Head of the Department of Investment and Industrial Policy of the capital, Anatoly Garbuzov
Photo: Eva ROSLYAKOVA. Go to Photobank KP
Anatoly Garbuzov was appointed head of the department in early July. But he is not a new person in this department: he was previously deputy director. We talked about current projects and the investment climate in the capital in the studio of KP radio during the Innoprom exhibition.
— Do you have any idea of the amount of work that remains ahead?
— The Department of Investment and Industrial Policy, as in the entire Moscow government, has always set and continues to set only the most ambitious goals and objectives. We will continue the work started earlier to support industrial production and develop promising high-tech industries, such as photonics, microelectronics, unmanned aircraft systems, electric vehicle manufacturing and quantum technologies.
— Moscow has been developing large-scale investment projects since 2016. How does the city attract potential investors?
— This is, of course, about the provision of land at preferential rent. Today we are implementing about 80 large-scale investment projects (MIP). This is when the city provides the investor with land on which he builds the production of products important for the city and the country, and also creates high-tech jobs for the city’s residents.
More than half of MaIPs are sold on preferential terms: investors were rented land for just one ruble per year without the need for a tender.
Thus, companies producing food, medical, construction, chemical, automotive and other products appeared in the city.
In fact, we use a combination of support measures. Investors can simultaneously take advantage of several support measures. In addition to assigning the project the status of MaIP, the investor can participate in the program to stimulate job creation, as well as take advantage of the financial instruments of the Moscow Fund for Support of Industry and Entrepreneurship.
Thus, in our country, 1 ruble of state support funds generates about 55 rubles of private investment. This is a good multiplier (a coefficient reflecting the ratio of an increase or decrease in investment to a change in income – editor’s note). Even, probably, one of the best multipliers that exist in the investment sphere.
Now is the time for industrial development and the Moscow government is paying close attention to industrial policy.
— With the introduction of sanctions, the pace of development of industrial enterprises in the country in general, and in Moscow in particular, has increased. What large or perhaps interesting factories, projects and companies have appeared in the capital?
“We are carefully analyzing the impact of sanctions on industrial enterprises. It is important to note that the restrictions did not lead to a reduction in production volumes, but, on the contrary, contributed to their increase. We have occupied the niches left by Western and hostile companies.
We are actively developing a cluster approach to the creation and relocation of production, including the launch of a photonics and microelectronics cluster on behalf of the President. Today this cluster includes 58 companies. For further sustainable development of the industry, it is essential to create, upgrade and develop an infrastructure for full-cycle microelectronics production and create specialized companies for the production of equipment and materials for microelectronics.
We attach great importance to the development of quantum technologies and electric vehicles. At the end of 2022, we are launching an electric vehicle cluster, which should become the main platform for organizing projects in the field of creating a component base for the production and maintenance of electric vehicles, as well as in the development of new technologies for organizing mass production of electric passenger vehicles, electric vans and electric buses.
In addition, we have not forgotten about industries that affect the quality of life of city dwellers, including the food industry and construction. That is why today we are creating appropriate clusters in New Moscow, which allow us to reduce the cost of products and improve their quality thanks to the synergy of companies in the same territory.
— How does the city attract investors specifically for industrial projects?
— With the introduction of sanctions and restrictions, investors have come to understand one simple thing: that investing in industry is safe and profitable. Because industry is fundamental – capital. This is what allows you to receive guaranteed income from your investments for many years.
I repeat, the city actively supports industrial enterprises. By the end of 2023 alone, more than 800 companies benefited from support measures, both financial and non-financial. This is a good help for private investment, as well as for achieving technological sovereignty in the country.
Let me add some numbers for understanding: today, among the key measures to support the city, many industrialists single out preferential investment loans. In 2023 alone, the volume of preferential loans received thanks to the Moscow Fund for Support of Industry and Entrepreneurship amounted to 105 billion rubles.
2023 was also a record year for granting concessional loans: the city approved targeted loans to businesses for over 1.2 billion rubles. The funds helped companies modernize equipment, expand export activities, and introduce new high-tech solutions.
— There is a shortage of personnel in the country. Is there one in Moscow?
— We are closely monitoring the personnel situation in Moscow; of course, this issue remains relevant. Both engineering and manual jobs are equally important for the sustainable development of the industrial sector. We have created several tools for selective recruitment both for secondary specialized education programs and for higher education programs: in order to form a reserve and, in the near future, cover the personnel needs of Moscow industrial enterprises.
We have also successfully implemented a number of projects to increase the human resource potential of Moscow’s industry. Since 2021, the Moscow Technical School has been operating – an educational project of the Moscow Government, created to improve the skills of employees already employed in production. At our courses (there are already more than 200 of them) they acquire unique knowledge and skills in additive technologies, artificial intelligence, communication technologies, robotics, photonics and many others. Within the framework of the project, 10 general areas and 4 special areas have already been created. More than 2.7 thousand industrialists studied at MTS.
In addition, in order to attract young people to companies, in 2019 we launched the “Open #Mosprom” project. These include excursions to high-tech factories, master classes, quizzes, exhibitions and interactive programs. Children, teenagers and students observe the work of factories and factories, get acquainted with promising industrial areas in which they may be in demand as specialists in the future. We see a great demand from the audience, this is confirmed by the numbers: the audience of the project in 2024 has already reached 16 million people.
— One of the problems in the context of sanctions is the purchase of equipment. How can this be overcome?
— There are more than 1,000 companies in the mechanical engineering and instrument construction sector in the capital. By the end of 2023, manufacturers in the mechanical engineering industry will increase their production volumes by 25%.
Today we produce machine tools and conveyors, instruments, industrial robots, elevators and technological equipment, which are then used throughout the country in a variety of industries: from agriculture to the space sector.
Our industrialists are working to equip all areas with the necessary equipment.
For example, up to 300 lasers and about 100 units of high-tech laser equipment for cutting, welding, cleaning and engraving are produced in Moscow every year. These products are used almost everywhere: from microelectronics and medicine to the automotive industry and the oil and gas industry. Vision correction equipment is also manufactured in the capital using domestic lasers.
In 2023 alone, Moscow companies purchased more than 700 pieces of equipment thanks to preferential investment loans at 3% per annum for an amount of up to 3 billion rubles and for a period of up to 3 years, provided by the Moscow Fund for Support of Industry and Entrepreneurship.
We are actively developing the machine tool industry. This is reflected in the stand that the Moscow government set up at this year’s exhibition. It is made in the form of a machine tool and features machines from Moscow companies.
