9th Moscow International Chemical Forum has started

The 9^th Moscow International Chemical Forum (MICF), a key event of the conference programme of Khimia 2021, the International Exhibition for the Chemical Industry and Science opened at Expocentre Fairgrounds, has started.

The Research Institute for Techno-Economic Studies in the Chemical Complex NIITEKHIM OAO and EXPOCENTRE AO have organised a Panel on the Chemical Industry in Russia's Regions: Status and Prospects.

The moderator of the event, Leonid Freiman, Deputy Executive Director of the Russian Chemists Union, noted that the chemical industry serves as one of the drivers for the development of the entire domestic industry. According to him, over the past year the chemical industry has grown by almost 7%, while all other manufacturing sectors have gone into slight but negative territory. The share of the chemical industry in the manufacturing sector has also been rising, now reaching about 10%. There are chemical companies in all federal districts.

The panel featured presentations from both regions that are leading the way in the development of the chemical industry, and those that are still striving to expand on-site chemical production facilities. Heads and experts from leading regional industry enterprises and associations shared their experiences and examples of chemical enterprise development in the Nizhny Novgorod, Pskov, Omsk, Lipetsk, Moscow, Novosibirsk and other regions.

Valentina Gavrilenko, Scientific Secretary of NIITEKHIM OAO, made a review report "Chemical Industry in Russian Regions: Status and Prospects". According to her, the algorithm for the location of chemical production facilities in regions today depends on such factors as the proximity of production to sources of raw materials, fuel, energy, water resources, as well as to areas of product consumption. In addition, the availability of infrastructure, a transport network, and labour resources are taken into account.

Valentina Gavrilenko called the investment climate a new factor. Now, she explained, special conditions are being created to attract investment - special economic zones, advanced development territories, technology parks. This factor is of great importance for small-scale chemical plants. And with the development of gas chemistry, more and more chemical production facilities are moving closer to natural gas production sites.

Nevertheless, currently about two-thirds of our country's chemical products are produced in just three regions - the Volga, Central and North-West federal districts, the expert stated.

There was a lively discussion at the panel. The speakers answered questions from the audience.