The Kursk region has favorable agro-climatic conditions for conducting agricultural activities. One of the most important advantages of the region is the presence of fertile chernozem soils. The area of agricultural land is 2556.5 thousand hectares, which are used for the development of agricultural production, including agricultural land — 2388.2 thousand hectares.

According to the composition of land use, about 80% falls on arable land and about 20% on hayfields and pastures.

Due to the natural and climatic features of the region, the agricultural sector is important for the development of the economy. The average annual number of employees of agricultural enterprises in 2021 was 24.8 thousand people (7.9% of the total number of employees in the region’s economy).

The output of agricultural products by all agricultural producers (agricultural organizations, households of the population, peasant (farmer) farms and individual entrepreneurs) in 2021 according to preliminary according to preliminary data from Kurskstat, amounted to 224.5 billion rubles. In terms of agricultural production, the Kursk Region ranks 3rd in the Central Federal District. Among the main types of crop production in the Kursk region, it is possible to distinguish the production of grain and leguminous crops, sugar beet, oilseeds, potatoes, as well as vegetables. The production of indoor vegetables, as well as fruit and berry products remains a priority in the region.

Measures are being taken in the region to develop horticulture. Every year, 300 hectares of intensive type gardens are laid out. A new direction is actively developing – mushroom production. In the center of special attention of the Administration of the Kursk region is a comprehensive solution to the problem of animal husbandry development. Thanks to the state support of the industry, within the framework of the implementation of the national project “Development of Agriculture” and the state program for the development of agriculture in the region, major investment projects for the reconstruction and new construction of livestock complexes have been implemented and are being implemented. The number of production sites built for 2021 is 130, 13 complexes operate in the field of dairy farming.

The agro-industrial complex of the region faces the task of not only consolidating the achieved indicators, but also systematically increasing agricultural production, working to improve the quality of grown products.

 The legal and economic conditions of investment activity in the Kursk Region are regulated by the following instruments:

• • The Constitution of the Russian Federation, the legislation of the Russian Federation,

  • The Law of the Kursk region of August 12, 2004 No. 37-WKO “On investment activity in the Kursk region”, other laws and regulatory legal acts of the Kursk region.

The Law of the Kursk Region of August 12, 2004 No. 37-WKO “On investment activity in the Kursk region” provides for forms of state regulation in order to support investors, of which the most popular investors are:

• • • creation of the most favored nation regime;
      providing investors with tax benefits that are not of an individual nature;

    • establishment of a reduced corporate income tax rate for certain categories of taxpayers to be credited to the regional budget;

    • provision of investment tax credits;

    • provision of investment tax deduction for corporate income tax on the territory of the Kursk region;

    • provision of a land plot in state or municipal ownership for lease to legal entities without bidding;

    • provision on a competitive basis:
      subsidies for reimbursement of part of the cost of paying interest on loans attracted by investors in credit institutions;

    • state guarantees for investment projects at the expense of the regional budget in accordance with the list of state guarantees to be provided, approved by the law of the Kursk region on the regional budget for the corresponding financial year;

    • preferential conditions for the use of state property of the Kursk region;

    • ensuring the obligations of investors to credit institutions in the form of providing collateral for property and property rights of the Kursk region on attracted loans for the implementation of investment projects;

    • subsidies for reimbursement to the lessee of part of the costs of paying lease payments for equipment purchased under leasing on the terms of subsequent purchase of this equipment, or for reimbursement of part of the costs of paying interest on loans attracted by the investor in credit institutions for payment of lease payments for equipment purchased under leasing on the terms of subsequent purchase of this equipment.

Also on the territory of the Kursk region created and operate:

Council for Improving the Investment Climate and Interaction with Investors Council for Improving the investment climate, interaction with Investors, export support and Development under the Governor of the Kursk region, whose main tasks are to make decisions on the most important issues in the investment sphere:

• identification of priority areas and formation of strategic goals for the implementation of investment policy in the Kursk region;

• analysis of factors influencing the development of investment activity and problems arising in the implementation of investment projects in the Kursk region;

• approval of the draft plan for the creation of investment facilities and the creation of investment facilities and infrastructure in the Kursk region;

• development of proposals for improving legislation in the field of investment activity;

• development of mechanisms to increase the investment attractiveness of the Kursk region;
  consideration of mechanisms to stimulate the growth of investment activity in the Kursk region;

• development of the policy of the Kursk region in the field of public-private partnership;

• development of mechanisms to stimulate the development of public-private partnership in the Kursk region;

• consideration of initiated public-private partnership projects;

• solving issues related to the creation of industrial (industrial) parks in the Kursk region;

• promotion of investment infrastructure development;

• assistance in overcoming administrative and other barriers arising during the implementation of investment projects in the Kursk region;

• development of proposals for inclusion in the socio-economic strategy of the subject of the Russian Federation and other strategic planning documents of the subject of the Russian Federation in terms of export development;

• development of recommendations on the organization of interaction between the executive authorities of the Kursk region, existing regional exporters and business entities planning to carry out export activities, registered in the territory of the Kursk region, organizations involved in the support and development of export activities in the region. (I took it from the position 315-pg).

Joint Stock Company “Agency for Attracting Investments of the Kursk Region” (hereinafter — the Agency), operates in the region in accordance with the Resolution of the Administration of the Kursk region No. 411-pa dated 28.04.2012:

The main goal of the Agency is the creation and development of industrial parks, their infrastructure facilities and other facilities designed to ensure the functioning of industrial parks in the Kursk region.

As part of the implementation of the basic task, the Agency is actively working to attract residents to the Yubileyny Industrial Park being formed, located in the Kursk district of the Kursk region. This park was created in 2015. As of the end of 2019, 7 investment agreements have been concluded with residents of the Yubileyny Industrial Park. Since the creation of the Yubileyny Park, the Agency has built a temporary passage on the territory of the specified park to provide access roads for the first residents of the Yubileyny Industrial Park, and also organized a drainage system. Currently, the Agency is working on the issue of installing video surveillance in the Jubilee Park. A meeting was held with a potential contractor and a commercial offer was received indicating the estimated cost of the work.

Measures for the development of the Agency in accordance with the resolution of the Administration of the Kursk region dated 10/15/2014 No. 652-pa “On the management of shares (shares) of economic companies owned by the state of the Kursk region” are approved annually as part of the program of activities for the planned period.

Today, the Agency is an important component of the region’s investment infrastructure.

The investment portal of the Kursk region and an interactive investment map are functioning and updated annually in the region, which displays vacant land plots in the region, engineering and transport infrastructure facilities under construction, and various information about the municipal districts of the region.

Currently, a number of large investment projects with a volume of investments in fixed assets of more than 1 billion rubles are being implemented and planned for implementation in the Kursk region.

The sectoral distribution of these projects largely corresponds to the current economic specialization of the region.

These are projects in the mining industry (the initiator of the largest investment projects is JSC Mikhailovsky GOK named after A.V. Varichev), in the field of providing electric energy, gas and steam; air conditioning (the initiator is a branch of JSC Concern Rosenergoatom Kursk Nuclear Power Plant); in agriculture and food industry (initiators of LLC “Agro-industrial holding “Miratorg”, LLC “Agropromkomplektatsiya-Kursk”, LLC “Mushroom rainbow”; LLC “Protective”; LLC “Kurskagroterminal”; GC “Prodimex”); in the field of public services (initiator of the Municipal Unitary Enterprise “Kurskvodokanal”).

By the end of 2021, according to preliminary estimates, the volume of investments in fixed assets will amount to 155.2 billion rubles. The index of the physical volume of investments will amount to 110.9% by the corresponding period of 2020 at comparable prices.

In 2021, residential buildings with a total area of 553.8 thousand m2 were commissioned in the Kursk region. In the period 2013-2021, 3,950 million m2 of housing were commissioned in the region, over these years the pace of housing construction has increased by 1.2 times.

As of January 1, 2021, the housing stock of the Kursk region amounted to 34,207.85 thousand m2. During 2013-2019, the shares of housing stock in urban and rural areas changed by 2.4% upward. In 2021, the share of urban housing stock was 62.3%, rural – 37.7%. The total area of rural housing stock is 12906.12 thousand m2, urban — 21301.73 thousand m2.

According to the results of 2021, according to the indicator “Commissioning of residential buildings per 1000 people of the population”, the Kursk region achieved results above the national average (in the Kursk region – 535 m2, in Russia as a whole – 515 m2).

In terms of the level of security of the total area of residential premises per inhabitant, the Kursk region is ahead of the all-Russian indicator (26.3 m2). In 2021, this indicator for the region was 31 m2 on average per inhabitant.

As of January 1, 2021, the total area of the emergency housing stock of the Kursk region was 27.19 thousand m2, which is 0.17% of the total area of residential premises of apartment buildings.

As part of the implementation of the 2021 stage of the Kursk Region’s targeted program for the resettlement of citizens from emergency housing stock for 2019-2025 (September 1), approved by the resolution of the Administration of the Kursk Region dated 29.03.2019 No. 259-pa, 4.4 thousand m2 of emergency housing stock were relocated.

In general, the housing stock of the region and the housing and utilities sector are characterized by a relatively high degree of development, and the improvement indicators are explained by the peculiarities of the settlement of residents of the region (a high proportion of rural housing stock, as a rule, well-maintained and equipped with infrastructure is worse than the urban housing stock).

Small and medium-sized businesses represent a diversified sector of the economy and act as a strategic resource for the development of the region. Significant state support is projected for small and medium-sized businesses in the real sector of the economy and related infrastructure facilities through the implementation of regional (municipal) programs with the financial support of the federal center.

The number of registered small and medium—sized businesses in the region as of 01.01.2022 amounted to 34,843 units, of which medium—sized – 90 units, small – 1215 units, microenterprises — 33538 units.

More than 132 thousand people work in the small and medium-sized business sector, which is 23.8% of the total number of people employed in the region’s economy.

The sectoral structure of small and medium-sized businesses is changing: the dynamics of the decline in the share of trade in favor of industrial, construction and other sectors of the economy continues.

The formation of favorable conditions for the development of small and medium-sized businesses is one of the priorities of the Kursk Region Administration in the medium term.

The program activities provide for further state support of activities in the field of industrial and agricultural production, innovation and research, healthcare and education, development of infrastructure to support small and medium-sized businesses and include:

— functioning and development of the “My Business” center, where a set of state support measures is carried out on a single platform in the “one window” mode. The unified information platform “My Business” is focused on helping entrepreneurs to open and develop their business;

-conducting an active information campaign aimed at forming a positive image of an entrepreneur and identifying entrepreneurial abilities, as well as involving in entrepreneurial activity persons with entrepreneurial potential and motivation to create their own business;

-increasing the capitalization of a microfinance organization and a guarantee fund to expand microcredit and guarantee services to small and medium-sized businesses;

-promotion of entrepreneurship (prioritization of support measures) in the field of women’s entrepreneurship, the economy of the “silver” age, socially oriented entrepreneurship and self-employment;

-popularization of entrepreneurship, publication in the media and on Internet portals of vivid success stories of Kursk entrepreneurs;

-development of services for businesses that will provide services on the principle of “one window”;

– expansion of consulting and information support for small businesses, development of an Internet portal for small and medium-sized businesses.

-Small and medium-sized enterprises that have received state support have shown outpacing dynamics of economic results.

The administration of the Kursk Region is constantly taking measures to legislatively change the conditions for small and medium-sized businesses to simplify procedures and expand forms of support for entrepreneurs.

In order to create favorable conditions for the development of small and medium-sized businesses, the implementation of the program “Development of small and medium-sized businesses in the Kursk region” of the state program of the Kursk region “Development of the economy and external relations of the Kursk region” is carried out.

A system of support for small and medium-sized businesses was built, according to which a competition was held for small and medium-sized businesses to provide subsidies for reimbursement of costs to industrial enterprises associated with the modernization of production, co-financing programs to support small and medium-sized businesses of municipalities.

The average per capita monetary income of the population in January-September 2021 amounted to 30414.6 rubles and increased by 8.4% by January-September 2020; real monetary income per capita – by 2.3% by January-September 2020.

The average monthly accrued salary in the whole region in January-November 2021 amounted to 38922.4 rubles with an increase of 10.5% 7 compared to January-November 2020; real wages amounted to 102.8% (in January-November 2020 – 104.7%).

The highest accrued average monthly salary was formed at mining enterprises – 62221.6 rubles with an increase of 5.9%. At enterprises providing electric energy, gas and steam, it amounted to 54088.2 rubles with an increase of 6.8%; manufacturing – 37223.0 rubles with an increase of 13.5%; transportation and storage – 38091.5 rubles with an increase of 8.8%; wholesale and retail trade – 33836.3 rubles with an increase of 11.3%.

The average monthly salary of one employee in the field of education in January-November 2021 increased by 12.7% compared to January-November 2020 and amounted to 30033.7 rubles, in the field of health and social services decreased by 1.3% and amounted to 36094.3 rubles.

Overdue wage arrears in the range of types of economic activity observed by Kurskstat as of January 1, 2022 amounted to 14.92 million rubles.

The average amount of monthly pensions assigned on 01.01.2022 amounted to 15522.41 rubles with an increase of 7.1% over the same period.

In 2021, there was a positive trend in the labor market of the Kursk region.

During the period from January to December 2021, the number of employed people aged 15 years and older increased by 14.7 thousand people compared to the same period in 2020, and amounted to an average of 544.1 thousand people in 2021.

The number of total unemployment (according to the ILO methodology) for the specified period amounted to 22.7 thousand people and decreased by 4.4 thousand people compared to 2020. The unemployment rate (according to the ILO methodology) is 4.0% (2020 – 4.9%).

The decrease was also noted in terms of registered unemployment. As of 01.01.2022, the number of unemployed citizens registered with the employment service amounted to 3,676 people, and decreased by 11,244 people compared to the same period in 2020 (14,920 people as of 01.01.2021).

Accordingly, the level of registered unemployment decreased from 2.62% (2020) to 0.66% (2021).

In 2021, the demand for labor has increased. The number of vacancies declared by employers to the employment service bodies in December amounted to 13,683 units, which is 37.5% more than the same indicator in 2020 (as of 01.01.2021 – 9,948 units).

The tension in the labor market amounted to 0.32 people per one declared vacancy.

During the reporting period, within the framework of the implementation of the state program, the bodies of the employment service of the population of the Kursk region provided assistance in finding employment to 13,017 citizens; temporary employment of 4,387 minors aged 14 to 18 years, 215 unemployed citizens experiencing difficulties in finding work was organized; 1,047 people participated in public works; self-employment assistance was provided to 1 068 citizens; 1,659 citizens have started vocational training and additional vocational education; 153 job fairs and training jobs were organized; 3,299 social adaptation and psychological support services were provided; 18,204 vocational guidance services were provided.

The production index for the type of activity “Mining” for 2020 is 98.3%. About 12 thousand people work in the industry. The leading enterprise of the industry is JSC Mikhailovsky GOK, which is the second largest mining enterprise in Russia (in 2020, the name was changed to JSC Mikhailovsky GOK named after A.V. Varichev).

Currently, JSC Mikhailovsky GOK named after A.V. Varichev is implementing 2 major investment projects:

1) “Construction of a crushing and conveyor complex on the north-eastern and south-eastern sides of the quarry” (will ensure the annual production of magnetite concentrate in the amount of at least 17.0 million tons per year, increase the efficiency of the mining and transport complex and additionally involve high-quality ore reserves in processing);

2) “Technical re-equipment of the dock. Modernization of the OMMO with the introduction of fine screening. The construction of an additional enrichment complex” (will ensure the stable functioning of the plant without the threat of a decrease in capacity under the constantly complicated mining and geological conditions of mining operations in the quarry and radically improve the quality of the concentrate).

As part of the implementation of these projects, it is planned to create about 400 new jobs in total.

The type of activity in the structure of industrial production of the Kursk region, in 2021 was 16%. The industry employs more than 19 thousand people. The volume of shipped goods of own production in 2021 amounted to 58.5 billion rubles in current prices. The main enterprise producing most of the added value for this type of activity is JSC Concern Rosenergoatom Kursk Nuclear Power Plant, the performance indicators in the electric power industry are determined mainly by the plans of the Kursk NPP for the repair and modernization of power units in order to improve safety and extend their service life.

In 2021, the company produced 23,847.2 million kW.electricity consumption.

Since 2013, the Kursk NPP-2 replacement station has been under construction as part of the new most powerful generation 3+ power units in Russia with an electric capacity of 1,255 MW each according to the VVER-TOI project. The new power units of Kursk NPP-2 meet the modern requirements of the International Atomic Energy Agency in the field of safety and have improved technical and economic indicators. At the NPP-2 construction site, for the first time at Russian nuclear power plants, an automated system for managing the cost and schedule of NPP construction was put into trial operation.

In the structure of electric energy production of the Kursk region power system in 2021, the share of thermal power plants of the branch of PJSC “Quadra” — “Kursk Generation” amounted to 4.6% (1148.6 million kWh), power plants of industrial enterprises — 0.2% (50.1 million kWh).

On the territory of the Kursk region, 6 main gas pipelines with a length of 1,183 km have been laid, as well as gas branch pipelines (572 km), 3 industrial sites, 6 compressor stations, 41 GDS and a gas metering unit supplied to Ukraine and Western Europe.

The volume of gas consumption in the Kursk region in 2021 amounted to 2.113 billion cubic meters.

As of 01.01.2021, more than 19.7 thousand km of gas distribution networks have been built and put into operation in the Kursk region.

In January-December 2021, the cargo turnover of road transport by large and medium-sized enterprises amounted to 610.5 million t-km (94.9% by January-December 2020). The passenger turnover of motor transport amounted to 427.8 million passenger-km (95.8% by January-December 2020).

The right of preferential travel for certain categories of citizens is granted according to the following travel documents: a universal electronic card with a regional transport application, a transport card of a beneficiary, a single social monthly travel ticket. In January-December 2021, 29 single monthly social travel tickets were sold to the population. Taking into account previously issued universal electronic cards with a regional transport application and transport cards of the beneficiary, 166 355 citizens applied for a service to replenish them.

Timely implementation of preferential travel documents for students in educational institutions of the Kursk region has been ensured. In the city of Kursk, 3,241 transport cards were implemented during the reporting period. 84 permits have been issued to carry out passenger and baggage transportation activities by passenger taxi.

From the airport “Kursk” airline JSC “RusLine” operates on the route Moscow – Kursk – Moscow 14 pairs of regular flights per week. In January-December 2021, 740.5 regular flights to Moscow were carried out (55,980 passengers were transported), 383 charter flights (2,036 passengers).

JSC “RusLine” operates flights on the route St. Petersburg – Kursk — St. Petersburg (in the reporting period, 207 flights were performed, 15,947 passengers were transported).

RusLine JSC operates flights on the following routes: Sochi — Kursk — Sochi (2 paired regular flights per week), Kaliningrad — Kursk — Kaliningrad (1 paired regular flight per week) and Mineralnye Vody — 4 Kursk — Mineralnye Vody (1 paired regular flight per week), Anapa – Kursk – Anapa (2 paired scheduled flights per week).