Ali Shakhbanov: "Introducing ASI standard will kickstart attracting investment to Daghestan"

Makhachkala, June 30, 2014. Introducing the standard of the Agency of Strategic Initiatives will help investors influence the authorities’ vision of implementing the standard’s clauses and give momentum to attracting investment to Daghestan, CEO of the "North Caucasus Federal District Builders’ Guild" and head of the ASI’s expert group Ali Shakhbanov told RIA "Daghestan".

He said the ASI standard aims at improving the investment climate in Daghestan to ensure a steady investment flow, provide economic growth, raise living standards and security level, and create a comfortable life environment for people living in Daghestan.

"Despite the regulations we have adopted to improve the investment climate, today’s investors are not active enough in implementing investment projects in the republic. We have to take concrete measures guaranteeing business and investment security and create a positive image of Daghestan entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship," Ali Shakhbanov said.

He added that they needed to eliminate high administrative barriers, reduce the time of awarding permits and simplify this procedure, eliminate redundant procedures in urban planning, and establish a system of supporting innovation in Daghestan economy. Another problem was providing highly qualified personnel for Daghestan development strategy programs. Shakhbanov said there were no mechanisms of cooperation between authorities, educational instiyutions, self-regulatory organizations, and businesses in staff’s training, retraining, their internship and employment in industries.

According to Ali Shakhbanov, there was no clear strategy for energy security and no program for modernizing the power grid with no mediation to provide customers with cheap rates. Neither were there areas available for package building provided with engineering and social infrastructure. Moreover, long-term loans are still hard to take out, the long interest rates are large, and the mortgage reserve fund remains insufficient for small and medium businesses.

"Establishing a regional bank of the republic’s development with public ownership would greatly boost improvement of the investment climate in Daghestan," he concluded.