According to the regional Ministry of Economy, the foreign trade turnover of the Omsk region in the first half of 2017, taking into account mutual trade with the EAEU countries, increased by 59.5% compared to the same period last year and amounted to 472.3 million dollars. At the same time, exports reached $298.7 million (an increase of 54.6%), while imports reached $173.6 million (an increase of 68.5%). There was a positive foreign trade balance in the amount of more than 125 million dollars .
In January-June 2017, foreign trade operations were carried out with partners from 82 countries of the far and near abroad. Omsk region is characterized by a high degree of development of manufacturing industries, in terms of their share in the GRP structure, it ranks 1st among the regions of Siberia and 5th in the Russian Federation. In accordance with the Strategy of Socio-economic Development of the Omsk region until 2025, priority clusters in the fields of oil refining and petrochemistry and the agro-food industry have been identified as a key economic mechanism. In 2016, the petrochemical and agrobiotechnological clusters of the Omsk Region were included in the list of priority industrial clusters of the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade.
"The leading sectors of the regional economy account for most of the Omsk Region's exports. In the first half of 2017, the export structure included products from the chemical and machine-building industries, foodstuffs and agricultural raw materials," said Oksana Fadina, Minister of Economy.
In 2017, the Ministry of Economy of the Omsk Region approved the regional priority project "Systemic measures for the development of international cooperation and exports of the Omsk region until 2025." Its implementation will make it possible to increase the effectiveness of state support for foreign economic activity.
"During the project implementation period, we expect to hold at least 90 exhibition, fair and congress events, maintain a positive foreign trade balance, and conclude at least 750 export contracts with government support," Oksana Fadina emphasized.
To support foreign economic activity, the Omsk Region Export Support Center has been established on the basis of the Regional Development and Investment Agency. With his assistance, 44 export contracts for small and medium-sized companies worth $ 8.7 million were signed in 2016. To date, Omsk enterprises have signed 60 export contracts worth 221 million rubles. The Export Support Center actively conducts training seminars for companies interested in entering foreign markets.