Arthur Mikvabia: we need to change the model of economic development

VI Russian-Abkhazian Business Forum opened with the plenary session "Abkhazia XXI Century".

Sukhum. November 13. Apsnypress. Elena Poluyan. Moderator of the Plenary Session - Rector of the Russian Academy of National Economy and Public Administration under the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Mau.
 
Opening the plenary session, the Prime Minister of Abkhazia Arthur  Mikvabia said: "The basis of the Russian-Abkhaz cooperation is civilizational closeness and coincidence of interests of the geopolitical development".
 
Prime minister described the main problems of the country. These are: aging of the population - an increase of 100 people a year, small-scale production, the weak economic development, lack of employment. "We need to change the model of economic development. The accumulated problems allow for a fresh look at the prospects of the country", - Mikvabia said. According to him, the main ways of solving problems would be: attracting investment and active participation in the program of the Russian Federation on import substitution, improved management in all areas of the economy. In conclusion, he stressed: "I want to note that the representation and the geography of the Forum has been expanded. This suggests that interest in Abkhazia is growing. The interaction with the subjects of the RF - priority of the policy of RA.
 
For his part, Deputy Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation Alexander Tsybulsky said: " our cooperation is developing dynamically. More than 50 subjects of the Russian Federation has cooperation agreements with all regions of Abkhazia. If we estimate our turnover in rubles, it increased by 37%. The volume of direct investments into the economy of Abkhazia is 57.7 million dollars. However, making decisions on investments, any entrepreneur weighs the risks. And problems also needed to be talked'. According to him, these are poor infrastructure, lack of development of banking services, illegal trade flows, the need to reform land legislation. He concluded that the investment projects in Abkhazia are highly risky: "These problems must be fought".
 
Prime Minister of South Ossetia Domenti Kulumbekov conveyed greetings to the Forum by the President of South Ossetia Leonid Tibilov. Kulumbekov stressed: "Abkhazia is on the way of revival, and many addresses RA rightly sees in the strengthening of cooperation with the Russian Federation. I am sure that at the forum will take place a serious business conversation". According to him, the main problem of the two republics is personnel, because in the difficult years the country lost many talented people and professionals. Nevertheless, he said, it is necessary to look to the future and by exchanging experiences, find solutions.
 
According to the governor of the Bryansk region, Alexander Bogomazov, in fact there is no global economic crisis, about which much is said as a negative phenomenon. But economic sanctions somewhere play a negative role, and in some cases conversely beneficial for domestic business. He stressed that the main condition for the development of business - transparent conditions. Among the spheres of cooperation between the two countries, the governor called primarily agriculture and tourism.
 
Chairman of the National Bank Beslan Baratelia spoke about the development of the banking sector of Abkhazia. According to him, the banking sector of Abkhazia in 2015 developed against the background of complex foreign-policy terms. At the same time, the National Bank of the Republic of Abkhazia had taken a series measures to improve the health of the banking sector. As a result, six credit institutions were able to leave the country at this year's profitable performance. Income of the banking sector increased by 400 mln rubles, which allowed the National Bank to expand the range of credit products.
 
In response to a question of the moderator about the interaction with Russian banks, Baratelia stressed: "The banking system of Abkhazia is open to dialogue, Russian Banks can enter the Abkhaz market.