Welcome address of Russia’s Deputy Minister of Construction, Housing and Utilities to the participants of the Central Russian Economic Forum

Dear colleagues,
participants of the Central Russian Economic Forum!

Attraction of private investment is one of the top priorities for all economic sectors – the housing and utilities sector is no exception.

As part of the infrastructure modernization process, both Russian players and foreign investors enter the domestic housing and utilities market. They conclude concession agreements, with more than 92% of the concession tenders announced in Russia currently being related to housing and utilities projects. We are confident of private investors’ efficiency proven by the first results of their efforts: in a number of regions where concession-based projects were launched, the number of heat supply failures has decreased by 47%, the number of breakdowns in sewage systems by 21% in the last 18 months.

Liaison with potential investors, distribution of information on possible objects of concessionary agreements is a substantial part of our work. I am grateful to the government of Kursk region and personally to Governor Alexander Mikhailov for their commitment and the arrangement of the fifth Forum. Such events provide a venue where the business community can meet public officials and find common ground taking advantage of informal dialogue opportunities.

I am certain that participation in the Central Russian Economic Forum will enable participants to exchange experience and to find new solutions to existing issues.

Best regards,
Andrey Chibis