YAKUTIA BECOMES POPULAR WITH FOREIGN TOURISTS

Yakutia is taking part for the third time in the International tourism fair ITB-2004 in Berlin attended by 180 countries and regions.

Yakutia's exposition presented in a national style offers several tours to Yakutia, including a trip to the Pole of Cold. Thanks to advertising in Berlin, 200 tourists from Germany and Austria visited Yakutia in last year. Already 650 applications have been received for cruises by the Lena River in 2004.

In the meantime, Yakutia becomes popular with extreme tourism enthusiasts as well. Recently, a group of Dutch bicycle travelers finished their trip around Yakutia. Shortly after them, a group of 5 bicyclists from Japan arrived at an Evenki reindeer herdsmen village in Neryungrinsky Raion on the border with Amur Oblast. As the Japanese said they will familiarize themselves with the lifestyle of Northern tribesmen but first they had to encounter a snowstorm at the moment of their entry to Yakutian territory. Despite hardships, they plan to bicycle to Yakutsk covering a distance of over 800 km. - Yulia PROKHOROVA.

FREE PORTS WILL PROMOTE ECONOMIC GROWTH IN PRIMORYE

A bill on free ports being considered in the Council of Federation will give more work for Primorsky Krai ports and increase their turnover, said Igor Ivanov, vice chairman of CF's Committee on Economic Policies, Enterprise and Property, at a press conference.

The new law will allow simplify customs procedures in ports and attract more cargoes. In Igor Ivanov's opinion, also "fundamental for Primorsky Krai are bills on free economic zones and cross-border trade."

"Primorye will help Russia become integrated into the Asian economic market," he further said. To this purpose, it should develop the energy sector and transport. Primorsky Krai needs another two or three trade and industrial centres of Pogranichny - Suifenhe type which is already under construction. In particular, such a complex will be feasible in Khasansky Raion, where Russian, Chinese and North Korean borders converge.

Igor Ivanov also noted that replacement of the Chinese investor in Pogranichny - Suifenhe project caused no problems. "The Chinese government proposed a richer partner who, in particular, actively works in Shanghai. The cross-border trade and economic complex Pogranichny - Suifenhe is a major focus of investment cooperation. Before the end of 2004, the first construction stage will be completed. This will result in a higher goods turnover between Primorsky Krai and China." - Yulia PROKHOROVA.

VCSP BUILDS UP CARGO TURNOVER

Vladivostok Commercial Sea Port (VCSP) handled 1,343,000 tons of cargo in January-February (+16.4% on same period in 2003).

As spokesman for the port informs, 75% of turnover was metal. VCSP handled 1,107,000 tons of export cargoes, 98,400 tons of import cargoes, 137,800 tons of coastal cargoes, 401 ships (247 a year ago) and 21,743 rail wagons (17,555).

"ZR" FILE: 19.98% of VCSP shares is state-owned. ZAO Port-Active holds 27.36%, and about 30% is controlled by the Magnitogorsky Metallurgical Combine through MMK Metal WorldWide Ltd and MMK Metal Ltd. - Olga DOBROLYUBOVA.

EURASHOLDING WILL MANAGE NAKHODKA PORT

At their extraordinary meeting, OAO Nakhodka Commercial Sea Port (NCSP) shareholders decided that OOO EurasHolding will perform functions of its sole executive body.

This means that Geliy Myasnikov's 20-year-long "rule" in NCSP has come to an end. As "ZR" was informed by EurasHolding's press service, the meeting approved transfer of authority to EurasHolding for five years. Remuneration to the management company will be 8,024,000 rubles per month.

The meeting was attended by 296 shareholders and their representatives collectively holding 42,106,481 votes (93.85% of shares). It should be reminded that in the beginning of this year EurasHolding increased its stake in VCSP up to 91.5%.

"ZR" FILE: GMK EurasHolding is the largest operator in the Russian steel market. Having sole executive body's authority, it defines development strategies for and manages key enterprise of its group: Nizhnetagilsky, Zapadno-Sibirsky and Novokuznetsky Metallurgical Combines. - Kirill ARIADOV.