The Northwestern region is the smallest in Russia, its area is slightly more than 200 thousand square kilometers. It consists of three regions (Novgorod, Pskov and Leningrad), as well as St. Petersburg itself and the enclave of the state - the Kaliningrad region.

Introduction

From the 18th century to the present day, the North-Western economic region has played an important role as a connecting link between the Russian Federation and Europe, the very “window” that Peter the Great spoke about. Thanks to its access to the Baltic Sea, it allows you to develop partnerships with Finland, Latvia and Estonia, but that’s not all - the Kaliningrad region borders Poland, Lithuania and Belarus, which is also economically beneficial. Thus, we can conclude that the path of its development was predetermined by its geographical location.

Rice. 1. North-Western region on the map of the Russian Federation.

Population of the area

The area was populated back in the days of Kievan Rus, and modern times are characterized by a high population density and at the same time not too significant population size. The population of the North-West Economic Region is mainly concentrated in the Northern capital, where 5 million people live out of the eight that make up the total population. And in general, its level of urbanization is the highest in the Russian Federation (87%). The remaining three million people are mainly concentrated in large cities such as Pskov, Novgorod and others. The main labor resources are concentrated there.

Due to the fact that more than half of the population of this administrative unit lives in St. Petersburg, it is called a “district of one city.”

Rice. 2. St. Petersburg.

Resources and industrial potential of the North-Western region

There are mineral resources in the Northwestern region, but in very small quantities. Mostly these are oil shale, limestone, phosphorites and clay. The richest in natural resources is the Kaliningrad region, famous for its amber deposits.

Water resources here are very rich - there are seven lakes and wide waterways that can be seen on the map. The area has good pastures and forests.

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Due to the small amount of mineral resources, the bulk of the industry concentrated here is manufacturing. These are two branches of mechanical engineering - requiring the use of highly qualified personnel (radio electronics, instrument making, etc.) and important for the development of the Russian economic complex (car building, machine tool building, etc.).

In St. Petersburg, Boksitogorsk, Volkhovo and Pikalevo there are factories that smelt non-ferrous metals, and in the city of Kirishi there is an oil refinery. Phosphorus and complex fertilizers are produced in Kingesep, and nitrogen and complex fertilizers are produced in Veliky Novgorod.

One of the main economic characteristics of the region is the use of forest raw materials, moreover, in a full cycle format. However, more products are produced than raw materials are consumed, that is, part of it is imported from other regions.

In the North-Western region, 35% of the country's total timber is harvested.

An important sector of the economy is the production of energy resources, which operate on both domestic and imported raw materials. The largest electric power enterprises are the Volkhov and Narva hydroelectric power stations, as well as the Leningrad nuclear power plant.

Rice. 3. Leningrad Nuclear Power Plant.

The region has developed shipbuilding, production of equipment for power plants, light industry, chemical (medicine production) and knowledge-intensive industries. Non-ferrous metals are smelted at the Boksitogorsk and Volkhov plants, and scientific and technical support is also significantly developed (a fifth of all Russian scientists work here).

Agriculture and transport

This industry is aimed at providing food to the population of cities. The composition of the agro-industrial complex is as follows: pig farming, poultry farming, livestock farming (meat and milk production), growing vegetables, including greenhouse ones. The Novgorod region has attracted the attention of foreign investors - large enterprises from Cadbury and Dirol have been built here in recent years.

Most of the transport routes converge to St. Petersburg.

What have we learned?

Despite its fairly small area and limited mineral reserves, the area is an important part of the country's economy due to its geographic location. Most of its population lives in St. Petersburg, and industry is dominated by manufacturing. Mechanical engineering, woodworking and electricity production are the most developed industries in the region. In addition, the scientific and technical industry has received significant development, and agriculture is focused on supplying large cities with its products.

Test on the topic

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Journal articles

1. Badokina E. A. Using the price of capital in substantiating investment policy / E. A. Badokina, I. N. Shvetsova // Regional economics: theory and practice. - 2008. - N. 20. - P. 88-97 (On the example of the Komi Republic)

2. Berendeev M. V. Post-Soviet regional identity of the society of the Kaliningrad region: the problem of formation and measurement / M. V. Berendeev // Bulletin of Moscow State University. Ser. Sociology and political science. - 2007. - N. 3. - P. 29-42

3. Beskrovnaya V. Implementation of the principles of budgetary federalism in the regions of Russia / V. Beskrovnaya // Federalism. - 2008. - N. 2. - P. 113-124 (Tables of income and expenses of the budgets of St. Petersburg, the Pskov region and the Republic of Karelia for 2005-2007 are given)

4. Boos G. Main directions of budget policy of the Kaliningrad region / G. V. Boos, E. Yu. Matveeva // Finance. - 2009. - N. 2. - P. 3-8

5. Broilo E. V. Main problematic trends in the development of the North-Western Federal District in market conditions / E. V. Broilo // Regional economics: theory and practice. - 2007. - N. 5. - P. 97-103

6. Broilo E. V. Analysis of problems of sustainable development of the North-Western Federal District / E. V. Broilo // Problems of modern economics. - 2007. - N. 2. - P. 262-266 (On the example of the Pskov region)

7. Broilo E. V. Problems of stable economic development of the North-West region / E. V. Broilo / / / ECO. - 2007. - N. 2. - P. 51-61

8. Broilo E. Financial stabilization of organizations of the Komi Republic and the use of factoring / E. Broilo // Problems of theory and practice of management. - 2007. - N. 8. - P. 35-40

9. Brousser P. Public-private partnership - a new mechanism for attracting investments / P. Brousser, S. Rozhkova // Securities market. - 2007. - N. 2. - P. 29-33 (On the example of St. Petersburg)

10. Budanov G. A. The role of regional authorities in the formation of social and economic policy: stages of evolution / G. A. Budanov // ECO. - 2008. - N. 6. - P. 92-105 (On the example of the Vologda region)

11. Bulavin I.V. Analysis of the quality of program-target planning in the context of the implementation of the socio-economic strategy of the region / I.V. Bulavin // Regional economics: theory and practice. - 2008. - N. 6. - P. 17-28 Using the example of the Vologda region

12. Bushueva L. I. Statistical analysis of innovative activity of enterprises of the Komi Republic / L. I. Bushueva // Problems of modern economics. - 2008. - N. 3. - P. 73-77

13. Byrko A. N. Regional tax regulation of social and economic processes (on the example of the Republic of Karelia) / A. N. Byrko // Regional economics: theory and practice. - 2007. - N. 8. - P. 171-175

14. Vaniev A. G. On the work of state authorities of the Novgorod region to attract investments for the economic development of the region / A. G. Vaniev // Regional economics: theory and practice. - 2007. - N. 18. - P. 50-59

15. Verkholantseva K. Experience of participation of Russian regions in European cross-border spaces (on the example of the Euroregion “Karelia”) / K. Verkholantseva // Power. - 2009. - N. 3. - P. 70-73

16. Vinokurov A. A. Northwestern Federal District: features and directions of regional development / A. A. Vinokurov // Regional economics: theory and practice. - 2008. - N. 5. - P. 12-21

17. Vinokurov E. Kaliningrad region: between Russia and Europe / E. Vinokurov // World economy and international relations. - 2007. - N. 8. - P. 25-30

18. Volkov V. A. Organization of public authorities in federal cities / V. A. Volkov // Management consulting. - 2007. - N. 3. - P. 226-233

19. Vulfovich R. M. Prospects for the development of the management system of St. Petersburg / R. M. Vulfovich // Management consulting. - 2007. - N. 3. - P. 140-151

20. Gadzhiev Yu. Economy of the Komi Republic / Yu. Gadzhiev // Economist. - 2007. - N. 2. - P. 66-75

21. Gekht A. N. Investment policy and inter-budgetary relations as tools for the territorial development of regions (on the example of the Republic of Karelia) / A. N. Gekht // Regional economics: theory and practice. - 2007. - N. 10. - P. 96-104

22. Glushanok T. Republic of Karelia: labor resources and labor market / T. Glushanok // Man and labor. - 2007. - N. 3. - P. 25-28

23. Gogoberidze G. G. Marine economic potential and development strategies of coastal areas of the Murmansk region / G. G. Gogoberidze // Regional economics: theory and practice. - 2008. - N. 14. - P. 21-29

24. Gosteva L. F. Tourism as a factor in the economic development of the region / L. F. Gosteva, N. D. Sereda // Regional economics: theory and practice. - 2008. - N. 15. - P. 88-94 (On the example of the Vologda region)

25. Long-term forecast of socio-economic development of the Vologda region / L. G. Iogman [et al.] // Problems of forecasting. - 2009. - N. 1. - P. 74-92

26. Evtyugin A. A. On the issue of the efficiency of living and embodied labor in modern agricultural production (on the example of the Vologda region) / A. A. Evtyugin // Regional economics: theory and practice. - 2008. - N. 21. - P. 88-91

27. Egorov D. G. Modification of the inter-industry balance for assessing alternative socio-economic strategies for the development of the northern regions of Russia (using the example of the Murmansk region) / D. G. Egorov, A. V. Egorova // National interests: priorities and security. - 2009. - N. 2. - P. 38-49 + Tables.

28. Zhevlakov V.Z. Problems and prospects for the development of the banking sector / V.Z. Zhevlakov // Finance and credit. - 2008. - N. 42. - P. 10-14 Using the example of the Kaliningrad region.

29. Zhirnel E.V. Territorial structure of the economy and problems of competitiveness of the region (on the example of the Republic of Karelia) / E.V. Zhirnel // Regional economics: theory and practice. - 2007. - N. 5. - P. 108-112

30. Zasyad-Volk V.V. Factors of effective land policy in the region / V.V. Zasyad-Volk // Management consulting. - 2007. - N. 2. - P. 62-82 (On the example of the Leningrad region)

31. Ivanov V. Agroindustrial complex of the Komi Republic: opportunities for innovative development / V. Ivanov // Problems of theory and practice of management. - 2008. - N. 6. - P. 27-33

32. Ivanov S. N. Integration of information flows in the region with the aim of reducing transaction costs in construction / S. N. Ivanov // Economic revival of Russia. - 2008. - N. 4. - P. 67-72 (On the example of St. Petersburg)

33. Ilyina I. Quality and structure of nutrition of the population of the Arkhangelsk region: dynamics and socio-demographic differentiation / I. Ilyina // Social policy and social partnership. - 2008. - N. 11. - P. 71-80

34. Kashina M. A. Council of municipalities of a constituent entity of the Russian Federation as a mechanism for horizontal and vertical coordination of the activities of local governments (on the example of the Leningrad region) / M. A. Kashina // Management consulting. - 2008. - N. 3. - P. 129-148

35. Kirillov A. A. Management based on results: possible approaches (on the example of the implementation of the “program for reforming regional finance in the Leningrad region”) / A. A. Kirillov // Management Consulting. - 2007. - N. 2. - P. 219-225

36. Klebanov I. On the development of the North-Western Federal District / I. Klebanov // Issues of local government. - 2007. - N. 3. - P. 4-5 (Speech at the northwestern interregional forum of the United Russia party on March 5, 2007)

37. Klepikov A. Bleak records: analysis of the results of regional development in 2008 shows that the crisis hit the North-West harder than most other federal districts / A. Klepikov // Expert. Northwest. - 2009. - N. 11. - P. 18-19

38. Kovalev V. A. Komi Republic: from post-authoritarian syndrome to the administrative regime / V. A. Kovalev // Political science. - 2007. - N. 2. - P. 172-187

39. Kozyreva G. Economic behavior of enterprises in the forest sector of Karelia in the conditions of market transformations / G. Kozyreva // Questions of Economics. - 2007. - N. 7. - P. 136-151

40. Kolosova G.V. Social support for disabled people in St. Petersburg: state and prospects / G.V. Kolosova // Social service worker. - 2007. - N. 4. - P. 6-16

41. Kolotnecha O. Plywood thrombus. The reason for the collapse of one of the largest timber processing enterprises in the Novgorod region / O. Kolotnecha // Expert. Northwest. - 2009. - N. 9. - P. 14-15

42. Kondakov I. A. Comparative assessment of the scientific and technical potential of the Vologda region / I. A. Kondakov // Economics of the region. - 2009. - N. 1. - P. 104-118

43. Kostyleva L. V. Statistical assessments of the priorities of regional socio-economic policy (based on materials from the Northwestern Federal District) / L. V. Kostyleva, E. A. Chekmareva // Questions of Statistics. - 2008. - N. 7. - P. 34-39

44. Krumgolts D. V. Opportunities and main directions of development of the fuel and energy complex of the North-Western Federal District in the long term / D. V. Krumgolts // Problems of modern economics. - 2007. - N. 3. - P. 457-459

45. Larichev A. A. The Republic of Karelia - a subject of the Russian Federation or a state? / A. A. Larichev // Constitutional and municipal law. - 2007. - N. 18. - P. 21-23

46. ​​Levina I.V. Regional problems of development of the timber industry / I.V. Levina // Regional economics of Russia. - 2009. - N. 7. - P. 12-15 (On the example of the Komi Republic)

47. Lutova S.K. Ethnopolitical situation in St. Petersburg at the beginning of the 21st century / S.K. Lutova // Management consulting. - 2007. - N. 2. - P. 56-61

48. Maklakhov A. V. Regional strategy for innovative development of industry / A. V. Maklakhov, V. V. Mitenev // Regional economics: theory and practice. - 2008. - N. 3. - P. 31-36 (On the example of the Vologda region)

49. Mamedov A. K. Economic analysis of the demographic component of rural areas of the Pskov region / A. K. Mamedov // Regional economics: theory and practice. - 2008. - N. 35. - P. 77-83

50. Menkova N. M. Non-traditional methods of increasing the financial independence of municipalities (on the example of the historical development of the Arkhangelsk region) / N. M. Menkova // Finance and Credit. - 2007. - N. 42. - P. 51-59

51. Mironova N. Arkhangelsk region: experience of self-organization and local development / N. Mironova // Municipal power. - 2007. - N. 6. - P. 36-42

52. Mikhel E. Economic factors of labor migration in the border region / E. Mikhel // Man and Labor. - 2009. - N. 3. - P. 39 (On the example of the Republic of Karelia)

53. Moskalenko K. A. Special economic zone in the Kaliningrad region in the context of globalization: political economic aspects of formation and development / K. A. Moskalenko // Bulletin of St. Petersburg University. Ser. Philosophy. Culturology. Political science. Law.... - 2008. - N. 2. - P. 117-124

54. Nemina V. N. Some aspects of the activities and forms of interaction between government bodies and the non-profit sector in St. Petersburg / V. N. Nemina // Problems of modern economics. - 2007. - N. 1. - P. 134-137

55. Ovchinnikov V. A. Reform of local government (on the example of the Leningrad region) / V. A. Ovchinnikov, N. G. Barbarova // Management consulting. - 2007. - N. 2. - P. 32-40

56. Ovchinnikova E. Expanding the horizon / E. Ovchinnikova // Expert. Northwest. - 2008. - N. 22. - P. 30-38 (On the development of long-term, at least until 2020, strategies for the socio-economic development of the North-West)

57. Pastarnakova O. A. Project approach in organizing cross-border cooperation at the local level / O. A. Pastarnakova // Management consulting. - 2008. - N. 1. - P. 203-215 (On the example of the North-West of the Russian Federation)

58. Rozhkova S. A. Using the world experience of public-private partnerships in Russia / S. A. Rozhkova // ECO. - 2008. - N. 2. - P. 104-112 (On the example of St. Petersburg)

59. Rybakov F. F. Prospects for the socio-economic development of St. Petersburg / F. F. Rybakov // Economic revival of Russia. - 2008. - N. 1. - P. 56-61

60. Rybakov F. F. Industry of St. Petersburg: structural shifts in recent years / F. F. Rybakov // Bulletin of St. Petersburg University. Ser. Economics. - 2008. - N. 3. - P. 37-44

61. Sergeev A. Dynamics of socio-economic development of St. Petersburg / A. Sergeev // Economist. - 2008. - N. 5. - P. 52-62

62. Sidorov Yu. Yu. Special economic zones in the industrial policy of St. Petersburg / Yu. Yu. Sidorov // Problems of modern economics. - 2008. - N. 3. - P. 400-402

63. Sinitsky V. Development of the North should remain a strategic task of the state / V. Sinitsky // Social policy and social partnership. - 2008. - N. 4. - P. 52-55

64. Sintsov K.V. Concept of socio-economic development of the Pskov region / K.V. Sintsov // Regional economics: theory and practice. - 2007. - N. 5. - P. 113-116

65. Skachkov I. Rescue knot / I. Skachkov, A. Efremov // Securities market. - 2009. - N. 3-4. - pp. 48-50 (About the Murmansk port development project)

66. Sobolev O. N. On the main directions of optimizing the activities of government bodies of the Russian Federation to ensure national security in the Kaliningrad region / O. N. Sobolev // State and Law. - 2008. - N. 7. - P. 76-81

67. Strikunov A.V. Integration processes in agro-industrial production / A.V. Strikunov, L.I. Strikunova // Bulletin of the branch of the North-Western Academy of Public Administration in Pskov. - 2008. - N. 2. - P. 46-51

68. Styrov M. Assessment of financial resources of industry of the Komi Republic / M. Styrov // Federalism. - 2009. - N. 1. - P. 237-242

69. Tazhetdinov S. R. On increasing the income of regional budgets / S. R. Tazhetdinov // Finance. - 2007. - N. 3. - P. 19-21 (On the example of St. Petersburg)

70. Labor market trends in the retail sector / E. Razumova [etc.] // Handbook of personnel management. - 2007. - N. 10. - P. 114-117 (On the example of the labor market in the retail sector (retail trade) in St. Petersburg)

71. Tolstoguzov O. V. Problems of improving state planning for the development of the economic system at the regional level (experience of the Republic of Karelia) / O. V. Tolstoguzov // Regional economics: theory and practice. - 2009. - N. 6. - P. 9-15

72. Trofimov A. Ya. Problems of reforming local self-government of the Pskov region at the present stage / A. Ya. Trofimov // Bulletin of the branch of the North-Western Academy of Public Administration in Pskov. - 2008. - N. 2. - P. 12-16

73. Uskova T.V. Problems of assessing the competitiveness of regions / T.V. Uskova, A.S. Barabanov // Questions of Statistics. - 2009. - N. 1. - P. 49-56 Using the example of the Northwestern Federal District.

74. Uskova T.V. Industrial sector of the Vologda region: problems and development trends / T.V. Uskova // Forecasting problems. - 2008. - N. 5. - P. 81-87

75. Feraru G. S. Social and economic trends in the development of the timber industry complex of the Arkhangelsk region: problems and ways to solve them / G. S. Feraru // Regional economics: theory and practice. - 2008. - N. 22. - P. 32-40

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77. Chaika L.V. Forecast of the development of energy and the economy of the region (on the example of the Komi Republic) / L.V. Chaika // Problems of forecasting. - 2007. - N. 3. - P. 94-105

78. Chaldaeva L. A. Regional securities market: problems of formation and development / L. A. Chaldaeva, I. N. Fedorenko // Regional economics: theory and practice. - 2009. - N. 5. - P. 20-23 (On the example of the Northwestern Federal District)

79. Chervonnaya I. I. Formation of regional labor potential (on the example of the Arkhangelsk region) / I. I. Chervonnaya // Problems of modern economics. - 2008. - N. 3. - P. 443-446

81. Chernyaeva Z. History and state of the public debt of the Republic of Karelia / Z. Chernyaeva // Securities market. - 2008. - N. 23/24. - pp. 65-69

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83. Kharin A. G. Study of the features of investments in the Kaliningrad region: sources of financing and assessment of investors’ expectations / A. G. Kharin // Finance and Credit. - 2009. - N. 14. - P. 79-82

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Option 1.

1. The Northwestern region consists of:

a) 3 regions b) 4 regions c) 4 regions and federal cities

2 . The North-Western region has... position:

a) seaside; b) land

3. A distinctive feature of the population of the North-Western region compared to other economic regions:

a) the lowest population density; b) the highest proportion of the urban population; c) the most complex national composition.

4. The sector of specialization of industry in the North-Western region is:

a) electric power industry; b) mechanical engineering;

3) chemical industry; d) metallurgy

5. Find an error in the list of mineral resources:

a) apatites; b) phosphorites; c) oil shale.

6. The following soil types predominate in the area:

a) tundra-gley; b) gray forest; c) soddy-podzolic.

7. In which city in the North-Western region is a large aluminum smelter located?

a) St. Petersburg; b) Volkhov;

c) Staraya Russa; d) Pskov.

8. The main branch of specialization of St. Petersburg:

a) Mechanical engineering b) Metallurgy c) Chemical

9. Indicate the most important advantage of the district’s EGP:

a) wealth in mineral resources; b) favorable natural conditions; c) location on important trade routes - water and sea.

10. Which statement does not apply to the Kaliningrad region:

a) The smallest in area

b) Is an enclave

c) The fuel and energy complex operates on imported raw materials.

Test on the topic “Northwestern economic region”

Option 2

1.Number of subjects of the Federation in the North-Western economic region:

a)4 b)5 c)6.

2. The most ancient city in the North-West is……

a) St. Petersburg; b) Pskov; c) Novgorod.

3. The following air masses predominate on the territory of the North-Western economic region:

a) marine temperate b) marine arctic c) continental temperate.

4. Find an error in the list of neighboring countries of the North-West region:

a) Estonia; b) Belarus; c) Ukraine.

5. The economy of the North-West is based on ...

a) own raw materials; b) imported raw materials.

6. In which city of the North-Western economic region is the oil refinery located:

a) Kirishi b) Ukhta c) Kstovo.

7. In the Kaliningrad region, the following has received the greatest development:

a) Mechanical engineering complex

b) Fishing industry complex

c) Chemical forestry complex

8. Indicate a couple of regions that are part of the North-Western region:

a) Novgorod and Vologda regions; b) Pskov and Novgorod; c) Kaliningrad and Vologda.

9. Find the error in the list of industries in the region:

1) ferrous metallurgy; 2) mechanical engineering; 3) Military industrial complex.

10. The problems of the North-Western region are...

a) protection of St. Petersburg from floods;

b) creation of a new port;

c) restoration of architectural monuments

Answers to the test “Northwestern region”

1 option

Option 2

Northwestern Federal District (NWFD)

The Northwestern Federal District is located in the north and north-west of the European part of Russia and includes 11 subjects of the Federation (Fig. 10.3). The area of ​​the district is 9.9% of the territory of Russia. The Northwestern Federal District is the only federal district of the Russian Federation that directly borders the countries of the EU, Central and Northern Europe: Norway, Finland, Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, and Belarus. It plays an important strategic role as a border region. Its internal borders are adjacent to the territories of the Ural, Volga, and Central federal districts. The region occupies the entire territory of the European North, has access to the Arctic Ocean and the Baltic, White, Barents, and Kara Seas, which creates favorable conditions for the development of export-import ties.

Rice. 10.3.

The population of the Northwestern Federal District is 9.5% of the country's population. Almost half (50.3%) of the population lives in St. Petersburg and the Leningrad region. The remaining regions are sparsely populated. The average population density (at the beginning of 2014) is 8.2 people. per 1 km 2 (the maximum density is in St. Petersburg and the Leningrad region - 72.0 people per 1 km 2, the Nenets Autonomous Okrug is a sparsely populated region). The share of the urban population is 84%, and the rural population is 16%. Since 1992, the number of residents of the district has been declining, which is associated with negative rates of natural growth and migration processes. The outflow of residents from the Komi Republic, Nenets Autonomous Okrug, Murmansk and Arkhangelsk regions is especially intense. Despite the decline in the total population, the district is experiencing an increase in the economically active population. Both the unemployment rate and the number of unemployed are steadily declining. The unemployment rate in the Northwestern Federal District (4%) is one of the lowest in Russia. In the structure of the employed population by economic sector, the share of those employed in trade, public catering, consumer services and healthcare is increasing, while at the same time there is a reduction in those employed in industry, agriculture, and construction.

The territory of the district is distinguished by a variety of natural and climatic conditions. The seas of the Arctic and Atlantic oceans washing its territory influence the formation of the climate, which differs in the north-west of the district by relatively warm winters and cool summers and harsh winters and relatively short warm summers in the north. Climatic conditions ensuring the development of agricultural production are limited to the southern territories of the region. They are suitable mainly for livestock breeding. Only the Kaliningrad region is characterized by a more temperate climate. The Northwestern Federal District is a lake region. Numerous lakes are located mainly in the western part; the largest of them are Ladoga, Onega, Ilmen. Full-flowing rivers flow through the territory of the district. Lowland rivers are of navigable importance (Pechora, Northern Dvina, Onega, Neva, etc.), in terms of hydropower, the rivers Svir, Volkhov, Narva and Vuoksa are of greatest importance.

About 10% of the country's GDP is produced in the Northwestern Federal District (5th place among districts). In terms of average per capita GRP, the district is in 3rd place. The economic development of the Northwestern Federal District is stimulated by the presence of significant reserves of minerals, raw materials, fuel, energy and water resources, which can not only meet the needs of the country's economic complex, but also be exported to many countries around the world. The district contains almost 72% of reserves and almost 100% of apatite production, about 77% of titanium reserves, 43% of bauxite, 15% of mineral waters, 18% of diamonds and nickel from the all-Russian figure. The district accounts for a significant part of the balance reserves of copper, tin, and cobalt.

Fuel resources are represented by reserves of coal, oil, natural gas, oil shale, and peat. In the northeast of the district there is one of the largest coal basins in Russia - Pechora - with reserves of high-quality and thermal coals. Of particular importance is the Timan-Pechora oil and gas province, where more than 70 oil and gas fields have been discovered. Currently, significant attention is paid to the development of oil and gas in the shelf zone of the Barents and Kara Seas - the Shtokman gas condensate and Prirazlomnoye oil fields. Oil shale reserves lie in the Leningrad region and in the basins of the Sysola, Ukhta, Yarega and other rivers. Large peat reserves are located in the Arkhangelsk, Vologda, Pskov, Novgorod, Leningrad regions and the Komi Republic.

The district is rich in non-ferrous metal ores (Tikhvin and North Onega bauxite deposits; copper-nickel ores of Monchegorsk and Pecheneg). Iron ore deposits are located on the Kola Peninsula in the Murmansk region (Olenegorskoye and Kovdorskoye deposits). The district has large reserves of mining chemical raw materials (the Khibiny apatite deposit in the Murmansk region, phosphorites occur in the Kingisepp area). Industrial reserves of diamonds have been explored in the Arkhangelsk region; The Kaliningrad region has huge reserves of amber (90% of the world's reserves). The district is rich in a variety of construction raw materials (limestone, clay, glass sand, marble, granite). Their main reserves are located in the Murmansk, Leningrad regions and the Republic of Karelia.

The leading place in the economy of the Northwestern Federal District belongs to the machine-building complex (more than 18% of the industrial production volume of the district). The machine-building complex is multidisciplinary; Heavy engineering has historically developed without a metallurgical base. Leading branches of mechanical engineering: shipbuilding, electrical engineering, power engineering, tractor engineering, agricultural engineering, instrument making, machine tool building, electronics industry. The bulk of machine-building enterprises are concentrated in St. Petersburg and the Leningrad region. The Northwestern Federal District occupies one of the first places in Russia in the production of sea vessels of various types, unique steam, hydraulic and gas turbines. The main centers of these productions are located in St. Petersburg, Murmansk, Arkhangelsk, Severodvinsk, Syktyvkar, Kotlas, Kaliningrad. The automobile cluster in St. Petersburg is actively developing. The district is home to assembly plants of such major automobile brands as BMW, Ford, Nissan, Toyota, Infiniti.

The Northwestern Federal District has a large military-industrial potential, represented by high-tech industries (rocket and space industry, etc.), which have undergone conversion (the Sevmash plant in Severodvinsk, Arkhangelsk region, today produces platforms for oil and gas production on the sea shelf, high-tech equipment for pulp and paper mills). The Plesetsk cosmodrome is located in the Arkhangelsk region, providing the launch of scientific and commercial satellites ordered by Roscosmos and foreign countries. Prospects for the development of the industry are associated with the development of knowledge-intensive branches of mechanical engineering, shipbuilding, and the conversion of defense industry enterprises.

The metallurgical complex accounts for about 17% of the district's industrial production. Ferrous metallurgy is represented by the largest metallurgical plant, Severstal JSC (Cherepovets), the Kola Mining and Metallurgical Company, etc. It should be noted that a number of negative trends have emerged in the development of the region’s metallurgical complex, which are associated with the depletion of a number of deposits and increasing environmental requirements , a complication of the energy supply situation and increasing competition from industrialized countries. The development of metallurgy industries involves the introduction of innovative products, diversification of production and entry into new markets in Russia and abroad, improvement of methods for processing raw materials and waste disposal, as well as solving environmental problems.

Forestry, woodworking, pulp and paper (13% share of the district's industrial output), chemical, food (18% share of the district's industrial output) industries are also among the leading industries of the Northwestern Federal District. The district has developed the country's largest timber industry complex (sawmilling, lumber production, furniture industry), which has received the greatest development in the Arkhangelsk region, the Komi and Karelia Republics, and the Leningrad and Novgorod regions. The functioning of the chemical industry is closely connected with the existing raw material base: mining of phosphorites, production of apatite concentrate, use of waste from metallurgical production and natural gas, oil products (Kirishi) and oil shale (Slantsy), wood waste (Arkhangelsk region). Among the branches of the food industry, the fishing industry is of all-Russian importance (20% of all-Russian fish production); in terms of fish production, the district ranks 2nd in the country after the Far Eastern Federal District (Table 10.3).

Table 10.3

Industrial production and production indices by type of economic activity in the Northwestern Federal District and Russia in 2013,

% to previous year

Agriculture is a traditional sector of the economy of the Northwestern Federal District, but, due to the peculiarities of natural and climatic conditions, it plays a secondary role in the district and has an integrated suburban, dairy and livestock farming, as well as flax growing areas (Pskov and Novgorod regions), providing only 7g of needs population in food products.

Animal husbandry predominates in agriculture; reindeer husbandry is developed in the Far North (up to 20% of the reindeer population in the Russian Federation). Agriculture is most widespread in the southern regions of the district (70% of production) - Leningrad, Pskov, Novgorod, Vologda and Kaliningrad regions.

The transport complex of the Northwestern Federal District is represented by a developed transport network: all types of transport are developed, but the most important are railway (70% of freight turnover), sea and river. The port industry helps strengthen export-import ties in the region. The importance of the recreational sector is increasing, which, in addition to traditional sanatorium and resort services in the Gulf of Finland area (Sestroretsk, Repino, Komarovo), increasingly performs the function of excursion services of international importance, uniting museum monuments of St. Petersburg and its suburbs, ancient Veliky Novgorod and Pskov.

The main economic indicators of the Northwestern Federal District in comparison with all-Russian ones are presented in Table. 10.4.

Table 10.4

Share of economic indicators of the Northwestern Federal District in all-Russian

Economic indicators	Specific gravity, %
Gross regional product
Fixed assets in economics
Mining
Manufacturing industries
Electricity production and distribution
Agricultural products
Construction
Commissioning of residential buildings
Retail trade turnover
Economic indicators	Specific gravity, %
Investments in fixed assets
Receipt of tax payments and fees into the country's budget system