Results of Foreign Economic and Interregional Activity of Ufa City (January – June 2010)

According to Bashkortostan Customs, in the first half of 2010 the foreign trade turnover of Ufa’s enterprises has amounted to USD 745 mln. The export rose by 11.7% totaling USD 649.2 mln. while the import decreased by 39.4% thus totaling USD 96.5 mln. The export surplus remains positive with export exceeding import sixfold and more.
 
The share of Ufa’s enterprises in the foreign trade turnover of Bashkortostan Republic totaled approx. 38%. Currently Ufa’s trading partners represent 69 countries, including 60 non-CIS countries and 9 CIS republics. The former group accounts for the trade turnover of more than USD 608 mln., the latter displays the amount of USD 137 mln.

The share of export in the overall volume of trade turnover amounted to approx. 87%.

In comparison with the first six months of 2009 the current export pattern has showed a certain proportional shift. In particular, more than two thirds of export value turnover are accounted for mineral commodities, mostly production of oil refineries.

The export of engineering goods fell by 57.7% thus amounting to USD 86 mln. Chemical production accounted for the export turnover of USD 54.5 mln.

The major exporters include “Ufaneftekhim”, “Novo-Ufimsky Neftepererabatyvayushchy zavod”, “UMPO”, “Transterminal”, “Selena-Neftekhim”, “Ufimsky fanerny kombinat”.
The key export partners include USA, France, Kazakhstan, India, the Netherlands, China and others.

The import is mainly represented by engineering goods which account for approx. 70% of overall import volume. Most imported commodities include light vehicles (cars), equipment and engines. The import turnover of chemical production totaled USD 9.3 mln., food commodities and corresponding primary products amounted to USD 3.6 mln.

The major importers include “UzDaewooAvtoUfa”, “Vostochnaya armaturnaya kompaniya”, “Ufaneftekhim”, “Rusjam – Ufa”, “Floranzh”.

The key import partners include Uzbekistan, China, USA, Austria, Germany, Italy and others.

With a view to attracting foreign investments and encouraging investment projects currently developed the representatives of Ufa City Municipal District Administration (Bashkortostan Republic) have taken part in 15 business meetings and discussions.

On March 6th Administration welcomed the delegation of Latvian Republic led by Guntis Ulmanis, the ex-president of the republic.
On April 9th city officials held a meeting with a Trade Mission of Czech Republic into Bashkortostan Republic headed by František Masopust, Executive Director of the Chamber for commercial relations with CIS.

On May 13th Head of Administration held a meeting with Yuri Akhvlediani, UNIDO program manager for Europe and CIS.
In addition, city officials held a number of working meetings related to investment projects currently developed on the territory of Ufa City, such as the construction of MEGA Family Shopping Centre (IKEA, Sweden), Castorama hypermarket (Quinn Group, Ireland) and a multifunctional family shopping mall (RosEvroDevelopment).

Administration representatives made a round of working trips to Moscow and Republic of Bulgaria, as well as paid official visits to the cities of Marmaris (Turkish Republic) and Yakutsk (Russia) as part of cultural exchange between Ufa and its partner cities. On June 11th Administration welcomed the participants of TURKSOY creative photography workshop. In the same month a group of Ufa schoolchildren visited Halle (Saale) (Germany) to take part in the intercultural project “Children’s City” which unites boys and girls from many parts of Europe.