Transport infrastructure in Russia in 2011

The 2nd International Forum and Exhibition Transport Infrastructure in Russia: Innovative Development was held in Moscow's Ritz Carlton Hotel on November 2, 2011 with the support from the State Duma of the Russian Federation and in the framework of a project of the United Russia party. The forum was a logical continuation of discussions about the main paths of the transport sector modernization.

Before the ceremonial opening of the Forum in Washington II Hall FGUP DKBA Director Viktor Golubyatnikov conducted a presentation entitled "The revival of aeronautics in the country – an innovative way of the development of transport infrastructure in Russia" reviewing issues of a broad practical use of aeronautical equipment in the interests of public and private entities. The presentation demonstrated the latest innovative products of the company including the multi-purpose mobile aerostatic complex Peresvet and the pilotless robotized lenticular airship DP-27 Anyuta. It was mentioned that according to preliminary estimates before 2020 more than 1,200 aerostatic complexes on the basis of balloons and airships will be demanded in this country for cargo transportation, observation and monitoring services. Already today Russian border guards show special interest in flying machines lighter than air: Russia's southern border is almost open. The new project Arktika also needs them since monitoring of vast Arctic territories is only possible with the use of airships and balloons.

At the end of the Forum Golubyatnikov gave an interview to journalists noting that the main thing for him as the company director was that the United Russia party acknowledged that FGUP DKBA is on the correct track of development. It was expressed in the form of a decision taken by the leadership of the working group of United Russia's project Infrastructure in Russia on September 9, 2011 on the inclusion of the complex project "The revival of aeronautics on the basis of the state specialized enterprise FGUP DKBA" into the party's project Infrastructure in Russia.

Summing up the results of the Forum on behalf of the organizers, Boris Kornilov, Director General of Partnership for International Business Development, noted that the congress has helped make another step towards bringing together legislative and executive branches of power for discussion and solution of the most important problems of the transport sector in this country. Federal and regional authorities on the level of heads of various transport structures and agencies in the course of the Forum and the Exhibition had an opportunity to socialize and adjust their relationships discussing particularly interesting issues. They could also attract some foreign specialists to their solution.

The second international transport forum and the exhibition have become a good venue of a productive dialogue between business and authorities. Government representatives reported about the progress in the introduction of innovations in the transport sector and emphasized the state's interest in private investors as the implementation of major transport projects is impossible without private capitals and public/private partnership. Business and authorities agreed that this is the most efficient form of project financing. In the course of discussions, deputies of the State Duma of the Russian Federation promised to upgrade the legal framework of transport and thus to create a more comfortable investment climate for Russian and foreign investors.