Roscongress has published the business program for the North Caucasus Federal District's main business event, which will take place from May 17 to 19 at the MinvodyEXPO International Exhibition Center. In addition to its key sessions on special economic zones, human resources, import substitution, and attracting investment, the Kavkaz.RF development institute will put together a separate program for young people trying their hand at business or looking for a new job.

The entire forum program has also shifted toward small business: in architecture, there are numerous sessions devoted to creative industries, applied digital technologies, finding new market niches, and optimizing processes in existing ones. According to the organizers, the exhibition display will also be curated to highlight interesting projects by entrepreneurs, possibly even startups.

The key session of the forum is a plenary session featuring Deputy Prime Minister and curator of the North Caucasus Federal District, Alexander Novak. This discussion is traditionally strategic and serves as a guide for the business community for the coming year and beyond.

A new feature of the event will be the lecture "Dialogue with the Governor: Focus on the Caucasus," where the regional governor and his team will present regional development priorities and the cultural context in a pitch session. Prominent figures from each region plan to participate.

The Kavkaz.RF team will also present its strategy through 2030 in a similar format. CEO Andrey Yumshanov and his dedicated deputies will discuss their plans for transforming the company into a successful, socially oriented state corporation that skillfully manages assets and reinvests in new, promising projects.

The Kavkaz.RF program will also focus on personnel training, which is being developed by the Industry Competence Center in collaboration with its experienced partner, Headhunter. These will include practical sessions on developing an HR brand for the North Caucasus, as well as workshops on resume writing and job searching using the new career portal.

Ski mountaineer Nikita Filippov won his first medal at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.

He took second in the sprint—a discipline that involves several stages: part of the ascent is covered on skis with skins, part on foot, with the skis strapped to a backpack, and then a high-speed descent back down on skis. The race lasts approximately 3.5 minutes.

It's worth noting that Nikita's first ski mountaineering camp (he had previously also competed in biathlon and cross-country skiing) took place on Elbrus. It served as preparation for the Junior World Championships and simultaneously as a turning point: the mountains captivated him so much that he decided to devote himself entirely to ski mountaineering.

The Kavkaz.RF resorts invite you to spend a long weekend in the mountains.

During the holidays, in addition to skiing, guests of Elbrus and Mamison will enjoy an interactive program dedicated to Defender of the Fatherland Day. On February 22 and 23, from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM, the resorts will host an entertainment program.

Azau Glade at Elbrus will feature workshops, themed competitions, and hosts and a DJ will create a festive atmosphere. The program will open on both days with the children's animation show "Adventures of Young Heroes," and will continue on various days with competitions in giant boxing gloves, arm wrestling, tug-of-war, a 16-kilogram kettlebell lift, and winter boccia. On Elbrus, you can extend your vacation with evening skiing: the Krugozor-Azau trail is now open every evening from 6:30 PM to 10:00 PM.

At Mamison, guests will enjoy an interactive program called "Young Skier's Course," along with entertainers and a DJ. Sports competitions are also planned, including weightlifting, target throwing, an obstacle course, and a giant ski race. Both days will conclude with a discotheque on the resort's main square. Mamison guests can spend their evenings at the new Grand Galabu restaurant, which will open this weekend on the second floor of the service center.

Furthermore, on February 21, Mamison will host another master class, the "Slow Life Workshop," on sketching from life. The event will be led by Sergey Mikhitarov, a photographer and artist from Pyatigorsk. It starts at 1:30 PM. Register here.

It's high season at the resorts, so from February 9th to March 15th, a special system of rates and discounts is in effect. At Elbrus, there's a 5% discount, and when paying with a QR code, a 10% refund is credited to your card. At Mamison, from February 20th to March 15th, there's a 20% discount on ski passes.

For the second year in a row, Kavkaz.RF has won the Southern Silver Archer, the premier public relations award.

Last year, the Kavkaz.RF channel won in the "Best State Communications Project" category. This year, the art festival at Mamison won in the "Creative Industries" category. Polina Likhacheva, Mamison's PR director, defended the project.

The festival became a multi-layered experience, combining a world-class light show with a performance by Ossetian musicians, a creators' fair and a summit performance, a conceptual dinner reimagining national cuisine, and a sunrise in a tent camp.

North Caucasus will present the summer season, mineral water and a discussion about the conceptual resort of the future at MITT.

Institut razvitiya Kavkaz.RF published the program of participation in one of the main tourist exhibitions of the capital. Instead of the usual exposition of mountain resorts, the company declares itself as a producer of mineral water "Slavyanovska" and initiates a conversation about the economy of the conceptual resort. The anchor projects of the company — resorts "Elbrus" and "Mamison" — will also be there. The summer season in the mountains will be presented in the form of an interactive message board, where guests will be able to share their own plans for the warm season.

"How to stand out in a large stream of informational noise?" We have been asking this question for a long time. Last year, we responded to it with a huge puffer stand, where you could slow down and take a break from the hustle and bustle. This time, all our activities are not a monologue, but a dialogue with the visitor. Somewhere going online, somewhere in thinking about one's own identity. At the panel session, together with friends on projects and the market, we will try to digitize that very "conceptuality". Understand how a strong concept affects business indicators", says Andrey Yumshanov, general director of Kavkaz.RF and one of the speakers of the upcoming session.

The dialogue will be moderated by art expert Aleksandra Plotnikova. The heads of large and niche tourism projects such as "Mantera", "Manzherok", Cosmos Hotel Group and "Azimut" networks, as well as opinion leaders Alexander Fedorova (New Russian) and concept chef Ivan Dubkov are invited to participate.

Ministry of Economic Development: The Kavkaz.RF development strategy concept through 2030 envisages attracting 150 billion rubles in private investment.

Russian Minister of Economic Development Maxim Reshetnikov held a strategic session dedicated to the Kavkaz.RF Development Institute's development strategy concept. The discussion focused on the company's role in achieving national goals and creating a sustainable economic growth model for the North Caucasus Federal District through 2030.

"The previous strategy was adopted in 2022. Since then, national development goals and approaches to strategic planning have changed. The development institute has established a solid foundation, and now it is important to move on to the next stage—strengthening the investment component, increasing the effectiveness of existing instruments, and setting a more ambitious development dynamic," noted Maxim Reshetnikov.

Over the past three years, more than 40 infrastructure facilities have been created at existing sites, over 70 km of eco-trails have been laid, and the resorts welcome approximately 2 million tourists annually. Through the Development Institute's instruments, 24 billion rubles in extra-budgetary investments were attracted to special economic zones. 219 projects with a total investment volume of over 24 billion rubles were supported. These results have helped to create a sustainable investment environment in the macro-region.

Deputy Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation Sergey Nazarov emphasized that the key achievement was the restoration of trust in the financial sector and the development of a working project financing model.

"We see that the banking sector is returning to the region: 203 investment projects in various sectors of the economy, worth 19 billion rubles, were supported with the participation of credit institutions. The total volume of loans attracted by residents of special economic zones has exceeded 51 billion rubles, while high repayment discipline has been ensured. This demonstrates the development of a sustainable investment environment," stated Sergey Nazarov.

The development of banking participation has significantly expanded the financial capabilities of projects and reduced dependence on direct budgetary instruments. At the same time, the strategy concept calls for the further removal of infrastructure restrictions—modernization of utility networks in the SEZ, development of the energy and housing and utilities sectors, and increased labor productivity in the tourism industry. These areas are viewed as interconnected elements of a unified economic growth model.

In his report, Andrey Yumshanov, CEO of Kavkaz.RF, outlined the strategic logic for the next step in the company's development.

"We have reached a stage where we need to clearly define the role of the Development Institute in shaping a new economic model for the North Caucasus. Our task is to focus on tools that systemically impact investment, labor productivity, and employment, and to ensure the company's long-term financial stability as the basis for the implementation of major projects," noted Andrey Yumshanov.

The updated strategy concept consolidates Kavkaz.RF's focus on five areas: development of special economic zones and infrastructure, implementation of investment projects, participation in the modernization of the energy and housing and utilities sectors, the formation of an industry competence center, and the development of human resources.

In 2026, Kavkaz.RF will continue to work with the North Caucasus Federal District Human Resources Development Association, including through a specialized career portal created jointly with one of the largest HR platforms, and will also introduce a new initiative—a cable car certification system. The company has formalized its expertise in mountain construction through a subsidiary, Kavkaz Engineering, and is developing integrated tourism solutions—from infrastructure preparation to product launch. These areas complement investment activities and serve to strengthen financial stability and reduce dependence on direct government funding.

The baseline scenario for the 2030 strategy concept plans to allocate 26 billion rubles to developing SEZ infrastructure and attract up to 150 billion rubles in resident investment. This will mark a transition from isolated projects to a systemic investment development model for the macroregion.

Following the strategic session, Maxim Reshetnikov outlined Kavkaz.RF's priorities for further growth: the active use of federal support instruments and strengthening the company's role as an investment operator. The Minister emphasized that the accumulated experience allows us to move on to the next stage—increasing the share of extra-budgetary funding sources and developing a sustainable financial model.

On March 12, at a panel session at the MITT tourism exhibition, Andrey Yumshanov, CEO of Kavkaz.RF, will discuss plans for the upcoming summer season at the company's managed resorts.

The agenda includes innovations, a presentation of a digital twin of eco-trails, permits, a calendar of events, and a Q&A session. The meeting will be useful for tour operators and those developing tourism in the North Caucasus.

Venue: Pavilion 1, Crocus Expo.

All visitors to the Kavkaz.RF corner at MITT will be able to take home a custom sticker pack by type and graphic designer Fyodor Abroskin, curator of the Higher School of Economics's School of Design and creator of the font used for the Slow Life Workshop posters on Mamison Street.

The primary means of expression in the Workshop's logo is type. It's Fyodor Abroskin's Rene font.

Here's what the artist himself says about his work: "If you look closely at the letters, you notice shifts and irrationality. These fonts don't so much help you read the text and go unnoticed, but rather express your character and find people with a similar mindset."

Kavkaz.RF Program at MITT.

March 11, 2:00 PM, Hall C — Participation in the conference "Medical Tourism in Russia. From Strategy to Effective Implementation."

Also participating: VTB Medicine, Financial University, National Tourism Agency of Belarus, ATAG, Tourism.RF, and LeePrime Group.

March 12, 11:00 AM, Hall A — In-house session "A Resort of Great Meanings: How to Digitize a Territory's Cultural Code." Speaker: Andrey Yumshanov.

12:30 PM — Open meeting between the General Director of Kavkaz.RF and tour operators, topic: Summer Season at Caucasus Resorts.

Also participating: Cosmos Hotel Group, Mantera Group, and Applied Ingredients gastronomic studio. Moderator: art historian Alexandra Plotnikova.

March 13, 12:20 PM, Hall C — participation in the expert session "The HR Management Ecosystem in Tourism: Strategies for Growth and Stability."

Also participating: Financial University, Cosmos Hotel Group, Moscow State Institute of International Relations, Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration, National Union of the Hospitality Industry, and MSP Corporation.

Kavkaz.RF CEOs Andrey Yumshanov, Khasan Timizhev, and Vladimir Lapukhin met in Chechnya with Deputy Prime Minister of the Chechen Republic Rustam Shaptukayev, Tourism Minister Muslim Baitaziyev, and the regional team responsible for the Veduchi resort project.

"The meeting was constructive: we discussed with all contractors the mechanism for completing the infrastructure construction, installation, and commissioning of VL1. Particular attention was paid to the engineering and technical support for the launch of this complex cableway," said Kavkaz.RF CEO Andrey Yumshanov.

This year, construction at Veduchi is entering its final stage.

From March 13 until the end of the winter season, a single ski pass will be available at the Elbrus, Mamison, and Veduchi ski resorts. This new pass will be available for leisure use on the cable cars until the end of May. Rustam Tapayev, Deputy General Director of Kavkaz.RF, announced this at the MITT-2026 tourism exhibition.

The new ski pass includes three days of skiing at each resort. It allows guests to choose their ski holiday based on the weather, cable car, and piste status. All days can be used in any order until the end of May. A single ski pass for skiers this spring will cost 12,000 rubles for adults and 7,200 rubles for children.

A leisure pass will allow guests to use the cable cars at the three resorts on any day until the end of the season. Three trips will cost 3,500 rubles for adults and 2,000 rubles for children.

The price of both ticket types is based on the sum of the number of days of vacation at the three resorts, plus a 30% discount.

"We know that guests have long been eager to enjoy skiing at any of our resorts with a single ski pass. Therefore, we plan to continue the 'Three Resorts' tariff from the beginning of the new 2026/2027 winter season. This will help guests explore all of our resorts more affordably and at a convenient time," said Rustam Tapayev.

At Elbrus in Kabardino-Balkaria, winter skiing typically lasts until July. At Mamison in North Ossetia, the ski slopes were open until mid-April during the first test season. The Veduchi resort in Chechnya offers year-round skiing on an all-season artificial-surface slope.

Rustam Tapaev, Deputy CEO of Kavkaz.RF, and Tatyana Baeva, Director of Communications, presented the upcoming season's innovations to tour operators, travel agents, hoteliers, investors, and tourists at MITT:

A unified "Three Resorts" tariff has been introduced—skiing with a single ski pass at Mamison, Elbrus, and Veduchi.

Guests will find 70 km of eco-trails at Elbrus, 15 km at Mamison, and 36 km at Veduchi. Guests at these resorts will be experiencing some of these trails for the first time.

In total, we have already laid out and equipped 255 km of hiking trails for the summer. All of them are part of the large-scale Greater Caucasus Trail project, which will eventually connect the region with a network of eco-trails totaling 2,500 km. This year, these trails received a digital twin—a mobile app for navigation and safety.

The app will include key points along the trails; designations of hotels, alpine camps, campsites, water sources, shops, restaurants, cafes, rest areas, services, guides, and tickets; it will also display dangerous sections and route categories; and it will also have an emergency alert function for security services.

The digital twin works without internet access, even with a weak satellite signal.

On Elbrus, construction will continue on the "Gorodok" alpine camp, consisting of 15 residential modules, at an altitude of 3,900 meters. Accommodations at the Liprus Hotel will be even more comfortable—Cosmos Hotel Group is responsible for the quality of stay in these futuristic capsules.

Kavkaz.RF launched a discussion on the role of creative industries in regional development at MITT-2026.

Promoting the North Caucasus through a cultural code, digital twins of eco-trails, a unified "Three Resorts" ski pass, and new infrastructure facilities—representatives of Kavkaz.RF presented the season's innovations and industry development trends at the MITT-2026 International Tourism and Hospitality Exhibition. This year, the development institute focused on sharing experiences with practitioners and holding face-to-face meetings with industry leaders, contemporary art experts, tour operators, and hoteliers.

Kavkaz.RF's keynote session, "A Resort of Great Meanings: How to Digitize a Territory's Cultural Code," raised the issue of creating a strong tourism product through in-depth exploration of a destination, searching for an identity, and embracing it. Summing up the discussion, moderator and art historian Alexandra Plotnikova emphasized that integrating a cultural code into the tourism business requires, first and foremost, deep sincerity, visual research, and multi-faceted engagement with the end consumer.

Khasan Timizhev, Executive Director of Kavkaz.RF, shared an example of tourism art therapy for the youngest resort in the North Caucasus:

"Mamison is clear proof that ski slopes and eco-trails are far from the only way to relax in the mountains. We host events here with a focus on creativity and art: an art festival, concerts, and workshops. We want people to come here, among other things, for inspiration, a search for meaning, and the opportunity to realize themselves through creativity."

Rustam Tapaev, Deputy General Director of Kavkaz.RF, and Tatyana Baeva, Director of the Communications Department, discussed plans for the summer season, the unified "Three Resorts" ski pass, updated tourist infrastructure, and the rationale for implementing permits and an eco-fee in the Elbrus National Park in a Q&A session with tour operators, hoteliers, and guides. One of the main innovations of the season is the introduction of a digital twin of the eco-trails, which will eventually connect the region with a network of eco-trails totaling 2,500 km.

"We have already laid out and equipped 255 km of hiking trails for the Great Caucasus Trail project. A separate innovation of the season is a mobile app for navigation and safety on the eco-trails. It will display all key points along the routes, difficult sections, campsites, alpine camps, hotels, food outlets, and other essential services along the way. Security alerts will also be sent here. Importantly, the digital twin of the trails will work without internet access and even with a weak satellite signal," explained Rustam Tapayev.

At the Kavkaz.RF stand, Slavyanovskaya mineral water was presented to exhibition guests. More than two thousand people sampled the medicinal mineral water from Kavminkurortresursy, a company managed by the development institute, over the course of three days.

The freeride tournament has kicked off at Elbrus.

On the first day, teams from Alpindustria and the resort are preparing for the races.

Kavkaz.RF is a partner of the event. The resort is preparing the competition slopes (including assessing avalanche conditions), organizing rescue missions, providing ski passes, and marking and fencing the trails near the start area.

Kavkaz.RF will present plans for the further development of tourism SEZs in the Caucasus at the Caucasus Investment Forum.

The creation of special economic zones (SEZs) is considered one of the most effective government support measures for business. The Development Institute Kavkaz.RF manages SEZ resorts at various stages of development, from the legendary Elbrus, with a tourist flow of approximately 800,000 people per year, to the Caspian Coastal Cluster, where infrastructure development has only just begun.

Participants in Kavkaz.RF's business sessions on key areas of the company's work will address the development of such projects, from finding investors to formalizing agreements and fulfilling obligations. The session on fine-tuning the SEZ regime will be held in collaboration with the relevant department of the Russian Ministry of Economic Development. The results of this work will be presented at the exhibition; in particular, the Kavkaz.RF stand will be dedicated to the first full season of the new Mamison ski resort in North Ossetia.

In a separate section, experts will discuss import substitution and construction in mountainous regions. The session "Ski Sovereignty of the Country: Mission Possible" will bring together industry leaders such as Ruslet and the Sinara Group. Incidentally, Kavkaz.RF will exhibit key strategic Ruslet products—a fully domestically produced detachable ropeway clamp and a control and automation cabinet.

The business program will place special emphasis on personnel training. The session on this topic is entitled "Human Resource Potential for Tourism in the North Caucasus: How to Staff New Resorts." Kavkaz.RF is preparing it in collaboration with the Association for the Development of Human Resource Potential in the Tourism Industry of the North Caucasus Federal District.

The main idea of ​​the session is this: by 2030, the extensive recruitment process will be exhausted, and the demand for specialists in the Caucasus could reach 50,000. The only solution is to increase labor productivity through the implementation of lean manufacturing, digitalization, robotics, and the acquisition of new competencies. This complex path will be broken down into its most basic components by entrepreneurs—members of the Association and industry experts.

Kavkaz.RF's key creative cases will be featured in the creative industries session "Creators or Craftsmen?" They will be complemented by striking projects from across the country—Kermen Mandzhieva's "Smell Terra," a Kalmyk steppe-inspired scent; the Kubachi Combine as an art space for crafts from Dagestan; the "Platforma" urban development center from Nalchik; the "New Russian Cultural Code" channel; and others.

Traditionally, one of the forum's most vibrant platforms is the investor session, moderated by Andrey Tsemakhovich, First Deputy General Director of Kavkaz.RF. This year, it has an expressive title: "The North Caucasus—a Sleeping Giant for Investment. How to Awaken It?" As is traditional with previous forums, the discussion will focus on barriers facing investors, stereotypes and challenges, as well as the experiences of those who have successfully "awakened" the investment giant.

The forum's business program will be held on April 29-30 during the main days of the forum. A new feature of KIF-2026 will be special presentations by the heads of the North Caucasus Federal District regions and their teams, dedicated to the investment potential of each region.

The Kavkaz.RF delegation at the forum will be led by CEO Andrey Yumshanov. In addition to the business program, the development institute is preparing the central exhibition, which will feature the company's main projects in the form of a contemporary art gallery.

Kavkaz.RF is under the management of the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia. Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak is the curator of the North Caucasus Federal District in the Russian Government.

Results of the Freeride World Tour Qualifier 3* at Elbrus.

The winners were participants who train at Elbrus as their home resort:

1st place: Kanamat Elkanov,

1st place: Sofia Vukovich,

3rd place: Kaisyn Uzdenov,

3rd place: Diana Zhapueva.