zarinsk, 9 – Novoaltaysk). Organizations created 1,312 jobs (855 in Zarinsk, 457 in Novoaltaysk), the volume of investments amounted to more than 2.3 trillion rubles.

A preferential regime for investors operates on the territory of the special economic zone of the tourist and recreational type “Biryuzovaya Katun”: benefits when providing a plot for the implementation of a project, exemption from land tax for a period of 5 years, exemption from property tax for a period of 10 years, reduced to 2.2% federal and up to 12.5% regional income tax rate.

In the city of Rubtsovsk there is an industrial technology park "South of Altai" - a production complex that is designed to accommodate new enterprises in the field of metallurgy and metalworking, agriculture, innovation, and related services.

The region’s investment portal (https://invest.alregn.ru/) contains all the necessary information for investors, which is constantly supplemented and updated. Investment sites are also displayed on the investment map of the Altai Territory (https://admininvest.alregn.ru/public-_map/altai/map/).

Transport infrastructure

The transport infrastructure is represented by railway (1.8 thousand km), road (public – 16.7 thousand km, federal – 636.2 km), inland waterway (779 km) modes of transport. The main river facilities are the Barnaul and Biysk ports, as well as three marinas. There are three federal highways on the territory of the region: P-256 (“Chuysky tract”), A-321 (Barnaul - Pavlovsk - border with the Republic of Kazakhstan) and A-322 (Barnaul - Rubtsovsk - border with the Republic of Kazakhstan), providing access to Kazakhstan, Mongolia, countries of the Central Asian region; a railway connecting Central Asia with the Trans-Siberian Railway; two airports (in Barnaul and Biysk). Barnaul airport has international status and can receive almost all types of aircraft.

Characteristics of the tourist attractiveness of the Altai Territory

Altai Territory is a recognized center of recreation and tourism in Russia. The competitive advantage of the tourism industry in the region is the combination of natural-climatic, balneological and therapeutic factors, favorable environmental conditions, rich historical and cultural heritage, multinational culinary traditions, and the presence of specially protected natural areas.

According to the Altai Territory Administration for the Development of Tourism and Recreational Activities, the tourist flow in 2023 exceeded 2.3 million people, which is 5% more than in 2022.

Geographically, the Altai Territory is divided into 2 enlarged tourist regions - Stepnoy Altai and Piedmont Altai, each of which has its own unique characteristics.

For Steppe Altai, these are numerous fresh and salt lakes with healing and healing properties. The main tourist destinations of the Steppe Altai are Lake Yarovoe (Yarovoye), Zavyalovskiye (Zavyalovsky district) and Guseletovskiye (Romanovsky district) lakes.

For Piedmont Altai, these are picturesque mountain landscapes, the presence of unique natural objects of display (the Lebediny reserve in the Sovetsky district is one of 2 places in Russia where swans winter) and historical monuments (Denisova Cave in the Soloneshensky district), developed sanatorium- resort complex (resort of federal significance - Belokurikha). The main tourist destinations of Piedmont Altai are the left bank of the Katun River, including the special economic zone of the tourist and recreational type "Turquoise Katun" and the gambling zone "Siberian Coin", the natural park "Aya" (Altai region), the Belokurikha resort and the Belokurikha Mountain site (G Belokurikha), Gornaya Kolyvan (Zmeinogorsky, Kurinsky, Krasnoshchekovsky districts), Mountain Charysh (Charyshsky district), Soloneshye (Soloneshensky district).

In order to expand the tourism potential, the Government of the region adopted the state program “Tourism Development in the Altai Territory” (in the current version for the period 2020-2024), within the framework of which work is being done to improve the quality of services provided, expand the route network and develop large excursion facilities. In particular, last year, work continued to promote the region’s tourism resources and increase citizens’ awareness of recreation and tourism opportunities in the region, expand the supply of tourism services on the market and improve their quality. A variety of events in the field of tourism are held in the subject of the Federation, the most widespread of which are the traditional festivals “Blossoming of the maralberry” and “Altai wintering”, which open the summer and winter tourist seasons, as well as the specialized festival “World Tourism Day in the Altai Territory”. According to the results of the National Award in the field of event tourism, Russian Event Awards 2023, Altai Territory entered the top 15 in the ranking of Russian regions developing event tourism.

As part of the promotion of the tourism product to the international market, representatives of the region in 2023 made presentations of the recreational potential during participation in the following congress and exhibition events: “VISIT MONGOLIA”, “Intourmarket”, “MITT”, “VISIT ALTAI”, “LEISURE 2023” , “Baikaltour – 2023”, “MedTravelExpo. Sanatoriums. Resorts. Medical centers", TRAVEL HUB "Commonwealth".

International contacts, agreements with foreign partners

The international activities of the Altai Territory are carried out within the framework of the unified foreign policy line of Russia on the basis of the powers granted to the subjects of the Federation in this area and in constant interaction with sectoral federal government bodies. In accordance with the Plan for the participation of the local Government in international and interregional events for 2023, work on the development of external relations was aimed at expanding and strengthening trade, economic, cultural, humanitarian, scientific and educational cooperation primarily with the countries of the Eurasian Economic Union and the Asia-Pacific region , CIS states. In the reporting year, there was an increase in interest from Asian partners, which traditionally include geographically close China and Mongolia.

To date, the Government has concluded 16 cooperation agreements with ministries and authorities of administrative-territorial entities of foreign states. Activities to update the regulatory framework for interaction with foreign partners are systemic in nature.

Taking into account the recommendations of federal executive authorities to intensify international cooperation in friendly areas, such work is being carried out with colleagues from China, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Mongolia, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, India, and Tajikistan. The conclusion of agreements and the implementation of action plans for their implementation, despite the current political situation in the world, allowed the region to form stable economic and humanitarian ties.

Cross-border cooperation is actively developing within the framework of the International Coordination Council “Our Common Home – Altai” (ISS “Altai”), which since 2023 has united eight neighboring administrative-territorial entities of Russia, Kazakhstan, China and Mongolia. A number of projects are being implemented within the framework of the Council, including the Economic Council of the Regions of the Greater Altai, the Council of Rectors of Universities of the Greater Altai, the children's environmental expedition “Start at Your Home”, the sports and tourism festival “Big Altai”, a summer school for students and scientists, cross-border tourist routes “ Altai - Golden Mountains".

A major role in strengthening cooperation with Mongolia is played by the Regional Representative Office in the Kobdo aimag, whose activities are aimed at promoting Altai goods on the Mongolian market, carrying out information exchange, assisting in the implementation of bilateral projects, attracting investments, expanding contacts in the field of culture, education, sports, and healthcare.

The development of international cooperation between the regions of the Siberian Federal District is promoted by the expert advisory council of the Interregional Association of Economic Cooperation of Subjects of the Russian Federation “Siberian Agreement” on cross-border cooperation and foreign economic relations, chaired by the Governor of the Altai Territory V.P. Tomenko. Thus, within the framework of the council, a comprehensive investment project “Development of Siberian export-oriented cross-border corridors” was developed, which is designed to support foreign trade activities in the Siberian Federal District.

Work continues in the region to reorient trade flows and search for new partners. According to operational data from the Siberian Customs Administration, in 2023 the region’s foreign trade turnover decreased by almost 18%. Operations were carried out with partners from 108 countries near and far abroad (in 2022 - from 115 countries).

Exports of a constituent entity of the Federation in 2023 decreased by 12% (in Russia - by 28.3%). Moreover, there was an increase in such product groups as “Metals and products made from them”, “Machinery, equipment and vehicles”, “Food products and agricultural raw materials”. Export operations were carried out with partners from 73 countries, the share of friendly ones at the end of 2023 exceeded 95%.

Imports from the Altai Territory in 2023 decreased by 26%. At the same time, its structure showed an increase in such product groups as: “Machinery, equipment and vehicles”, “Chemical industry products, rubber”, “Other goods”. Supplies to the region were carried out from 89 countries.

Science and education

The transition of the economy of a constituent entity of the Federation to an innovative model is designated as a key direction of the Strategy for the socio-economic development of the Altai Territory for the period until 2025.

In the region, about 40 organizations are engaged in various types of research, design and survey activities. The academic complex is represented by    13 research institutes, design organizations, and research departments of higher education and industrial enterprises, including institutions of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Institute of Chemical-Energy Technologies, Institute of Water and Environmental Problems), institutions of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Agricultural Sciences (Department "Research Institute of Horticulture of Siberia named after M.A. Lisavenko", All-Russian Research Institute of Antler Reindeer Husbandry, Siberian Research Institute of Cheese Making, Altai Research Institute of Agriculture). Technology transfer centers and a network of university technology parks for collective use of high-tech equipment are successfully operating, work is underway to create consulting platforms, and build cluster-type scientific and production chains.

In the Altai Territory there is one of the largest science city of the Russian Federation (the status was assigned by Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation of November 21, 2005 No. 688) - Biysk.

The educational complex of the region is formed by more than 1,640 institutions, of which 348 nursery schools, 183 preschool branches, 1,081 general education organizations, 54 vocational education institutions, 9 higher educational institutions, 14 branches of higher educational institutions.

Universities of the subject of the Federation with the support of the Ministry of Education and sciences of the Altai Territory are developing the export of educational services to the countries of Central Asia by concluding agreements with foreign educational institutions (currently there is an order 400 different treaties and agreements), which allows expanding the possibilities of international scientific and educational cooperation. According to the above-mentioned Ministry, in 2023 the number of foreign students in universities in the region amounted to more than 4 thousand people.

Culture and local traditions

Altai Territory is a territory with a rich historical and cultural and natural heritage, the birthplace of many outstanding personalities: Vasily Shukshin, Mikhail Kalashnikov, German Titov, Ivan Pyryev, Robert Rozhdestvensky, Valery Zolotukhin, Mikhail Evdokimov, Alexander Pankratov-Cherny.

Currently, the region has a multidisciplinary network of cultural facilities, including: 1,051 club-type institutions, 969 public libraries, 73 museums, 7 theaters, 6 concert organizations, 3 professional educational organizations with two branches, 89 children's art schools, 5 cultural and recreation parks, Altai Regional Educational and Methodological Center for Art Education, State Archive of the Altai Territory.

The network of regional government institutions in the field of culture, art, secondary vocational education, as well as archival affairs includes 21 organizations, including one for working with socially vulnerable segments of the population –“ the Altai Regional Special Library for the Blind and Visually Impaired”. Also in the region, a federal higher educational institution in the field of culture and art, the Altai State Institute of Culture, successfully operates.

Large-scale events are organized in the region, including the All-Russian festival “Shukshinsky Days in Altai”, the All-Russian Shukshinsky Film Festival, the Robert Rozhdestvensky Literary Festival, the Folk Art Festival “Kalina Krasnaya”, the All-Russian Festival of Traditional Culture “Russia Day” on the Turquoise Katun.

Non-governmental organizations

In the region more than 2000 non-governmental organizations are registered: public, trade-union, foundations and movements, structural divisions of various all-Russian and interregional institutions, non-profit partnerships, territorial self-governments, Cossack societies. Of these, more than 1.4 thousand NPO are socially oriented and receive government support.

Representatives of 23 peoples live in the Altai Territory, united in 57 national and cultural public organizations. Among them are 9 Russian Germans, 6 each of Kazakhs and Kumandins, 3 of Azerbaijanis, 2 of Armenians, Belarusians, Poles, Tajiks, Ukrainians, 1 each - Altaians, Georgians, Dagestanis, Jews, Kyrgyz, Lithuanians, Mari, Mordovians, Ossetians, Uzbeks, Chechens.

Mass media

More than 296 media entities are registered in the Altai Territory, of which: 115 newspapers, 69 magazines, 8 TV channels, 38 radio channels, 5 news agencies, 56 online publications, 3 electronic periodicals.