Economic Relations between the Leningrad Region and Sweden at the Beginning of XXI Century: Challenges and Perspectives

The North-West of Russia has close ties with the countries of the Baltic region for many years. This article discusses the economic interaction of the Leningrad region with the Swedish regions in the last two decades. The authors attempt to give a detailed analysis of the cooperation of this Russian region with Sweden in order to establish the significance of these relations for Ingermanland and Russia. To achieve this goal, the authors consider the agreements of districts and cities of the region with the Swedish partners, as well as their implementation on the example of specific cases of Swedish companies in the region. Particular attention is paid to the recent years of interaction between the Leningrad region and Sweden, the impact of the sanctions regime on them. As a result of the research, the institute of twin cities was found to be of great importance for certain regions of the region in their economic interaction with the Swedish kingdom (Gatchina and Tikhvin) and the potential for development in this area for others (Volkhov and Vyborg). The contradictory role of sanctions in the region’s foreign economic relations with Sweden is emphasized, as a result of which there was no serious drop in trade turnover and investment volumes, and Sweden became a more valuable foreign partner of the Leningrad region.