11 June 2025 | 13:00–14:30
Moscow, VDNH, Pavilion 55, Plenary Hall
Expanding Rural Tourism: The Potential of Rural Areas and Small Towns
Rural tourism is becoming a key component in the sustainable development of rural areas and small towns, as it combines the economic potential of the agricultural sector, while preserving cultural heritage and creating new jobs. Growing interest in local projects (eco farms, farming estates, and craft workshops) is generating demand for infrastructure solutions, the involvement of local communities, and the integration of tourist routes into regional strategies. The main challenges include a lack of funding for small initiatives, the weak logistical connectivity of territories, and a lack of uniform standards for service quality. What role does the Russian Ministry of Agriculture play in the integrated development of rural areas and promotion of rural tourism? What rural tourism projects are already being successfully implemented and how are they contributing to the development of rural areas and small towns?What is the best way to attract investment and business support for the implementation of rural tourism projects?
Moderator
Zemchenko Aleksandr
Director of the Autonomous Nonprofit Organization Integrated Territorial Development Land's Edge (Republic of Mordovia)
Panellist
Bolkhovityanov Alexander
Project Manager for Localizing Yandex Products into the Languages of the Peoples of Russia, "Yandex"
Lut Oksana
Minister of Agriculture of the Russian Federation
Education
2001. Financial Academy under the Government of the Russian Federation
Specialty & Academic Degree: Economist, Finance and Credit
Work experience
1999 – 2000. Various positions in banking;
2000 – 2003. Economist of the Department of Credit and Advanced Products of the Executive Secretariat of the Bank's Work Bodies, Senior Economist of the Subsidiary Banks Credit Development Department of the Regional Business Lending Department at OJSC “Alfa Bank”;
2003 – 2010. Chief Economist, Manager of the Intersectoral Corporate Business Development Unit; Managing Director of the Second Key Account Department of the Corporate Unit; Managing Director of the Investment Services and Services Division of the Investment Unit; Managing Director of the Third Key Account Department of the Second Corporate Unit; Managing Director of the Construction Projects Financing Department of the Construction Projects Unit at OJSC "VTB Bank";
2010 – 2010. Unit Head of the Investment Programs Department; Head of the Non-Core Assets Service of the Investment Projects Department at the State Corporation “Rostechnologies”;
2010 – 2018. Director of the CRM Department; Director of Corporate Business Development Department; Director of the Key Account Department; Deputy Chairman of the Board at JSC Russian Agricultural Bank;
07.2018 – up to date. Deputy Minister of Agriculture of the Russian Federation.
State and departmental awards
2015. The Certificate of Honor of the President of the Russian Federation
2001. Financial Academy under the Government of the Russian Federation
Specialty & Academic Degree: Economist, Finance and Credit
Work experience
1999 – 2000. Various positions in banking;
2000 – 2003. Economist of the Department of Credit and Advanced Products of the Executive Secretariat of the Bank's Work Bodies, Senior Economist of the Subsidiary Banks Credit Development Department of the Regional Business Lending Department at OJSC “Alfa Bank”;
2003 – 2010. Chief Economist, Manager of the Intersectoral Corporate Business Development Unit; Managing Director of the Second Key Account Department of the Corporate Unit; Managing Director of the Investment Services and Services Division of the Investment Unit; Managing Director of the Third Key Account Department of the Second Corporate Unit; Managing Director of the Construction Projects Financing Department of the Construction Projects Unit at OJSC "VTB Bank";
2010 – 2010. Unit Head of the Investment Programs Department; Head of the Non-Core Assets Service of the Investment Projects Department at the State Corporation “Rostechnologies”;
2010 – 2018. Director of the CRM Department; Director of Corporate Business Development Department; Director of the Key Account Department; Deputy Chairman of the Board at JSC Russian Agricultural Bank;
07.2018 – up to date. Deputy Minister of Agriculture of the Russian Federation.
State and departmental awards
2015. The Certificate of Honor of the President of the Russian Federation
Ramon Finol
Deputy Minister of International Tourism of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
Reshetnikov Maksim
Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation
Born on July 11, 1979, in Perm.
2000 — graduated from Perm State University by the major Mathematical Economist.
2002 — acquired the speciality of Translating Language Expert.
2000 - 2005 — Head of the Budget Revenue and Expenses Planning Department, Head of the Regional Finance and Investment Department, Deputy Head of the Main Department of Economy of the Perm Region Administration.
2005 - 2007 — First Deputy Chairman of the Planning Department of the Perm Region, First Deputy Head of the Perm Territory Governor Administration.
2007 - 2009 — Deputy Director of the Inter-Budget Relations Department, Director of the Department for Monitoring and Evaluating Effectiveness of State Governments of the Russian Federation of the Ministry of Regional Development of the Russian Federation.
2009 — Head of the Perm Territory Governor Administration.
2009 - 2010 — Director of the Department for State Administration, Regional Development and Local Self-Government of the Government of the Russian Federation.
2010 - 2011 — First Deputy Chief of Staff of the Moscow City Mayor and Government.
2012 - 2017 — Minister of the Moscow City Government, Head of Department for Economic Policy and Development of Moscow city.
09.2017 - 01.2020 — Governor of the Perm Territory.
Since January 21, 2020 — Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation.
Awarded the Letter of Acknowledgement of the President of the Russian Federation and Diploma of the Government of the Russian Federation.
PhD in Economics.
2000 — graduated from Perm State University by the major Mathematical Economist.
2002 — acquired the speciality of Translating Language Expert.
2000 - 2005 — Head of the Budget Revenue and Expenses Planning Department, Head of the Regional Finance and Investment Department, Deputy Head of the Main Department of Economy of the Perm Region Administration.
2005 - 2007 — First Deputy Chairman of the Planning Department of the Perm Region, First Deputy Head of the Perm Territory Governor Administration.
2007 - 2009 — Deputy Director of the Inter-Budget Relations Department, Director of the Department for Monitoring and Evaluating Effectiveness of State Governments of the Russian Federation of the Ministry of Regional Development of the Russian Federation.
2009 — Head of the Perm Territory Governor Administration.
2009 - 2010 — Director of the Department for State Administration, Regional Development and Local Self-Government of the Government of the Russian Federation.
2010 - 2011 — First Deputy Chief of Staff of the Moscow City Mayor and Government.
2012 - 2017 — Minister of the Moscow City Government, Head of Department for Economic Policy and Development of Moscow city.
09.2017 - 01.2020 — Governor of the Perm Territory.
Since January 21, 2020 — Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation.
Awarded the Letter of Acknowledgement of the President of the Russian Federation and Diploma of the Government of the Russian Federation.
PhD in Economics.
Front row participant
Izhmulkina Ekaterina
Acting Rector of the Russian Academy of Personnel Support of the Agroindustrial Complex
Konstantinov Denis
Deputy Chairman of the Board, Russian Agricultural Bank
Korochkin Aleksey
Author of the Golden Snail rural tourism development project (Pskov Oblast)
Lomidze Mayya
Executive Director, Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR)
Nemkov Vadim
Author of the rural tourism development project New Pond (Belgorod region), champion of Russia, Europe and the world in combat sambo
Rakova Elena
First Deputy Director, Passenger Transportation Department, Russian Railways
