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Vologda Oblast and Switzerland to strengthen trade, economic and cultural ties.
04.05.2016 10:10
On May 2nd, a delegation from Switzerland led Mr. Filippo Lombardi, co-chairman of the Parliamentary Friendship Group Russia-Switzerland at Swiss Federal Parliament arrived in Vologda to discuss guidelines for cooperation between the Vologda Region and Switzerland.
The development of mutual relations between Switzerland and Vologda Region in various fields, presentation of Vologda’s economic, investment and cultural potential was discussed during the visit.
In his welcoming speech Vologda Oblast Governor Oleg Kuvshinnokov stressed that the Vologda Oblast is one of the highly-developed regions of Russia. Industry makes up the basis of the Oblast's economy amounting for over 40% in the structure of the gross regional product. It is one of the 20 Russian regions in terms of industrial production per capita. In addition to it, the Vologda Region boasts over 3,500 objects of cultural heritage.
The Vologda Region pursues an export-oriented economic strategy. It cooperates with over 100 countries. In 2015 the external trade turnover of the Vologda Oblast amounted to US $4 bln.
The Vologda Oblast is a magnet for foreign investors. It is implementing a number of joint projects with foreign companies, Swiss enterprises among them. Thus, in 2014 Nestlé expanded production facilities in Vologda and constructed a new cereals line with RUR 1,7 bln investment into construction of a new production shop, installation of production and packing lines, warehouse construction, and utilities development. The launch of new production enlarged Nestlé infant cereals assortment and strengthened company’s leading positions on the markets of Russia and CIS.
Foreign companies like Nestlé have come to the region due to its convenient geographical location and local workforce. Nestlé bought Vologda baby food factory in 2003. The Vologda factory, Nestlé’s tenth facility in Russia, became the company's first one to produce baby cereals. Nestlé currently owns a production facility in the city of Vologda and constantly invests in the factory to provide new tastes and products for its local consumers.
In the course of the meeting, the Vologda Oblast Governor invited a business mission of Swiss entrepreneurs to come to Vologda to boost trade and economic ties, to launch new projects, create new working places and new goods for consumers.
The Vologda Region and Switzerland have been sustaining cultural ties. The Department of Culture and Tourism of the Vologda Oblast and the RF Embassy in Switzerland started cooperation in the cultural sphere in 2011. The then Vologda Oblast Governor Vyacheslav Pozgalyov as a member of the Russian delegation took part in the Festival of Russian Culture in Lausanne in February 2011. This exhibition opened a Year of Russia in Switzerland and was a success. During this time a number of joint international cultural projects were implemented.
In 2012 Ruth Scheidegger-Meier, daughter of the famous Swiss writer Gerhard Meier came to Vologda to present six volumes of Journal of Manufacturing, Commerce and Fashion that date from 1793 to the Vologda State Museum -Preserve. Later she presented one more unique gift to the Vologda Lace Museum, an affiliate with the Vologda State Museum-Preserve - an album with samples of fabrics dating from the 18-19th centuries.
In 2014 the collection of Western European lace and fabrics of the Vologda Museum of Lace received new exhibits from a Swiss patron of art Amelia Hussar. The gift from Amelia Hussar was timed to coincide with the 200th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between Russia and Switzerland.
These invaluable gifts no doubt strengthen cultural ties between the Vologda Oblast and Switzerland and set up a partnership that will last.
A Swiss delegation will participate in the 3rd International Lace Festival VITA LACE that will be held in Vologda in 2017.