Strategic significance of port infrastructure in social and economic development of the Russian Federation and its regions

Abstract

Transit communications and infrastructure facilities are basic conditions of countries’ spatial social and economic development. Cargo transportation services make up more than 50 per cent of the global export of transport services. Unique geographical position of Russia between Europe and Asia, existing border sea routes provide the country with the opportunity to become a part of global traffic flows and, thus, maintain the development of transit and export-import potential bound to the “entry points” into the world transport system. Domestic sea ports’ activities and their rapid modernization development can be predicted due to the fact that being part of the infrastructure they maintain communication in the area and the national economy’s integration into the global economy. Each sea bordering region of the Russian Federation solves the problems of developing separate ports. In the south they pay great attention to development of transport potential of the region by means of complex development of regional transport hubs, in particular, creating special economic port areas. Northern regions are more oriented towards developing the Northern Sea Route ports which provide exploration and production of hydrocarbons, and arrange northern supply to hard-to-reach regions. The Baltic region is characterized by tough competition with the Baltic states’ ports, and they have to reinforce import-export and transit potential of the country connected with the emerging positive changes in the direction of freight traffic. In perspective, the North-West Federal District is supposed to become a platform for several large-scale strategic infrastructural projects. As a result, a transport and transit area will be created to increase the volume of international and domestic transportation and the throughput of the regional seaports. Life-supporting function of port infrastructure is the strategic factor of the development of the total transport system of Russia due to its vast territory. Therefore, strategic regulation and programs have been developed at the federal level. They function as valid regulatory legal acts, are part of the total state government system and maintain national security and connectedness of Russian territory and stable economic growth. Strategic significance of these documents for sustainable social and economic development of the Russian Federation and its regions required analysis and systematization of Decrees, Strategies and Programs from the viewpoint of infrastructural factor of construction and modernization of Russian sea ports.