Alexander Burkov discussed with business the problems of restrictions that restrain investment growth

The head of the region, Alexander Burkov, held a meeting of the Council for Investment and Competition Development.

The agenda of issues to be considered includes the results of the annual monitoring of the competitive environment, the timing of obtaining construction permits, as well as the implementation of investment projects supported by the "one-stop shop" principle. Each of the issues is directly related to the objectives of improving the investment climate in the region. Therefore, immediately opening the first meeting of the renewed investment council, Acting Governor Alexander Burkov called on entrepreneurs not to hesitate to openly express their opinions, and first of all, about the problems they really experience for themselves and the work of their enterprises.

A survey was conducted in Omsk and the districts of the region, in which 2,214 entrepreneurs and 2,838 consumers participated. Businessmen appreciated the presence of administrative barriers when doing business. The top 3 problems have remained unchanged since last year: the instability of Russian business legislation, restrictions on access to public procurement, and the high tax burden on businesses. The number of entrepreneurs dissatisfied with the problems of access to land has increased. In order to eliminate unnecessary restrictions for businesses in these and other areas, during 2017, regional authorities and municipalities adjusted more than 200 regulations and regulations affecting the work of entrepreneurs.

According to Acting Governor Alexander Burkov, improving the investment climate in the region is a common task for government and business. The head of the region is ready to discuss proposals, but on one condition – they must be mutually beneficial: "We will discuss any topics, but only so that mutual interests are taken into account."

Today, almost 38 percent of entrepreneurs believe that government agencies help businesses, which is 2 percent more than last year. One tenth of the business is satisfied with the fact that officials do not interfere in business. There are several more people who believe that they are being hindered or are not doing anything. Almost 64% of entrepreneurs noted an increase in the number of competitors over the past three years. The highest level of competition, according to the survey, is in retail and wholesale trade, leisure and entertainment. The lowest level of competition is in the market of water supply, waste collection and disposal, and energy supply. Entrepreneurs are not satisfied with the cost of connecting to water supply and sanitation facilities, as well as the timing and cost of accessing gas.

Taxes and tax preferences are a separate topic. If the business is looking towards other regions, it means that the authorities are underworking in some way, Alexander Burkov believes. An effective business should not be let go, but the distribution of tax benefits should be balanced and deliberate. "It is important to us how we will compensate for the loss of income by introducing tax incentives," Alexander Burkov summed up the discussion. - Let's look at the number of jobs created, where we are guaranteed to receive income tax. The road should be two-way."

The Government of the Omsk region, for example, is taking measures to revive the situation in housing construction by increasing consumer demand. The funds allocated to the Housing Mortgage Lending Agency for 2018 will be used to provide residents with preferential loans. This will ensure the growth of investments in the industry and the sale of housing in already built houses, on the one hand, and will solve the housing problem of over half a thousand Omsk families. In addition, Acting Governor Alexander Burkov, following the results of today's Council, instructed to update the issues of technological connection to the grid and commissioning of linear facilities.

"The head of the region has set a new pace of work. Previously, investment councils were largely formal events. But today was the first meeting of the new composition, and at the very first question, the acting Governor moved away from formal leadership: he asks acute questions related to the need to improve the investment climate, reduce administrative barriers, and sets specific tasks. Hopefully, this intensity will bear fruit in the next year or two of work," said Alexander Antropenko, a participant in the meeting and a member of the Council.