Economist Zubarevich assesses potential of investment projects in Northern Caucasus

The agreements on the creation of a “Wildberries” logistics hub in North Ossetia and a plant for the production of polymer pipes in Budyonnovsk look like the most realistic of all the investment projects for Northern Caucasus concluded at the Saint Petersburg Economic Forum, economist Natalia Zubarevich suggests.

Agreements of intent do not guarantee implementation of projects, notes Natalia Zubarevich, a professor at the Department of Economic and Social Geography of Russia at the Faculty of Geography of the Moscow State University (known as MSU).

The professor believes that the “Wildberries” logistics hub project in the Prigorodny District in North Ossetia is one of the most realistic ventures. “The company transport foreign goods through the “Verkhniy Lars” border checkpoint, and they need to store the goods somewhere ... It’s a completely working scheme,” Natalia Zubarevich noted.

The economist considers Budyonnovsk in the Stavropol Territory a suitable place for an oil and petrochemical cluster. “They already have production there. The “Lukoil” manufactures petrochemical products there. The production expansion looks also possible,” Natalia Zubarevich noted.

The MSU professor use discreet words when assessing the potential of the agreements reported by the authorities of Kabardino-Balkaria and Dagestan. The economist expresses her scepticism about the intention to build an IT cluster city in Dagestan. “These are dreams, sweet dreams,” Natalia Zubarevich said.