Invest in Orenburg region

“We have been working under sanctions for 30 years”: the head of Orenburg Minerals shared the secrets of a successful business

22.04.2020 News

The old adage that you don't have to put all your eggs in one basket is the best business strategy for a crisis. Andrey Golm, the head of one of the largest enterprises in the region, Orenburg Minerals, is convinced of this. According to the entrepreneur, a company that has been successfully operating under sanctions for 30 years is not afraid of anti-epidemic measures.

The entrepreneur shared the secrets of the stable development of his business during a live broadcast from the cycle "Economy without a virus", which he launched on his page in Instagram Orenburg Region Development Corporation. 

Answering the question of the general director of the corporation Ignat Petukhov about what support measures are needed today for large enterprises during a pandemic and related restrictions, the interlocutor noted that the current crisis did not take the company's management by surprise.

- This is the fourth or fifth crisis in my memory: as soon as one ends, you have to prepare for the next one. For this case, we have special folders - we call them scenario planning, - said Andrey Golm. - So far, no support measures have been introduced for big business: that is why it is large, that it must survive itself. But we still sent a number of requests to the branch ministries - regional and federal. If they provide any help, of course, we will be glad. I can say that we have met this crisis fully armed: we have a small loan portfolio - less than a monthly turnover. It is no secret that today many are under credit - both enterprises and people. This is risky - because when your income changes, you put your existence and your business at risk. We attract investments, but we try not to spend them on turnover. This money helps create jobs, new industries, and provide diversified income. 

Let us recall that the main activity of the Orenburg Minerals company is chrysotile production. However, over the past five years, 90 percent of investments have been directed to subsidiary joint ventures. 

- We work in a large conglomerate of our companies. Let me remind you that the city of Yasny, where they are located, is a priority development area. And now all these enterprises are not working there just successful - they do not have time to work. In case of downtime at the main production, we will redirect most of our employees to these companies so that they can increase turnover, - the businessman shared his plans. - For the past 30 years, our chrysotile industry has been operating under the most severe external sanctions. To stand confidently on your feet, you need to create reserves: for money, for jobs, for business. You don't have to be monopoly, you don't have to have only one activity on which you depend 100 percent. 

According to the head, the company's strategy is being developed for five to seven years. Three scenarios for the development of the situation are considered for the crisis using scenario planning. 

- An action plan is being worked out: what we develop and what we stop. Wherein any step is based on a strategy, - Andrey Golm explained. - For example, the population of Yasnoye is 15,000 people. For the production of asbestos, we need 1500 - 1200 employees. But the plant employs about 4,000. Why? If there were only 1,500 worthy jobs left in the city, people would leave there - and not the worst, but the best ones. But it is precisely on these that any enterprise rests. The best people should stay; they should have a choice. Therefore, it is important that the city has multidirectional jobs. 

Speaking about the development prospects of the region, the expert reminded again that people make the economy.

- The regional development strategy should include many components - investment component, industrial, agricultural ... We need to find our strong side and develop it. Until we do this, we will go with the flow, and the people will leave for Moscow, Samara, Chelyabinsk - where the conditions for self-realization are better., - the entrepreneur recalled. - The situation will change only when we enable people to meet these needs in our region. And this is already a question for the authorities. If you want to live and work in the Orenburg region, love this region and want to benefit it, you will develop, study, and acquire additional skills. If we do not do this, we will remain middle peasants in the second twenty. 

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