Ladies and gentlemen!

I heartily welcome visitors and participants of the 4th Investment Forum of the Penza region that takes place on October, 27-28, 2011 in the city of Penza.

The Penza region is located in the center of Russia at the distance of 620 kilometers to the south-east of Moscow. It is easy to reach us by plane, by train or by car. Our region is hospitable and open for mutually advantageous cooperation.

The Penza region is simultaneously region with old traditions and region of the future.

The economy of the Penza region develops intensively. We aspire to stable development of the region’s economy, improvement of life quality in countryside. The practice of last years prompts that the development of economy in many respects depends on the condition of own manufacture and on domestic and foreign investments. This is promoted by political stability in the region, public consent, favorable legislative and tax climate for investors.

Large investment opportunities are concentrated in the spheres of mechanical engineering and instrument making. Investments in agriculture, pharmaceutical production and small business are also very effective. A special place belongs to the development and investment in the forestry of the Penza region.

Carrying out of the Investment Forum is a significant event, called to become a powerful tool for involving financial resources in investment development of our region, a good opportunity to increase efficiency of investments into competitive production for home and foreign markets, giving additional pulse to investment development.

Every year our Forum is visited by over a thousand delegates, among them are: representatives of federal and regional governmental authorities, top managers of domestic and foreign companies. High status of the Forum is confirmed by participation of the top representatives of federal authorities. From the very beginning the Forum has been visited by Deputy Chairmen of the Government of the Russian Federation S.B. Ivanov and A.D. Zhukov, Plenipotentiaries of the President of the Russian Federation in Volga Federal District A.V. Konovalov and G.A. Rapota. Within the framework of the Forum we discuss current problems of economic and investment growth of Russian regions.

The Forum is intended to be a platform for meetings and profitable business communications, for conclusion of investment agreements, it will introduce the modern opportunities of complex development of Russian territories and will give the exhibitors an opportunity to make presentations of their companies and projects. By the example of the Penza region we aim to develop a strategy planning model for the region, to define the basic competitive advantages and to point out the key directions of the Penza region development taking into account the existing economic realia.

I shall be glad to see you among participants and visitors of our Investment Forum – an ideal platform for meetings with potential partners and getting new business contacts.

I wish all the participants of the Forum successful work and fruitful negotiations!

The Governor of the Penza region                        V.K. Bochkarev