[ferro-alloys.com]The Monchegorsk Development Agency (the “Agency”) established by Monchegorsk’s administration and Nornickel has been registered by the Federal Tax Service Inspectorate for Murmansk. The Agency’s mission is to create a favourable environment and opportunities for the city’s sustainable social and economic development. It will focus on three areas: Business and Investment, Social and Cultural Projects, and Tourism.

“Nornickel’s experience shows that neither the Company nor the city administration can single-handedly develop the city as effectively as possible. We need a third, neutral platform to initiate projects, put together change teams and build a knowledge base related to changes in the urban environment and city life. This is why several years ago the Company decided to establish development institutions that would change for the better life in cities across our footprint,” said Igor Sukhotin, Deputy Head of Nornickel’s Social Policy Department.

We saw that the first experience of this kind — the creation of the Norilsk Development Agency — was successful, and began to roll it out to other cities where Nornickel operates. This is how the Second School centre for community initiatives came to be in Nickel, and this year, the Monchegorsk Development Agency was established.

The Agency’s management team currently consists of four people selected on a competitive basis. Anna Fedorova, former head of the Monchegorsk office of Rosbank’s North-Western branch, was appointed director.

The Monchegorsk Development Agency is now gearing up for a strategy session. A meeting has already been slated for this year where the Agency’s representatives will announce their priority plans for the city’s development.

“We have scheduled a meeting with stakeholders, community representatives, and the media where we will present the Agency, talk about our plans and priorities, and the initiatives to begin with”, said Anna Fedorova.

As soon as all the necessary activities, including those related to the preparation of premises, are complete, the Agency will start its operations in full swing. It will be housed in a separate building that is set to undergo major repairs.?

(Nornickel)

• [Editor:王可]