Climate in the oblast is continental - with warm and sunny summer, frosty and snowy winter. Average temperature in January is -21C (-6F), in July +19C (+66F). Absolute temperature maximum in Omsk was +40C (+104F), absolute minimum -49C (-56F). Annual precipitation varies between 200mm and 400mm.
In recent years, population of the oblast has been stable: 2,173 thousand (beginning of 1994). What small population growth has occurred (1.2 per mille, 1993) is one of the highest in Western Siberia.
There are six cities in the territory of the oblast: Omsk, Isilkul, Kalachinsk, Nazyvaevsk, Tara and Tukalinsk. In early 1994, the urban population of the oblast was 1,467 thousand the majority (about a million people) being concentrated in Omsk.
The active population was estimated in 1992 at 1,112,500, in 1993 - at 1,089,200. In late 1992 officially registered unemployed didn't exceed 0.2%, but by the end of 1994 it had reached 1.5%. Others estimate the real figure to be at least two times greater.
Social indicators. In late 1994 average earnings in the oblast were close to the Russian standard (281.6 thousand rubles per month). However per capita incomes (were approximately two times lower than Russia's average.
Statistics for retail commodity circulation (RCC) and paid services tell the same story. If RCC in the oblast is assumed to be average over Western Siberia (2,700 billion rubles, 1994), then the services sector accounted for 262.6 billion. That was approximately two times less than in Novosibirsk oblast, and was considerably lower than the services supply in Kemerovo and Tyumen oblasts.
The educational standard of population of the oblast is around the average for Siberia. Although the number of students of higher and secondary specialized educational institutions slightly reduced in the late three years, in 1993-1994 there were more than 70 thousand students. In 10 higher educational institutions there were 38 thousand students, in 38 secondary specialized educational institutions - 35,5 thousand.
Economic profile. The most economically advanced territory in the region is situated to the south of the TransSiberian Railway, which crosses the oblast latitudinally. The oblast's economy is industrial-agrarian. In 1994 the industrial output amounted to 4423.5 billion rubles. In the first 11 months of 1994, the enterprises of the oblast made a profit of 968.6 billion rubles, including 724.6 billion in the manufacturing sector.
Oil refinery brought in over 43% of the oblast's industrial output, the share of chemistry and oil-chemistry enterprises was 11%. Related manufacturing sectors of these industries produce car tires, synthetic rubber, polystyrene and other polymers.
About 13% of the industrial output was brought in by machine-building and metal-working industries. While much of this sector remains in the hands of the old military-industrial complex, a program has been developed in the oblast to convert these concerns to civilian use. The program focuses on conversion to six principal sectors: manufacture of aircrafts and units for civil aviation, machinery and equipment for agro-industrial sector, industrial refrigerator equipment, electrical appliances, medical equipment, consumer goods.
Since 1990 the industry of Omsk oblast, as with other areas, has suffered from deep depression. In 1994 the industrial production was cut down some more by 29%, and the total output hardly surpassed 50% of its 1991 level.
The greatest fall in production was observed in light industry (50.6%). Sharp falls also took place in the chemical industry (37.1%) and oil chemistry (by 47.5%) and a less drastic cut was seen in the power industry (14.1%), in oil refining (17.7%), in food processing (15.4%); and flour-grain production (by 6.7%). The only exception was wood-cutting which increased in 1994 by 15% plus, while the processing of timber was reduced by half.
The oblast has the most advanced agro-industrial sector in Siberia. The sector brings in about 30% of the oblasts gross product, provides jobs for 30% of the total employed in material production and one third of fixed capital is concentrated there.
In the oblast grain-fields occupy about 2 million hectares, crop yields are approximately 12-14 centner per hectare. In recent years, depression has also hit agriculture, but less severely than in industry and in 1994 the output of some kinds of the agricultural products has even grown (vegetables, sunflower seeds).
260 billion rubles were invested in the oblast in 1993. In 1994 the amount of investment was estimated at 1,020 billion rubles (current prices). Adjusted for inflation, this figure is 26% less than in the previous year. The annual investments price index was 5.3. In 1994 construction firms of the oblast had carried out contracts valued at a total of 625.6 billion rubles, a reduction of 24% in real terms.
Foreign economic ties. Industrial enterprises took the most active part in export-import activity. Their share was (72.5% of exports and 29% of imports).
The primary exports of the Omsk oblast remain firmly within the oil refining, chemical and oil-chemistry sectors. Together these industries accounted for 97% of exports in 1994, while machine-building, timber related and tannery industries contributed less then 1%. Although oil itself is not extracted in the oblast, in 1993 the oblast's share in national exports of oil-refinery products was 5.2%.
Import to the oblast was estimated by $111,5 million in 1993 and by $109,7 million in 1994. In 1993, the area's imports of machinery and equipment made up only 14% of the total (32.4% in 1989). This was due to an economic depression and low investment activity, that in turn, was caused by a high inflation rate.
Excepting former Soviet republics, the most important and regular trading partners of the oblast in 1993 were Cyprus, Germany and China. In 1994 the major part of export was directed also to Cyprus and the Bahamas - with their favorable foreign trade and tax policies - and to China. The most important suppliers to the Omsk oblast were Germany, China; in 1993 - Great Britain, and in 1992 the Czech Republic.
Among the former Soviet republics, Omsk oblast has the most close trade ties with neighboring Kazakhstan. In 1994, exports to Kazakhstan was estimated at $58.9 million, imports - at $34.9 million.
As early as 1989 joint ventures (JV) with foreign capital started their activity in the oblast. In 1992, there were twelve such ventures up and running, in 1993 - 45, and in early 1995 - 224 (of which only 90 operated practically). In 1994 thirteen JVs operated in goods production and material services (construction, transport). In production, the largest were Polinex, Nixinvestmens.
The largest number of JVs were created with Chinese partners - 14, with German - 12, with French and American - 4. By local statistics, JVs exported goods and services for $220,1 million (1993) and for $190,1 million (9 months of 1994) - including $60,6 million for oil products.
The Financial sector is developing rapidly in the Omsk oblast. In early 1995, there were 18 independent banks - with 33 affiliates in the area. Moreover, in the oblast there were 51 branches of banks from other Russian regions registered and active there. In early 1995, a total sum of short-term credits given by banks of the oblast (jointly with affiliates) was estimated at 280 billion rubles, including long-term credits of 24 billion.
Omskpromstroybank
Ordjonikidzeh ul. 3, 644099 Omsk
phone: +7 (3812) 231603
Omtorgbank
Lenin ul. 34, 644005 Omsk
phone: +7-(3812)-31-58-88
Agroservice bank
Lermontov ul. 169A, 6444009 Omsk
phone: +7-(3812 332909
Investor bank
Gagarin ul. 8, 644099 Omsk
phone: +7 (3812) 255597
International trade bank (IT-bank)
Mir ul. 43, 644029 Omsk
phone: +7 (3812) 649279
Omskpromstroybank is the biggest bank in the oblast. It belongs to the top hundred Russian banks and in 1994 was named among the five most dynamically developing banks of the country. In late 1994 its stock capital was 4,990 million rubles, profit in 1994 - 46,025 million. The bank keeps 15 correspondent accounts in 11 foreign banks; it has 20 affiliates working in the territory of the oblast.
Export from Omsk oblast, including this to former Soviet republics (mil dollars, local statistics) 1990 1992 1993 1994 127.6 191.2 336.6 514.