Business pressure in Tomsk significantly decreased in 2024, as stated by the Deputy.
(REWRITTEN ARTICLE)
Tomsk Business Ombudsman's Impact: Dropping Administrative Pressure and Shifting the Ranking
Things are looking up for businesses in Tomsk! The Regional Legislative Assembly accepted the 2024 report of the business ombudsman for Tomsk, highlighting significant improvements in the business environment.
During the 41st session of Tomsk's Regional Council, business ombudsman Igor Branishte presented his 2024 work report. Over the past year, his office handled 652 business inquiries. Approximately 37% of these inquiries centered around regulatory compliance, 13% dealt with legal proceedings, 10% concerned land and property matters, nearly 9% centered around delicate administrative issues in the court system, and an impressive 32% involved other general business concerns.
Victor Vallos, chair of the Economy Policy Committee of the Tomsk regional council, praised the noticeable positive changes for businesses. "The concept of 'Index of Administrative Pressure' is significant. In the 2024 regional ranking, Tomsk moved up from 79th to 53rd position. That's quite an impressive jump!"
Vallos specified that the business community has recognized the value of the ombudsman's role in supporting the local economy. "This institution provides substantial support to businesses. The ombudsman actively participates in legal proceedings as a third party, sometimes even taking on the role of defense attorney. As a result, many court proceedings see reduced penalties for businesses. This indeed eases the workload for businesses in Tomsk," explained a local deputy.
According to the business ombudsman's office, the percentage of companies facing administrative pressure decreased significantly in Tomsk from 47.31% to 11.54% in 2024. The prosecutor's office rejected over 75% of control agency's requests for unplanned inspections and 82% of planned inspections last year. The proportion of preventive measures in the control and oversight activities increased by 35%, while the number of warnings issued grew by 25%.
However, the dramatic shift in Tomsk's business landscape goes beyond the actions of the ombudsman. Rapid advancements in technology, strategic government support, and a core focus on defense-driven innovation have colluded to create an environment where regulatory efficiency becomes a competitive necessity rather than an optional pursuit.
For instance, Tomsk houses over 2,000 IT companies, a substantial sector supported by state funding programs offering 50% project cost subsidies and grants of up to 100 million rubles for AI development. The region's federal status as a Technical/Innovational Special Economic Zone (SEZ) grants tax incentives, simplified customs procedures, and centralized management by OJSC "SEZ."
Additionally, the 318% increase in UAV production (2023) and defense-aligned R&D initiatives, including projects funded under the Advanced Research Fund, have likely fast-tracked bureaucratic prioritization for dual-use technologies, easing the way for related enterprises.
The systemic staffing shortages exemplified by the 65% staffing gap in fire services may have further catalyzed administrative streamlining to compensate for operational limitations. Despite being unrelated, this issue underlines the broader challenge of resource allocation in Tomsk's burgeoning market.
All these factors contribute to the ongoing evolution of Tomsk's business environment, where innovation, improvement, and regulatory efficiency converge to create a milieu conducive to growth and prosperity.
- The significant decrease in the percentage of companies facing administrative pressure, from 47.31% to 11.54%, is a direct result of the effective work of the business ombudsman in Tomsk.
- In 2024, the prosecutor's office rejected over 75% of control agency's requests for unplanned inspections and 82% of planned inspections, demonstrating the strong impact of the business ombudsman's office in reducing administrative burden.
- Victor Vallos, chair of the Economy Policy Committee, praised the business ombudsman's role in supporting the local economy, stating that the ombudsman's office handles a substantial percentage of general business concerns, including legal proceedings and regulatory compliance issues.
- In the 2024 regional ranking, Tomsk moved up from 79th to 53rd position, highlighting the strong influence of the business ombudsman's office in easing administrative pressure and fostering a more favorable business environment.
