The Russian Far East & Khabarovsk Krai

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The Russian Far East (RFE) lies six times zones from Western Canada and eight time zones from Moscow. Its economy is natural resource-based and trade dependent, and its climate is virtually identical to Western Canada's. As such, many of the challenges faced by the RFE in its transition to a market economy - from investment and infrastructure to housing, and transportation  - have precedent in Western Canada's recent past.

Among the few recent Canadian initiatives in the RFE,  the Gassinski Model Forest project, in the Nanaiski Raion of Khabarovsk Krai, was successful in broadening Canada's exposure in the Far East and in introducing some much needed technical assistance into its natural resource sector. The Canadian Executing Agent (CEA) for the $2.7 million project (1994 - 1998) was the McGregor Model Forest of Prince George, British Columbia.

The Gassinski project was important to Khabarovsk Krai because it provided an opportunity for it to develop long-term sustainable resource management scenarios that reflect multiple forest resource values. While the Russian economy suffered through a sea of change the Gassinski project created an island of administrative and financial calm in which local natural resource experts were able to inventory the region's resources, consider options for long-term regional economic, social and environmental development, and develop the capacity to begin to realize the goals identified.

This specific project proposal is an outgrowth of one component of the Gassinski project: its economic development strategy.  It draws heavily on an established network of partners and working relationships in Khabarovsk Krai, as well as on a comprehensive regional database, compiled under the Gassinski initiative.

McGregor's Russian Office

With the recent opening of its satellite office in the Russian city of Khabarovsk in April, 2000, the McGregor Model Forest Association (MMFA) can claim to be a model forest with a truly international presence. The office space was donated by the government of the Russian krai, or province. It was set up to facilitate the delivery of Canadian expertise and funds for the "Integrated Natural Resource-based Economic Development Project for the Nanaiski Raion of Khabarovsk Krai, Russia". To keep people from stumbling, it's usually called the "McGregor/Russia Project".

"The office is up and running and available to assist Canadians with any inquiries in the RFE." said Rick Heathmen, who manages the McGregor/Russia Project from the Canadian side.

The MMFA has also hired four employees to staff the office. Evgeny Zabubenin, has been the project's Russian Manager since April 1, 1999. Alexi Seifulin will act as Deputy to Evgeny and Svetlana Zotova is the Chief Accountant. All have impressive qualifications and are excited about working for the MMFA, said Hudson.

Over the year, the CIDA-sponsored McGregor/Russia Project has spurred a steady flow of visitors between Russia and Canada. Zabubenin was here for the month of April to finalize next year's workplan for the project, which focuses on creating economic development opportunities in the Nanaiski region, near Khabarovsk. Zabubenin's visit also included a stop in Ottawa for meetings with CIDA officials.

In May 2000, two Russian delegations will be visited Prince George - one focusing on tourism, the other on the forest industry. Vladimir Pominov, President of the Gassinski Model Forest (the McGregor's Russian "twin"), also visited in June, mainly to trade information related to Russian work on indicators and monitoring with McGregor information on scenario planning and computer modelling.

Ron Kole, a woodworking instructor at College of New Caledonia (CNC), braved -45C temperatures when he visited Khabarovsk in January 2000 to follow up on the value-added course he taught in September 1999. And Bruce Bennett, a business instructor at CNC, visited Russia in November 1999 to assist the project's non-wood forest sector partners with business analysis. Bruce was also able to supply some basic business training to the indigenous Nanai people, and he is now in Russia expanding on this course.

Rick Heathmen emphasized that the new Russian office is a gateway to many new opportunities for the MMFA's Canadian partners. "Hopefully, all our partners will be able to take advantage of the fact that they now have a link to a physical presence in Russia," he said.

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