Conference “Public-Private Partnership in Transport Sector” was held on May, 20 at the Graduate School of Management St. Petersburg State University (GSOM SPbU). It was organized by the Center for PPP Studies, GSOM SPbU. More than 150 representatives of the Ministry of Transport of Russia, federal and regional public authorities, largest transport companies and higher educational institutions in the field of transport took part in the conference. Main participants were students, doctoral students and young researchers representing more than 10 Russian universities, institutes and academies doing research in the field of public-private partnership in different areas of transport.

 

 

 

 

Head of the Department of Public Administration SPbU, Minister of Transport of Russia Maxim Yu. Sokolov and Deputy Director of the Graduate School of Management SPbU Konstantin V. Krotov welcomed the participants of the conference, stressed the importance of research in the field of public-private partnership and pointed out the role of the Center for PPP Studies GSOM SPbU in creation and dissemination of knowledge in the field of PPP and expert support of real PPP projects. Minister of Transport of Russia highlighted the positive dynamics in educational activities of GSOM SPbU in the field of PPP: the number of bachelor students studying the academic discipline “Public-Private Partnership” more than doubled within a three-year period: from 18 in 2011 to 50 in 2014.

 

The first plenary session was opened by Maxim Yu. Sokolov. In his keynote speech “Application of Public-Private Partnership in the Transport Sector” he highlighted that the practice of large infrastructural projects implementation based on public-private partnership principles has already been established in Russia. The most successful experience of PPP, according to the Minister of Transport, is the use of concession mechanism in the road sector. Examples of this mechanism are the projects of the construction of “Western High-Speed Diameter”,  a new exit on the Moscow Ring Road from the highway M-1 “Belarus” Moscow – Minsk”, individual sections of the highway M-11 “Moscow – St.Petersburg”. Maxim Yu. Sokolov also expressed the hope that successful concession experience in the road sector would be used in other sectors in transport, for instance, in the construction of railways, sea and river ports, airports and airfields.

 

 

 

Further presentations were made by the representatives of public and private parties in PPP projects, representatives of the academic community and young researchers.

 

The presentation of the Head of the Center for PPP Studies GSOM SPbU Svetlana V. Maslova was devoted to the current trends and research of public-private partnership in the field of transport. Particular attention was paid to the role of PPP in achieving Sustainable Development Goals which are going to be adopted by the UN General Assembly in September, 2015. Svetlana V. Maslova also showed the goals and content of the UNECE International PPP Standards. The Center for PPP Studies will take part in the development of these Standards for roads, airports and railways. 

 

Deputy Chairman of the Board on Legal Questions of State Company “Avtodor” Konstantin I. Popov described the experience of concession agreements implementation for federal toll roads based on two major models – direct toll concession and concession grantor payment. He presented specific characteristics of the prequalification stage and tender evaluation criteria for road projects M-11 “Moscow – St. Petersburg” (15 – 58 km), M-1 “Belarus” – passby of Odintsovo (projects are at the stage of operation), M-11 “Moscow – St. Petersburg” (543 – 684 km) (project is at the implementation stage).

 

Head of Legal and P3 Department of the Federal Road Agency Elena N. Semenova characterized the development of modern intellectual transport systems (ITS) in PPP projects, capable of ensuring road safety and maximum comfort for drivers. Particular attention was paid to the existing intellectual transport systems in Russia, mechanisms of ITS implementation, financing of ITS in PPP projects.

 

Deputy Head of Infrastructure Capital & Project Finance at VTB Capital Andrey V. Kiselev identified key factors of successful implementation of the project of construction and operation of “Western High-Speed Diameter” (WHSD). He also described the process of WHSD Central Part construction.

 

Representatives of “Northern Capital Gateway” Margarita V. Belyaeva and Yaroslav G. Zubilov shared the experience of the implementation of PPP project on construction and operation of Pulkovo Airport.

 

Bachelor students of the programs “Bachelor of Management” and “Bachelor of Public Administration” GSOM SPbU Andrey Zinchenko, Sofia Gromova and Sofia Gladushchenko made a presentation on international experience of PPP projects implementation in the field of transport. The cases of Athens International Airport (Greece), Limerick Tunnel (Ireland), Canada Line Light Rail (Canada) were considered by the students.

 

The next event of the conference was conducted by Svetlana V. Maslova and Head of PPP and External Relations Department at St. Petersburg and Leningrad Region Transport System Development Directorate Olga A. Potiforova as a workshop “Implementation of Joint PPP Projects in St. Petersburg and Leningrad Region”. A distinctive feature of this event was the fact that bachelor students of GSOM SPbU Ruzalia Mingazova, Alesya Gubanova, Anastasia Trofimova, Sofia Gladushchenko, Andrey Zinchenko and Ksenia Bakay acted as PPP experts showing their deep knowledge of public-private partnership and practical skills of structuring the PPP projects. They shared their vision on the perspectives of the PPP project implementation on construction and operation of the Transport Hub “Devyatkino”, by considering financial, legal, technical aspects of the project as well as the possibility of multiple public partners’ (Russian Federation, St. Petersburg, Leningrad Region) participation in the project.

 

At the second plenary session, chaired by the Chief Researcher of the Center for PPP Studies GSOM SPbU Andrey E. Ivanov, presentations of young researchers, students and doctoral students as well as novice PPP practitioners were shown. Doctoral student of Far Eastern State Transport University and Consultant at the Government of Khabarovsk Krai Danil Grigoryev described the PPP project on the construction of the highway “Khabarovsk Bypass 13 – 42 km”. GSOM SPbU master student Svetlana Kolokoltseva characterized the methods of risk assessment in PPP projects, including the application of Monte-Carlo method for the project “Western High-Speed Diameter”. Doctoral student of St. Petersburg State University of Economics and Leading Legal Adviser of “Northern Capital Gateway” presented the methods of balancing public and private interests in PPP projects. Doctoral student of the Admiral Makarov State University of Maritime and Inland Shipping and Head of the Financial and Economic Department at Rosmorport Naina Yu. Bodrovtseva presented the mechanism of public-private partnership in the construction of seaports. Ruling in the financial strategies of PPP with large transport corporations was considered in the presentation of the Associate Professor of Rostov State Transport University Olga V. Andreeva. GSOM SPbU bachelor students spoke about different aspects of PPP in transport sector. Ruzalia Mingazova presented institutional aspects of PPP development at the national and international levels. Anzhelika Gurkova presented the application of PPP mechanisms to solve the problems of monocities, Yulia Lychagina considered the prospects for the creation of the PPP Center in the transport sector, and Alesya Gubanova presented various techniques of risk management in PPP projects in the transport sector.

 

All the events of the conference were accompanied by the lively discussion among young researchers, PPP experts, representatives of the transport sector and academic community. Summing up the conference, Maxim Yu. Sokolov expressed his hope that the conference would become a tradition, and next year even more participants interested in the development of PPP in Russia would take part in the event.