Prospects and priorities for the reconstruction and development of lithium mining production on the basis of domestic raw materials

The prospects of lithium as a component of new energy are considered. Provides data on the resources of lithium mineral raw materials. Variants of the reconstruction of lithium production facilities in Russia from domestic raw materials are evaluated in order to solve the problem of import substitution. Attention is focused on the choice of objects of priority industrial development and the need to create modern technologies for processing lithium raw materials. It is shown that the restored Zabaikalsk mining and processing plant can be a reliable source of lithium when using new technological solutions for extracting lithium and associated useful components from primary ores and waste of spodumene ores.

Agroparks as a network form of business organization in agriculture

In this study, the authors substantiate the relevance of the creation of agro-industrial parks as a network form of organizing the business of agricultural producers. Agro-industrial parks in modern conditions are becoming a kind of growth points for the innovative development of agricultural producers, providing accelerated growth in production and import substitution in order to achieve food security in the Russian Federation and its regions. The results of the study allow us to conclude about the growing interest in this form of business organization.

The Rise and Fall of India’s Relative Investment Price: A Tale of Policy Error and Reform

India’s relative price of investment rose 44 percent from 1981 to 1991 and fell 26 percent from 1991 to 2006. We build a simple DGE model, calibrated to Indian data, in order to explore the impact of capital import substitution policies and their reform post-1991 in accounting for this rise and fall. Our model delivers a 23 percent rise before reform and a 31 percent fall thereafter. GDP per effective labor was 3 percent lower in 1991 compared to 1981 due to import restrictions on capital goods. Their removal, and a 71 percentage point reduction in tariff rates, raised GDP per effective labor permanently by 20 percent. (JEL E22, E23, F13, O11, O16, O19)

Modern aspects of ensuring the security of the agro-industrial complex

The article substantiates the urgent need for the formation of import-substituting clusters in the agro-industrial complex to ensure food security. In modern reality, carrying out business activities, agro-industrial organizations are already using the advantages of integration to a certain extent, but at the same time, the key interests and guidelines of allied participants in entrepreneurial activities are insufficiently balanced. The authors have identified the methodological features of the formation of the subject of integration (agri-food polycluster formation), using the cluster tools of intersectoral reengineering. The basis for the introduction of the subjects of integration - allied participants in entrepreneurial activity - was their initial assessment and analysis of the factors and conditions of business activity, where the negative results of import substitution, which is an effective threat to food security, can be traced as much as possible. Evaluation of the target pairing through the integration of related business participants allows one to quantitatively assess the predominance of the target points of integration subjects - related business participants using information at the macro and micro levels.

Initiatives of Strategic Development of The Russian Federation: Evolution and Limitations

The paper provides an analytical review of the most significant socio-economic initiatives of the Russian Federation over the past 20 years. The considered period of time is divided into intervals due to the introduction of sanctions by foreign states against the Russian Federation after reunion with Crimea. The complex of strategies of the pre-sanction period, including the doubling of GDP and the "May" decrees of the Russian President in 2012, were mainly related to domestic politics and, in general, were not fully implemented. In particular, the goal of doubling the GDP was only half completed. The trajectory of the Russian Federation as an energy power faced geopolitical confrontation in the European market, which led to the cancellation and complications in the implementation of the South Stream and Nord Stream 2 transnational gas pipeline projects. The anti-crisis strategy of import substitution proclaimed after the announcement of sanctions against the Russian Federation ended with very modest results, although initially it assumed a rise in the development of high-tech industries. The goal-setting of 2018 in the form of national projects and its further revision in 2020 led to an unfinished reboot of the guidelines for domestic socio-economic development. In the face of acute foreign policy confrontation, the Russian Federation demonstrates a high solidarity with global development initiatives, including the Paris Agreement on Climate, as well as antiquated policies and mass vaccination of the population. Despite the already incurred and expected socio-economic damage from joining global development initiatives, this line of behavior of the Russian Federation is sustainable. The analysis of the rhetoric in the national security strategy of the Russian Federation, which has been dynamically changing after 2014, shows the strengthening of the orientation of the Russian Federation towards the East (India, China), as well as an emphasis on the movement towards unity with the Belarusian and Ukrainian peoples.

Study of the current state of foreign trade of the Russian Federation under the influence of the covid-19 pandemic

Пандемия COVID-19 и ограничения, направленные на ее сдерживание, привели к снижению экономической активности, сокращению мировой торговли, оказали масштабное воздействие на мировую экономику, усилив существующие проблемы. Следствием замедления темпов экономического роста в глобальных масштабах, затронувшим большинство секторов экономики, стало падение спроса на энергоресурсы. Такая тенденция должна была неизбежно отразиться на показателях российской внешней торговли, в структуре которой значительную долю экспорта формирует именно топливно-энергетическое сырье. В данной работе представлен анализ современного состояния и особенностей реализации внешнеторговой деятельности РФ в условиях антиковидных ограничений. Исследована как товарная, так и географическая структура экспорта и импорта Российской Федерации до пандемии и в 2020 г. Дана оценка влиянию пандемии на торговлю услугами. Рассчитаны индексы внутриотраслевой торговли РФ. Полученные данные позволили оценить степень воздействия текущего экономического кризиса на изменение динамики показателей внешней торговли России. Анализ выявил явный дисбаланс в структуре, как экспорта, так и импорта, и серьезную зависимость от конъюнктуры энергетических рынков, сжатие которых привело к существенному сокращению экспортных поступлений. Основываясь на результатах проделанной работы, можно прийти к выводу, что ранее принятые меры, ориентированные на импортозамещение и развитие в РФ высокотехнологичных отраслей, пока явных положительных результатов не дают, по крайней мере, структура внешней торговли их не отражает. Если анализировать показатели внутриотраслевой торговли, то они свидетельствуют о слабой диверсификации экспорта, а также о неконкурентоспособности целых секторов российской экономики. В условиях новых вызовов и увеличения степени неопределенности следует взглянуть на роль РФ в международном разделении труда под новым углом. The COVID-19 pandemic and the restrictions aimed at containing it have led to a decrease in economic activity, a reduction in world trade, and had a massive impact on the global economy, exacerbating existing problems. The slowdown in economic growth on a global scale, which affected most sectors of the economy, resulted in a drop in demand for energy resources. This trend should inevitably affect the indicators of Russian foreign trade, in the structure of which a significant share of exports is formed by fuel and energy raw materials. This paper presents an analysis of the current state and features of the development of foreign trade activities of the Russian Federation in the context of antiquated restrictions. We investigated both the commodity and the geographical structure of exports and imports of the Russian Federation before the pandemic and in 2020. The impact of the pandemic on trade in services is assessed. The indices of intra-industry trade of the Russian Federation were calculated. The data obtained made it possible to assess the degree of impact of the current economic crisis on the change in the dynamics of indicators of Russia’s foreign trade. The analysis revealed a clear imbalance in the structure of both exports and imports, and a serious dependence on the conjuncture of energy markets, the contraction of which led to a significant reduction in export earnings. Based on the results of the work done, we can conclude that the previously adopted measures aimed at import substitution and the development of high-tech industries in the Russian Federation have not yet yielded clear positive results, at least the structure of foreign trade does not reflect them. If we analyze the indicators of intra-industry trade, they indicate a weak diversification of exports, as well as the lack of competitiveness of entire sectors of the Russian economy. In the face of new challenges and an increasing degree of uncertainty, one should look at the role of the Russian Federation in the international division of labor from a new angle.

Influence of Microwave Radiation on Whiskey Distillate Quality Indicators

The paper aims to evaluate the quality indicators of the whiskey distillate during its maturation under the influence of microwave radiation based on the method of multiple regression analysis to determine the optimal technological parameters for its production. In the course of solving the problem of product import substitution, we tested the patented technology for producing strong alcoholic beverages at the stage of their aging, using oak chips with various degrees of heat treatment. One of the promising areas for intensifying the process of whiskey distillate maturation is applying “green technologies”, with microwave heating being one of them. Positive results were obtained for the effect of microwave radiation on the process of target component extraction from oak chips with a water-alcohol solution. The duration of this extraction process was reduced by more than 2 times, which confirmed its intensity in relation to the classical method. The obtained regression models proved adequate, since the mean relative error varied within 10%. The chromatographic analysis of the whiskey produced at the optimal technological parameters showed that all physical and chemical properties and product safety meet the requirements of the applicable regulations and standards.

IMPORT SUBSTITUTION OF SEEDS OF AGRICULTURAL CROPS ON THE EXAMPLE OF THE KALININGRAD REGION

In the 90s of the last century, the existing seed production system was headed by the Kaliningrad Agricultural Experimental Station (now the Kaliningrad Research Institute of Agriculture) and about 50 specialized seed farms. In the course of the agrarian reform being carried out at that time and as the state and collective farms were reorganized into LLPs, JSCs, etc. the destruction of the existing seed production system took place. The author conducts a systematic analysis of the current situation and proposes import substitution of fodder seeds using the example of the Kaliningrad region.

IMPORT SUBSTITUTION IN THE INDUSTRY OF WATER SUPPLY AND SANITATION

Import substitution in the industry of water supply and sanitation (WSS) in the context of the current economic crisis is a rather attractive operation. The problem of import substitution in the water supply and sanitation industry is complex being characterized by features such as production conditions, the availability of scientific and technical developments, the intensity of relations with foreign colleagues. Many WSS sector participants focus on implementing measures to reduce their dependence on foreign suppliers and shifting to products of domestic manufacturers within the framework of import substitution. The overall goal of this paper is to assess the feasibility of import substitution in the sector of water supply and sanitation in Russia. In addition, the article offers a choice of equipment in the field of water treatment, which can be produced in Russia in order to create products that are competitive on the world market. This article provides a review and analysis of the nomenclature of the main and auxiliary equipment for the water supply sector. The article offers an overview of patents for useful models in the field of water treatment which are feasible to produce in the domestic industrial market, however, they are currently imported from abroad. The review investigates the extent of import substitution demanded by the industry of water supply and sanitation in Russia. It also describes types of water treatment equipment to be produced in Russia. The structure of the paper is as follows: - the history of the development of water supply and sanitation industry; - the analysis of the current status of water supply and sanitation industry of Russia and review of basic technological equipment for natural water treatment plants and for wastewater treatment; - the review of utility model patents in the field of water treatment; - the conclusion.

Moulding South African Public Opinion on Economic Cooperation with Russia

A study of over 300 articles and opinion pieces in popular and academic publications in South Africa, issued in 2016–2021, shows that South African journalists and political scientists are sceptical of large state-sponsored economic projects involving Russian state companies. Statements by the Russian partners that the current economic initiatives uphold the tradition of Soviet assistance to the anti-apartheid movement are interpreted by critics of the South African government as demagoguery and exploitation of history. Such authors assert that Russian-South African state cooperation in business led to “dodgy deals” which were concluded in the interests of South African high officials as well as entrepreneurs associated with them. South African journalists and political scientists focus on internal political and economic problems, presenting Russian initiatives as an aggravating factor. Many leading members of the ANC and the EFF have spoken in favour of cooperation with Russian state companies. Such initiatives are also often supported by the Independent Media & News publications. Collaboration between Russian private companies and their local partners does not tend to raise objections from observers in that country. South Africans welcome joint ventures with Russian participation which not only create jobs and provide advanced training to their local personnel but also contribute to import substitution by establishing manufacturing facilities in South Africa. The previous failures have not discredited trade and economic cooperation with Russia. South Africans do not seem to be opposed to Russian economic initiatives, apart from major state projects which are often scrutinised by the media. A considerable number of South Africans view Russia as an alternative to the Western influence and favour economic collaboration between our countries.