Stroytransgaz Group Takes Part in National Forum of Infrastructure Companies
27 April 2023
During the Forum
The National Forum of Infrastructure Companies was organized by the National Association of Infrastructure Companies (NAIC) and took place on April 25th. Stroytransgaz was represented by Sergey Zaborov, Strategy and Business Development Director, and Vladimir Klykov, Director for Process Preparation and Warranty Operation of Infrastructural Construction Projects, who participated in expert sessions and the plenary session of the Forum.
The National Association of Infrastructure Companies (NAIC) unites the largest companies in the transport construction sector. It was established in 2021 with the support of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP). Stroytransgaz Joint-Stock Company is a member of NAIC.
The goal of the Forum was to establish a dialogue between the authorities and the business in the new economic realities. Among the key speakers at the Forum were the President of RSPP Alexander Shokhin, the RF Government Construction Department Director Maxim Stepanov, Chairman of Executive Board of the Russian Motor Roads State Company Vyacheslav Petushenko, Deputy Minister of Construction, Housing and Utilities of Russia Sergey Muzychenko, etc.
STG representatives Vladimir Klykov and Sergey Zaborov
Stroytransgaz was represented at the Forum by Sergey Zaborov, Strategy and Business Development Director, and Vladimir Klykov, Director for Process Preparation and Warranty Operation of Infrastructural Construction Projects. 400+ participants of the Forum, among which were representatives of authorities and infrastructure construction businesses, discussed the measures of support of the road construction sector and prospects of its development, the necessity to develop a mechanism stimulating infrastructural companies to implement innovations, and also discussed the development of accelerated testing of road surfaces being an important component of the domestic road science.
One important issue raised at the plenary session of the Forum was related to new and additional tools for attraction of funding for new projects in the construction industry. This includes bank funding, investments and concession holders. Representatives of the financial sector present at the Forum acknowledged their readiness and availability of additional liquidity which can be steered toward infrastructure construction projects. It is important to note that multiplication effect of such investments is higher than in many related industries by an order of magnitude. The participants of the plenary session also noted that the key issue for the industry today is the prospects of development of infrastructure in a broad sense, and the road network in particular. In this context, the infrastructure market is looking to the five-year plan of the Russian Government, with many hopes resting on its successful implementation.
It is vital to maintain the speed of construction activities and preserve our unique companies in the transport construction sector which is a driver for the country’s economy growth. However, extrabudgetary funding is required to increase the speed of commissioning of infrastructure construction projects.
The Forum participants emphasized that the construction sector of the Russian Government pays attention to the issues of road construction industry and proposals initiated by the market players. At the same time, there are issues which require increased attention and mutual discussion.
The transition to the resource estimate pricing model is extremely important for construction industry today. ‘We have agreed to keep up our work with the General Board of State Expert Review and the Ministry of Construction to ensure that this transition is as painless as possible.
The issues of staffing and labour performance increase are also very important for the industry. We need a qualitatively new level of staff training and implementation of innovations to improve labour performance. We have worked out a number of specific proposals aimed at acceleration of innovation implementation, and adjustment of higher education institutions’ curriculums, to ensure that graduates are aware of the modern market requirements and have excellent basic knowledge.’
‘The Forum is a professional platform for meetings of the construction industry leaders’ says Sergey Zaborov, Stroytransgaz Strategy and Business Development Director. ‘It is important for the expert community to meet and discuss the plans for implementation of the country’s new strategic projects. If we develop in one and the same direction together, the construction industry will see good results, and Stroytransgaz will remain one of the leaders of the industry in the country.’
The key initiatives proposed at the Forum will be submitted to the Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Marat Khusnullin, who will assess the propositions of the industry community and support their implementation.