Tomsk region develops cooperation with APEC member-states

Tomsk region expands foreign economic partnership with APEC member states such as: the USA, China, Australia, Vietnam, Canada, Japan, Singapore, Indonesia etc.

A promising area of cooperation with APEC member states for Tomsk region is investment interaction.

For example, Chinese enterprises invest into wood processing projects. So the international project in Asino Forestry is being implemented. And soon a sawmilling factory and a veneer factory will be ready to start production.

Innovative companies also have an investment component. Many of these companies are residents of the Tomsk special economic zone of Innovative type (Tomsk SEZ), established in Tomsk in 2005. Nowadays 57 residents are registered in Tomsk SEZ.  

For example, one of them is “Sitbecks” Ltd. It is a Russian-Australian joint venture producing bioactive substances from green of conifers. This unique technology became a breakthrough in the field of add-value processing of raw wood on an industrial scale.

During the 15^th Tomsk forum “INNOVUS” that took place in May 2013, several major agreements were signed, many projects of innovative enterprises in various fields were initiated. So, some companies of APEC member states were also registered as investors of SEZ residents’ projects. These are such companies as: “Solagran” Ltd (Australia), corporation “DivX Inc.” (the USA), “Vadaro. PTE” (Singapore) and some others.       

Considering particular importance and social significance for enterprises of Tomsk region to expand foreign economic ties, Tomsk custom pays much attention to utilization of customs procedures and technologies aimed at improvement of investment climate. These include: advanced customs technologies (electronic declaration, remote release, preliminary informing), reduced terms of release of goods and number of documents, selective customs control using risk management system etc.

According to customs statistics the main share of foreign trade turnover of Tomsk region falls to APEC member states.

The largest index of volume of turnover in foreign trade of Tomsk region in 2013 was the index of trade with the USA and Canada. The share of this trade amounted respectively to 32,6 and 14,8 % of the whole turnover of the region in 2013.

Analyzing an export component of foreign trade with the USA, its growth by 38,2 % can be noted.  From January to May 2012 the volume of export to the USA amounted in terms of value to $ 70,6 million, but for the same period in 2013 this index increased by $ 27 million and reached $ 97,6 million. The main reason of the growth is increase in the export supply of products of chemical industry.  The cost indicator of import from the USA went down by 22,6 % for 5 months in 3013 comparing to the same period last year and amounted to $ 796,700. The reason was decrease in the import supply of food products and agricultural raw materials from $ 363.300 to $ 115.200 (by 68,3 %) and also products of chemical industry from $ 211,800 to $ 34,100 (by 83,9 %).  

However the import of such category of goods as “Machinery, equipment and vehicles” went up according to value by 62,9 % and by $ 226,700 in comparison with the same period last year reaching $ 578,000.  

Export of goods to China during the period amounted to $ 30,2 million and compared to the same period in 2012 shrank by 43,2 % or by $ 22,9 million. It decreased mainly due to reduction of supply of polyethylene by $ 14,9 million and also food products and agricultural raw materials by $ 11,1 million despite the increase of supply of wood by $ 2,4 million.

Import of goods from China in 2013 amounted to $ 14,3 million. This exceeds last year index by $ 9,8 million (threefold). It grew mostly due to increase of import of machinery and equipment (4,6 times), products of chemical industry (almost 2 times) and food products and agricultural raw materials (by 47,6 %).

The growth of the cost indicator of import of machinery and equipment from APEC member states can be considered as a positive trend since import of goods of this category shows development of processing industry in Tomsk region.

For reference:

Tomsk region is 23^rd by the level of investment activity among Russian regions and is one of the regions with the higher level activity than Russian average one. According to the data of the Ministry of Regional Development, foreign investment per capita amounts to $ 226 in Tomsk region. And the share of federal budget in the volume of investments is 6,3 %.

Tomsk was “raised” from the 15^th place to the 4^th in the annual rating “Top-30 Russian cities, convenient for business” by The Forbes Magazine at end-year 2012. And development of economic ties with Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation member states will certainly strengthen investment positions of Tomsk.