Narva and Slantsy riverside areas development for business and visiting environment improvement

In the Russian (Leningrad region) and Estonian (Ida-Virumaa county) cross-border region there is a picturesque Narva River basin area – the Narva lake type water reservoir in Narva and Plyussa River in Slantsy. It has great potential for development as recreation area that could be attractive for local population, tourists and visitors, and suggesting SMEs business development opportunities. Enterprises of the border region are interested in developing business in this territory. At the same time neglected conditions of riverside recreation areas in Narva/Estonia and Slantsy/Russia, undeveloped tourist infrastructure, absence of services do not attract tourists, local people and businesses. Negative image of cross-border region as depressing area with weak socio-economic indicators, low quality of business and visiting environment including infrastructure are common challenges, which are tackling in project. The project idea is developed taking into account results and studies of previous common cross-border cooperation projects as well as real business potential and interest in creation Business Leisure Cluster using possibilities of Narva-Slantsy riversides area. Prefeasibility studies indicated, that improvement of riversides will convert them into comfortable places for Recreation, Entertainment, Sports and Tourism and favour to leisure business development, cross-border waterways development and creation of Business Leisure Cluster. The leisure industry has a high potential for job creation.                                                       The project overall objective: Integrated riverside areas development for business and visiting environment improvement in Narva/Estonia and Slantsy/Russia to ensure conversion of the CBC area into attractive place for business and living. The project specific objectives:Reconstruction of Narva and Slantsy riverside areas to improve business and leisure/visiting environment in cross-border region;Creation of Narva- Slantsy Leisure Cluster and supporting measures to ensure and promote business development in cross-border region;Strengthened capacity of cross-border region and expanded cross-border cooperation.The cross-border business environment quality will be improved thanks to reconstructed riverside territories and necessary infrastructure establishment: Kulgu port in Narva and Plyussa riverside in the centre of Slantsy. Technical projects designs foresee accessibility, LED outdoor lighting, electricity and other facilities for SMEs stable work or for expanding SMEs activities. During the project Narva-Slantsy Leisure Cluster will be created as network of local governments, SMEs and NGOs in cross-border region. Support measures for SMEs and start-ups will be elaborated as well. As a result of the project partners get improved riverside areas, SMEs (ca 750) - potential for development, tourists (ca 100000 per year) and local people (ca 102709 inh.) - possibilities for outdoor activities, local authorities - increased knowledge about needs of local and external entrepreneurs, methods and tools to support business activity in cross-border region, strengthened administrative capacity, improvement of public services quality via exchange of experience and project implementation in cooperation between Narva and Slantsy local governments. All parties get more opportunities to attract business and visitors and promote the region as joint tourist destination.   This is an integrated project: each partner carries out its part of project activities on the respective side of the border. To achieve the maximum effect of the project, partners selected cross-border cooperation approach for implementation of project activities. Project partners will use the best practices, exchange of experience in main project activities: reconstruction of riversides, dissemination of information, creation of Business Leisure Cluster, preparation and implementation of a joint plan for attracting entrepreneurs for business development in riverside areas, opening events on project results.     The created Leisure Cluster is a new solution for cross-border region. The leisure industry is the segment of business focused on Recreation, Entertainment, Sports and Tourism (REST) and related products and services. The cluster ensures sustainability of the project results and on-going business development after project realisation. The main cross-border impact of the project is created conditions for socio-economic development of Narva, Estonia - Slantsy, Russia region. Integrated development of riversides areas and joint Leisure Cluster will give multipliable effect and added value to increase local income, improve image, business and living environment of cross-border region.

Project results: 1.Business and leisure/visiting environment (infrastructure) in CBC region improved due to reconstructed Narva and Slantsy riversides areas, 2. Insured sustainability of SMEs and business development in Narva and Slantsy riversides areas due to created Narva-Slantsy Leisure Cluster and measures for its support, 3. Strengthened capacity of CBC region and expanded cross-border cooperation.