Stavropol Territory
The Stavropol Territory is located in the middle of the Fore-Caucasus between Europe and Asia, the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea, and is a geographic centre of the North Caucasus. It borders on eight Russian regions; the length of the borders is 1,753 km. Its total area is 66,200 square km, or 0.4% of the national territory.
As of January 1, 2011 the territory's population was 2,786,100 people (or about 1.9% of the nation's total), including 1,592,300 in cities (57% of the territory's population) and 1,193,800 in rural areas (43.6%). The population density is about 41 people per square km, which is almost 400% higher than the national average.
The territory's capital is Stavropol, with the population of 364,000.
The main part of the specially protected environmental resort Caucasian Mineral Waters (CMW) is located in the territory. It is unique as the only place in the world with about 130 mineral springs of 30 types on a relatively small territory. This compares with 60 mineral springs in Karlovy Vary and 20 in Baden-Baden.
The territory's appeal lies in its unique nature, diversity, compact location and diversity of beneficial health factors, including mineral waters, therapeutic muds, the climate and landscape. The CMW accounts for almost a third of the explored reserves of mineral waters and therapeutic muds in the former Soviet Union.
In 2009 the per capita GRP in the Stavropol Territory amounted to 102,400 roubles, which is 2.2 times below the national average of 226,000 roubles.
Wholesale and retail trade occupy the biggest share in the territory's GRP; repairs of cars, lorries, motorcycles, household appliances and personal articles amount to 20.6%, processing industries to 12.4%; transport and communications to 11%; agriculture, hunting and forestry to 10.6%, state administration, military security, mandatory social insurance to 8.3%; healthcare and social services to 7.9%; construction to 7.3%; real estate sale, leasing and management to 6.4%; production and distribution of electricity, gas and water to 6.1% and education to 5.2%.
In 2010 the territory registered growth in industrial production: the index in relation to the previous year reached 110%, which is 1.8% higher than the national average of 108.2%. Industrial production continued growing in January-June of 2011, with the index amounting to 109.4% as compared to 2010. These growth rates are higher than the national average of 105.3%.
As of July 1, 2011 unemployment in the territory stood at 1.9%, which corresponds to the national average.
The Stavropol Territory is carrying out a number of investment projects:
construction of a small metals plant to process scrap metal and produce fittings and rod iron for the district; 3,311.35 million roubles;
production of finished pharmaceutical drugs certified under the international quality standards (EU JMP), LLC Vita; 3,944.5 million roubles;
construction of a health resort and exhibition complex SANA in Pyatigorsk; 6,235 million roubles;
construction of a farm for 4,000 heads (Stavropol Dairy Plant); 2,550 million roubles.
