Hello! I'm Zara. I am proud that I have the honour of being an ambassador for the Leningrad Region at the Russia International Exhibition and Forum. I will give you a tour of our booth and tell you about the places I grew up in. I know them well, and I love them very much.

If you look to the right, you will find an interactive table that will help you dive into the history of our region full of dramatic events, see what we have achieved today, and even look into the future. We have collected a lot of interesting information for you, so tap the screen and let's start our journey. Stay tuned: there is a surprise waiting for you at the end.

Please look at the coat of arms of the forty-seventh (47th) region. The golden key symbolises its strategic position. Peter the Great once opened a “window to Europe” here to give the Russian Empire access to the Baltic Sea. And today, the Leningrad Region is the main transport gateway for our country in the North-West. We border two foreign countries on land at once, Estonia and Finland. A quarter of all the cargo that Russia exports and imports passes through our region. Four ports are located on the shores of the Gulf of Finland, including Ust-Luga, the largest universal port on the Baltic. It is the second largest port in terms of cargo turnover among all Russian ports. That is why the coat of arms of the Leningrad Region, in addition to the key, is decorated with a silver anchor.

People have lived in the north of the Karelian Isthmus and on the shores of Lake Ladoga since the Stone Age. This land remembers the footsteps of the legendary Vikings and Novgorod's Ushkuynik pirates. Founded in 753 (seven hundred and fifty-three), Old Ladoga was the residence of Prince Rurik. It claims to be the first capital of ancient Russia. It was also chosen as the first capital of the so-called “Silver Necklace of Russia”—a project that united the unique sights of eleven (11) regions of the North-West Federal District. Would you like some fun facts about these regions? Then take part in the quest, which you can start at any of the North-West Federal District booths. Those who put all eleven (11) stamps in their tourist passport will receive a souvenir and a chance to win a trip to one of the cities of the Silver Necklace.

The Oreshek fortresses at the source of the Neva River and Korela in Priozersk once defended the border of the Novgorod lands from the Swedes. And on the island in the centre of Vyborg featuring the only European medieval castle in Russia, the soldiers of the Swedish king were already peering into the distance to anticipate the enemy. Today, thanks to a large-scale renovation, Vyborg Castle has been transformed into a true jewel of the North-West. And the best reenactors from all over the world come to the Medieval Days in Vyborg festival every summer to fight in a knight's tournament.

However, the fortress wall—the third element in the coat of arms of our region—symbolises not only ancient fortifications, but also the unprecedented resilience of the people of the Leningrad Region.

I spent my childhood in the town of Otradnoye, which stands on the banks of the Neva. Walking today along these peaceful, green streets, we find it hard to imagine that 80 years ago, there were fierce battles with the Nazi invaders very close by, on the Ivanovo Patch. Later the Nevsky Porog memorial park was built there. As children, we used to lay flowers there. This is one of the twenty-six (26) memorial structures that make up the so-called “Green Belt of Glory”. It is the last line of defence where Hitler's troops were stopped at the cost of incredible sacrifices. Another seven (7) monuments mark the Road of Life. It is a thin guiding thread that connected the besieged city of Leningrad with the big land. There is a museum dedicated to this Road in the Ladoga Lake settlement. It is one of the many that keep the memory of the great feat of the unbroken Leningrad people.

Today, the Leningrad Region is growing fast. Over the last ten (10) years, four trillion roubles of investment has been attracted here, and this is not just one of the best indicators in Russia. There are ambitious projects behind the big figure. New industrial facilities are being commissioned, and legendary enterprises of the Soviet era are also being modernised.

Although the enormous industrial potential of the Leningrad Region has yet to be fully reached, we already have a lot to be proud of:

*Volkhovsky branch of Apatit JSC is a new productive plant of PhosAgro, a major producer of eco-efficient phosphate mineral fertilisers.
*EuroChem North-West is the largest ammonia production facility in Europe and Russia in terms of unit production capacity and the most efficient in the world in terms of gas utilisation rate.
*The Tikhvin Freight Car Building Plant is the flagship of the domestic car building industry and one of the largest manufacturers in the world.
*The Vyborzhets Agrofirm is a leader in the production of lettuce and greens in the North-West Federal District.

The agro-industrial complex is growing rapidly. The Leningrad Region is a major producer of food products both in the North-West and in Russia and ranks first in Russia in milk yield and egg production, and third in flower growing.

If you look straight, you will find an interactive game zone where you can build a miniature replica of Vyborg Castle, study a model of Europe's largest phosphate fertiliser plant, see what future construction projects will look like and get acquainted with other significant sites in the region.

And if you're tired, take a seat in our lounge area, right behind the interactive table. Imagine sitting on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, enjoying the mesmerising views and serenity of the sea. The Leningrad Region is very good for living and working. But you can have fun there, too. Last year, we welcomed 6 million tourists, twice as many as five years ago. The secret to our success is simple: everyone finds something that catches their eye here. Looking at a guide to the Leningrad Region is like studying a huge menu in some fancy restaurant.

If you like wildlife and outdoor activities, then you will easily find what to enjoy, too. Endless sandy beaches and winding skerries that are as beautiful as Norwegian fjords, deep lakes and the mysterious Veps forest, where time seems to stop under the grey of centuries-old trees. The nature of the Leningrad Region is very beautiful and surprisingly diverse.

Let's warm up a bit too and take a little walk along Trail forty-seven (47). This tourism project is a special source of pride for us, and we tried to bring a part of it to our booth! Walk among the Siberian larch trees of the Lindulovskaya grove or along the shore of Radonovoye Lake near the village of Lopukhinka, or you can go to the Syabersky Zakaznik to follow in the footsteps of Alexander Nevsky and his men to the battle with the Teutonic Order. Today we have built more than forty (40) eco-trails with a total length of more than 150 (one hundred and fifty kilometres) km. The project will be completed by 2025 (two thousand and twenty-five), and there will be forty-seven (47) routes.

This is the end of our tour. Thank you for your attention. We have a surprise for you. Give the booth staff member the password, Uskuyniks, and you will get a gift.

I will you all the best. Welcome to the Leningrad Region. It is a great place for living, working and having fun!