Application of public-private partnership mechanisms for competitive growth of inland water transport in Russia

Abstract

The article deals with urgent problems of transport system development in Russia, paying the particular attention to inland waterway transport. The research is focused on the investment in the development of road infrastructure and methods of investing transport projects using public-private partnership mechanisms. The main reasons constraining the development of inland water transport in Russia are the insufficient amount of funds contributed to the development of the industry and their occasionally unreasonable use. In recent years, the world trend is to attract not only owners, but also infrastructure users to finance the inland waterway transport industry at a time when the financing gap is significant. The authors concluded that the simultaneous implementation of measures combining the introduction of fees paid by user and involving the improvement of water transport infrastructure through the public-private partnership mechanisms would promote attracting additional sources of investment. These investments will help to accelerate the industry modernization and implement the innovative scenario for the development of national economy. The authors developed the new model of state policy on attracting extra-budgetary sources of financing to the inland waterway transport industry.