The Samara region is located approximately 600 miles southeast of Moscow, along the Volga River. The region is rich in natural resources, including oil and gas, raw materials for bricks and cement, and mining resources such as phosphorites, sulphur, salt, bitumen, and shale oil. The most significant industrial sectors for the region include machine building, petrochemicals, metallurgy, fuel production, and food processing. The market for non-industrial products is also expanding rapidly. Most significantly, telecommunications, household appliances and electronics, computers and office equipment, pharmaceuticals, medical supplies, and food products have existing networks for distribution and are areas with potential for growth.
Machine building is the largest sector of Samara s economy.
Russia s leading car manufacturer, AvtoVAZ, is located in the city of Togliatti. Special agencies of the regional administration provide potential investors with information and organizational support, and have published an investor s guide. Machinery, metals, chemicals and petrochemicals dominate exports.