The development of transport hubs — automobile, railway and aviation — remains one of the key factors in the growth of the Russian economy. This opinion was expressed by Alexander Smekalin, director of the Association of Innovative Regions of Russia, in an interview on the role of infrastructure in the economic development of the country.
According to him, for Russia, as the largest country in the world, the issue of transport connectivity is of strategic importance. Effective communications make it possible to reduce the distances between economic centers and the periphery, reduce logistical costs and accelerate the movement of goods.
"Russia is the largest country in the world and, probably, like for no other country, the issue of communication, transportation, both road and any other, is the most urgent. (...) Communications are the main engine in any economy," Smekalin stressed.
The expert noted that a significant contribution to the development of logistics is made by the construction and modernization of highways. Inter-regional routes connect the subjects of the Federation, allow businesses to optimize supply routes and shorten delivery times. An additional factor is the increase in the carrying capacity of motor transport and the introduction of new technological solutions, which strengthens the link between logistics centers and remote areas.
According to Smekalin, positive dynamics is also observed in the aviation industry. The development of regional aviation contributes to the formation of new transport hubs not only in the largest agglomerations, but also in regional centers. This increases the mobility of the population and business activity, as well as expands economic ties between the regions of the country.
"Such aviation hubs are already being formed not only in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kazan, Samara, Novosibirsk and Krasnoyarsk, but also in other regional centers," he noted.
According to the expert, the railway infrastructure is of particular importance for the economy. Railroads ensure the sustainability of freight transportation by combining safety, scalability, and speed of delivery. In this context, Smekalin highlighted projects for the development of high-speed rail services, including initiatives to create high-speed rail.
"The railway infrastructure is probably a key one for the economy. (…) This is a strategic infrastructure that could inject additional life and energy into the development of our country's economy," said the AIRR Director.
Experts note that the integrated development of transport hubs creates a multiplicative effect: production, storage and service capacities are concentrated around them, jobs are created and the investment attractiveness of the regions is increased. In the context of the reorientation of logistics flows and the growth of domestic transportation, the role of such hubs becomes even more important.
