Sport, culture, industry and tourism: how the Kaliningrad region is becoming a centre of attraction

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The Kaliningrad region has become an example of how a region can develop and maintain stability even in the face of external challenges. Governor of the Kaliningrad region Alexei Besprozvannykh spoke about this during his address as part of the project "Region-2030. Kaliningrad Region" at the National Centre RUSSIA. The meeting took place during the region’s thematic week at the National Centre RUSSIA. The discussion focused on issues of security, industry and the sustainable development of the region.

"Particular attention is paid to the security of our region by the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin. During the Direct Line, he clearly stated that if any threats are created against our region, they will be eliminated. I think there is little to add to this <...> Our task today is to view all threats arising from our neighbours not as threats, but as opportunities. Because any restriction is a zone of development. Restrictions on land routes motivate us to develop," Alexei Besprozvannykh said.

He noted that important and strategically sound decisions had been taken even before the introduction of sanctions. These related primarily to autonomy, gas supply and the provision of petroleum products. According to him, all these processes proceeded smoothly, which allowed the region to maintain stability, develop with confidence and effectively withstand external challenges without experiencing disruptions in vital resources.

The Governor of the Kaliningrad Region identified five development priorities. The first is security through self-sufficiency: the production of essential goods and the development of agriculture and industry. The second is the economy, including growth in gross regional product and incomes, which makes it possible to finance the social sphere. The third is the family and quality of life, encompassing support for families, healthcare, education and other social sectors. The fourth is the creation of a comfortable living environment through the development of housing and utilities services. The fifth priority is balanced regional development, so that all municipalities develop evenly and residents feel comfortable in any part of the region.

"As of today, the results of 11 months of work in the industrial sector are already known. Overall industrial output growth amounted to 10.3%, placing us sixth among Russian regions. Our main goal is to restore pre-crisis volumes and continue to increase them. Why is industry so important to us? It is one of the key drivers of economic growth in the region. When we faced sanctions-related restrictions, enterprises found various solutions to continue and further expand production. We must not stop and wait for sanctions to be lifted. We are creating new products and support programmes that enable our industrial enterprises to develop," Alexei Besprozvannykh said.

The Governor also noted that the region places emphasis on building infrastructure for investment. According to him, the Kaliningrad region is developing not only existing enterprises but is also attracting companies seeking new production sites in different regions of Russia. He stressed that today the region is one of the country’s most investment-attractive regions. High-tech industries are developing here, and major companies are operating, including in automobile manufacturing. Alexei Besprozvannykh added that a lithium-ion battery manufacturing plant has recently been commissioned, making it possible to build a full production chain for the electric vehicle industry in the region.

"We are no longer able to just manufacture cars in the region using batteries delivered from other regions of Russia or from China. We can now use our own batteries in our own vehicles. We are talking about more than 12 plants — small production sites that will be launched in the region. As a result, we will effectively be producing a fully-fledged Russian car, in which the key component — the battery — will be manufactured here, in the Kaliningrad region," the Governor explained.

According to Alexei Besprozvannykh, a programme for the development of infrastructure projects has been formed in the region. It is based on measures aimed at improving the quality of urban development in every municipality of the Kaliningrad region, including park areas. As the Governor noted, existing recreational zones and parks will be refurbished, and new ones will be created across the region.

"This year we have observed a record tourist flow: around 2.5 million tourists visited the Kaliningrad region. This is also linked to the region’s industrial potential, where this type of tourism is becoming one of the points of attraction. Visitors come to see industrial facilities, while investors develop additional locations nearby — places for accommodation, leisure and recreation," he added.

Alexei Besprozvannykh recommended that tourists visit the coastal municipalities with their landmarks, the Baltic and Curonian Spits, the Baltic Sea coastline, as well as the eastern part of the region, including the towns of Baltiysk and Sovetsk, Lake Vishtynetskoye and Chernyakhovsk. He also noted the beauty of the reclaimed lands in the areas of Polessk and Slavsk and emphasisedthat picturesque locations for walks and photography can be found in every municipality, which may inspire people to relocate to the Kaliningrad region.

Sport was also discussed during the meeting. The Governor reported that Russian–Chinese Youth Games are being prepared in the region, which will attract visitors from different countries, and that all infrastructure for athletes and spectators is already in place. According to him, such events act as drivers of regional development. Alexei Besprozvannykh also praised professional teams for their high level of skill and their role as a benchmark for grassroots sport. He added that around 400 events are planned as part of the cultural programme in the Kaliningrad region in 2026, ensuring that everyone can find something of interest.

Meetings with the heads of constituent entities are held as part of the regional programme of the National Centre RUSSIA — "Region-2030. Kaliningrad Region", which is implemented in line with the national development goals defined by the President of the Russian Federation.

In addition, Kaliningrad Region Days are taking place at the National Centre RUSSIA from 12 to 18 January. As part of the thematic week, cultural and educational events are being held. More information about current events and registration is available on the Russia.ru website in the "Events" section.