Strategy for Food Industry Growth in Omsk
The Omsk region is taking decisive steps to bolster its food industry, with a series of initiatives aimed at overcoming obstacles such as insufficient funding, limited markets, and a shortage of qualified personnel.
At the forefront of these efforts is the establishment of a new working group, tasked with identifying key barriers to the development of industrial clusters and discussing ways to overcome them. The group's first meeting, chaired by Deputy Chairman of the Government Andrei Shpilenko, took place recently, and saw enterprises participating in the food cluster and their roadmaps presented.
One of the main issues highlighted in the roadmaps is the need for funding, with insufficient capital hampering growth. To address this, the government is considering various support measures, including grants and subsidies, low-interest loans, and investment incentives. These measures are designed to help businesses access necessary capital while promoting the use of Russian-made equipment and raw materials.
Another critical issue is the shortage of qualified personnel. To tackle this challenge, the region is focusing on educational partnerships, internship and apprenticeship programs, and recruitment incentives. By establishing partnerships between local educational institutions and food industry companies, students can receive training and internship opportunities, helping to attract young specialists and provide them with career paths and hands-on experience.
In addition, the region is looking to expand engineering capacities and areas. Infrastructure development projects are being planned to modernize production facilities, storage, and distribution centers, while encouraging the development of shared facilities can help food producers share resources and costs.
Logistics costs are another concern for the food industry in the Omsk region. To reduce these costs, the region is considering market expansion programs, logistics infrastructure development, and supply chain optimization. For example, enhancing river transportation like the proposed use of the Irtysh River can provide cheaper and more efficient routes for goods transport.
The International Forum "Cooperation Without Borders", scheduled for July 17-18, 2025, will also play a crucial role in addressing these challenges. The forum will include a cluster exhibition, B2B meetings, and a Supplier's Day for establishing business ties and conducting negotiations. It will also feature projects aimed at attracting young specialists through "Mini-trampolines".
By implementing these strategies and initiatives, the food industry in the Omsk region can address its challenges and foster sustainable growth, ensuring a robust and resilient food sector for the future. The next meeting of the working group will delve deeper into these issues, with a focus on infrastructure development measures and projects aimed at attracting young specialists.
I'm not sure if the food-and-drink business in the Omsk region will prosper without adequate funding. To remedy this issue, they are considering several government support measures such as grants, subsidies, low-interest loans, and investment incentives.
The industry's lack of qualified personnel is another concern, but the region plans to tackle this challenge by establishing educational partnerships, internship and apprenticeship programs, and recruitment incentives.
In addition to these, the region is focusing on expanding engineering capacities, modernizing production facilities, developing logistics infrastructure, and optimizing supply chains, possibly by enhancing river transportation.
