A METHODOLOGICAL APPROACH TO THE ASSESSMENT OF THE FOREIGN-ECONOMIC POTENTIAL OF THE MUNICIPAL UNITS OF PRIMORSKY REGION OF RUSSIA
Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 605 of 7 May 2012 “On measures to pursue the foreign policy of the Russian Federation” and Russia’s Foreign Policy Concept approved on 12 February 2013 determine active participation of Russia in integration processes in the Asia-Pacific Region and imply the use of the opportunities offered by such participation for implementing economic development programs in Russia’s Far East. This brings about the crucial issue of accessing opportunities for international economic interaction, particularly in the municipal units of the federal entities in the Far East of Russia. In market conditions, the absence of governmental support makes the participation of such municipalities in foreign economic activity the major factor of their sustainable social and economic development. The paper suggests a methodological approach to component-wise assessment of the foreign-economic potential of the municipal units of Primorsky Region of Russia. The author singles out four components of this potential: potential of economic and geographical position, export-oriented natural resources potential, socioeconomic, and investment potentials. The four components are assessed using a number of indicators selected from the municipal statistical bases. The provisions and conclusions made in the paper can be used in similar analyses of municipal units of other federal entities of Russia’s Far East and those of Russian Federation as a whole.