ECONOMIC COOPERATION OF THE KRASNODAR TERRITORY AND THE CRIMEA REPUBLIC: STRATEGIC PROSPECTS AND LIMITATIONS
The Krasnodar Region and the Crimea are competitors in the markets of individual goods (wine, agricultural products) and services (tourism) and also strategic partners in the agro- industrial complex, in the implementation of large-scale infrastructure projects, etc. The article identifies specific promising areas for economic cooperation between the Krasnodar Region and the Crimea. It is perspective to increase supplies to the peninsula Kuban food products, namely, vegetables (potatoes, tomatoes, cucumbers), vegetable oils, sugar, cereals. It is logical to assume that this surplus can be exported to the markets of the Krasnodar Territory, according to the calculated surplus of interregional trade for Crimea on meat and poultry meat, other than by-products. Thus, the strengthening of interregional relations will allow Kuban and the Crimea expanding markets and improve the quality of goods through increased competition among producers. The article discusses the problem of inequality opportunities for economic development in the Krasnodar region and Crimea, due to different levels of transport accessibility from the main urban centers of the country, differences in the state of the consumer market, investment opportunities, institutional conditions for conducting large business, etc. Thus, high transport cost component of the price of goods supplied from the mainland in the Crimea may increase by 1.5-2 times. The functioning of the Kerch Bridge will allow reducing transport costs of suppliers and expanding access to product markets for the Krasnodar region and the Crimean Peninsula. The article presents calculations of the “investment resources” of the Kuban and the Crimea, showing the lack of investment resources within the Crimea for the implementation of the “Strategy for the Social and Economic Development of the Crimea Republic until 2030”. Accordingly, the necessary financial resources can be attracted from other regions interested in expanding cooperation links, in particular, by enterprises of the Krasnodar Region.