AGRO-INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX IN THE SYSTEM OF REGIONAL FOREIGN ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES
The current level of regional development necessitates the constant expansion and deepening of economic relations and contacts both at the interregional and international levels. Ryazan Oblast, like many regions of the Russian Federation, has certain economic relations with many countries of far and near abroad. The performed research shows that this region is mainly a consumer of imported services (especially in the sphere of business) that occupy about 48% of their total volume. The indicators of foreign economic activities of the region indicate their significant change towards reducing the foreign trade turnover. For instance, the total volume of foreign trade turnover during the five-year study period declined by $445 million, or by 32.3%, which indicates a critical situation in the system of external economic relations. The most significant decline was observed in the export of manufactured products, which is highly undesirable for the region, since this production activity is the basis of successful development. A significant share (80%) in the region's import structure is occupied by food commodities and agricultural raw materials, chemical products, rubber, and engineering products (the shares being equal to 13.7%, 43.7%, and 24.4%, respectively, over the period of 2012-2016). The excess of food imports over their export indicates that the region has a negative balance in the turnover of these types of products, which indicates the dependence of the region on imported food. To some extent this is associated with the improvement of structure of food assortment for the inhabitants of the region. But nevertheless, the negative balance in turnover indicates the need for the region to increase its production and export volumes of domestic agricultural products in order to achieve a positive balance and thereby ensure food independence