Machine-building cluster is being established in Irkutsk Region. In order to implement this project a cooperation agreement between the government of Irkutsk Region, Federal Center for Project Finance (FCPF, part of VEB Group), United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), Irkut Corporation and Irkutsk State Technical University was signed in the network of the First Baikal Cluster Forum ClusTERRA, press-service of the Irkutsk Region’s government reports.
«The key enterprise of the cluster is Irkut Corporation responsible for development and production of MS-21 medium-haul aircraft. MS-21 Family comprising short- and medium-haul airliners should replace the fleet of Tu-154 and Tu-154BM jets and their foreign analogues. Establishment of the aviation cluster will help integrate the existing enterprises and attract new ones as well as assure production of competitive products by the national aircraft industry. In the network of the cluster special centers will be established in order to create a processing chain and lower the barrier barring small and medium business from entering the aircraft market,» the government explained.
The cluster will comprise a tech park, engineering center, certification and test center, subcontracting center, etc. In the network of this project the parties will cooperate in a number of areas: establishment of Irkut industrial park, development of the cluster’s engineering and social infrastructure, training and retraining of high-skilled personnel, development of high-tech small and medium business, carrying out innovative research and development works as well as engineering activities. – Such large-scale projects should be considered in terms of development of the territory, this approach allows finding balance between interests of the state and business. Optimal schemes for supporting establishment and development of the machine building industrial park in the region will be implemented,” the governor of Irkutsk Region, Sergey Eroshenko noted.
«Since the project is based on production of cutting-edge civil aircraft with all the accompanying types of business, development of infrastructure has a great potential for raising non-budgetary financing. At this stage development of the project’s structure is of great importance, so FCPF will be responsible for this part. In the network of the abovementioned agreement the Federal Center for Project Finance will develop structure and finance the preparation of projects in the area of infrastructure, production and construction of apartments intended for renting using resources of the Vnesheconombank’s program “Financing and supporting the projects for development of the region and its cities. FCPF is responsible for finalizing the projects in the area of infrastructure and production as well as involvement of new residents in the tech park,» the government of Irkutsk Region added.
