Perm: uniquely hidden, formerly forbidden

I spoke at the 5th Perm Economic Forum last september, months before the fateful nightclub fire. 700 people are invited each year to speak on the economic future of the city and the region.

Perm is a strange city. 1.1 million people and Russia's 3rd city. It is the last European city before the Ural mountains and Asia. Boris Pasternak wrote Dr Zhivago in Perm and the city was an important crossroads in the vastness that is Russia - it is 4 timezones from Western Europe to Perm. And there's another 7 east of Perm in Russia.

In Soviet times, the city was a no go area. Foreigners were not allowed there due to the defense industries. This explains why so few people speak English in Perm. There was no reason to learn anay other language than Russian. Now it it open, but way out there anyway.

Perm wants to be a creative city. But talent only is attracted by quality of place. So, what's the quality of Perm? It is not a buzzing city with a bustling nightlife. Perm can only be Perm and what makes Perm unique is this hidden, forbidden, outback quality. A place out there with excellent research and a world renowned ballet.

The adventure is outside of Perm, in the vast openness of the landscape. The wide and lazy Kama river meanders thru a landscape with wilderness and great stories. If Finland can combine this quality of outback research and wild nature, why couldn't Perm? Why not combine research quality and adventure trips?

The big point to make is the element of trust and safety. Changes should involve the people themselves and this is not the Russian way. There is a great income gap between those working in the oil and gasindustries and those unfortunate ones that don't. And the terrible tragedy at the Cripple Horse nightclub is not comforting that things will change for the better.

Building trust and building on the pride of the great history of Perm is the way to start. What makes Perm really different is this unique background and soviet atmosphere, but quality of place and quality of opportunities should be improved first before anyone other than participants to the 6th Perm Economic Forum will make the trip far out to thus intriguing place.