• 21.10.2026 12:11

Tula Region: A Successful Entry into the Global Economic Arena

Students from the Institute of Law and Management at Tula State University recently discussed the region’s foreign economic activity and export potential with Nikolai Sergeyevich Elantsev, Minister of Industry for the Tula Region, alongside executives from the region’s industrial partners.
The meeting was organized for the students by the Department of Public Administration and Foreign Economic Activity.
In his welcoming remarks, Mikhail Alexandrovich Berestnev, Director of the Institute of Law and Management, noted that the Institute offers a wide range of academic programs in law and economics. He emphasized that the Institute always welcomes visits from professionals in the field, as such interactions help students gain a deeper understanding of the regional economy and the challenges it faces—ultimately contributing to the development of the Tula Region.
Vladimir Ivanovich Grigoryev, Vice-Rector for Digitalization and General Affairs, underscored the importance of maintaining a dialogue with the regional government and business partners to ensure the effective training of highly qualified specialists.
Nikolai Sergeyevich Elantsev focused his presentation on the region’s foreign economic activity.
He reported that in the first half of 2026, the Tula Region’s foreign trade turnover reached 2.5 billion US dollars—a 4.2% increase compared to the same period the previous year. Since the beginning of the year, more than 600 regional enterprises have entered the markets of 86 countries.
The core of the Tula Region’s exports consists of products from the chemical, metallurgical, and machine-building sectors, as well as goods from high-tech enterprises—including those specializing in composite materials and polymers. To promote products in foreign markets, the Tula Region hosts an event called "An Hour with a Trade Representative," an initiative of the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade under the "International Cooperation and Export" national project. By participating, Tula-based businesses have the opportunity to showcase their products, gain up-to-date information on various markets, and receive tailored advice on entering the markets of specific countries.
Nikolai Sergeyevich noted that trade representatives visit the Tula Region in person; for instance, in July of this year, the region welcomed specialists from Vietnam, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mongolia, and Myanmar.
To address export development challenges promptly, the Tula Region Export Council was established. Its key priorities include refining the export support system, integrating with federal-level tools, and implementing the "Regional Export Standard 3.0." Through these mechanisms, the region effectively aligns federal and regional support measures with the specific needs of Tula-based enterprises.
This type of engagement fosters something essential: trust—which helps identify common ground and ultimately leads to the signing of agreements.
Furthermore, Nikolai Sergeyevich mentioned that the region regularly participates in the "Innoprom" International Industrial Trade Fair, which serves as a platform for finding new partners, attracting investment, and exchanging expertise.
The minister concluded by noting that this extensive work serves as a prime example for future professionals of how the Tula Region successfully integrates into the system of international economic relations and effectively promotes its export potential.
Darya Nikolayevna Medvedeva, head of the Export Support Center—part of the Tula Regional Foundation for Entrepreneurship Support—introduced students to the center’s activities.
She began her presentation by expressing her gratitude. She expressed her appreciation to students from the Institute of Law and Management—who had completed an internship at the organization—for their analytical research aimed at promoting Tula-based exports in foreign markets.
Darya Nikolayevna provided a detailed overview of the center’s services, which include identifying and selecting potential foreign buyers; organizing international and interregional business missions; facilitating the participation of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in international trade fairs, as well as in acceleration and incubation programs; assisting with placement on international e-commerce platforms; helping businesses ensure their products and production processes meet the mandatory requirements of foreign markets (such as standardization and certification); supporting the protection and registration of intellectual property rights; and providing assistance with logistics and transportation.
The guest placed particular emphasis on the Tula Region Exporters’ Club—an association of entrepreneurs engaged in export activities.

Darya Nikolayevna noted that the Tula Region is successfully implementing the "Regional Export Standard 3.0." A key component of this initiative involves building a talent pool and promoting foreign economic activity among young people. The Tula Regional Foundation "Entrepreneurship Support Center" has invited students from Tula State University to contribute to the development of export capabilities and complete internships at their organization.
Alexander Viktorovich Filin—a graduate of what was then the Faculty of Cybernetics at TulSU and currently the Commercial Director of GRENT LLC—shared his experience as an exporter from the Tula Region with the students.
He explained that his company manufactures stainless steel equipment and products, and provides metalworking services. The GRENT team addresses food safety and hygiene challenges for industrial facilities by developing technologies that help prevent contamination and reduce the risk of spreading infections.
Alexander Viktorovich highlighted that the company’s products are currently exported to 10 countries, ranging from Russia’s immediate neighbors to nations in Asia and the Middle East.
The guest speaker described how the company enters new export markets, expands international cooperation, and designs or adapts equipment to meet the specific requirements of foreign partners.
Alexander Viktorovich emphasized that it is entirely possible to build an international business while based in Tula. However, having a high-quality product is not always enough; one must also understand foreign clients and market demands, and know how to foster effective collaboration. He reminded the students that international business is a team effort, bringing together engineers, designers, and specialists in sales, marketing, and logistics.
"Don't be afraid of the international market!" he advised the students. "Go out there and compete!"
Following the presentation, the students had the opportunity to ask the guests questions. The leadership of the Institute of Law and Management has proposed providing students with research topics related to the activities of industry partners.