The region has started accepting applications for the "Entrepreneur of the Year" competition.

      The Ministry of Industry, Trade and Entrepreneurship of the Nizhny Novgorod Region has announced the start of accepting applications for the annual "Entrepreneur of the Year" competition. It is held as part of the state program "Development of Entrepreneurship in the Nizhny Novgorod Region." Applications can be submitted until April 19, 2026. As noted by the Minister of Industry, Trade and Entrepreneurship of the Nizhny Novgorod Region, Maxim Cherkasov, the goal of the competition is to encourage the best representatives of the business community in the region. When determining the winners, factors such as the growth of average monthly wages, dynamics of the average number of employees, revenue growth, productivity, the volume of state financial and property support, and other indicators are taken into account. The award allows for the assessment of the financial, social, and public impact of companies' work over the year. Since 2019, the competition has been held in accordance with the goals and objectives of the federal project "Small and Medium Entrepreneurship." During this time, more than 1,400 applications have been submitted, with 129 organizations, 35 individual entrepreneurs, and 16 self-employed individuals becoming winners. In 2026, awards will be presented in seven categories: "Efficiency and Development in Manufacturing," "Efficiency and Development in the Agro-Industrial Complex," "Efficiency and Development in Services," "Efficiency and Development in Trade," "Best IT Project," "Business Start," and "Best Organization for Business Support." To participate, it is necessary to fill out a questionnaire at the link: https://forms.yandex.ru/u/69cf78236d2d7387544b55f5. Application forms are available on the ministry's website: https://minprom.nobl.ru/activity/31774/. Additional information can be obtained by phone: 8 (831) 435-16-38. Information about business support measures at the federal and regional levels can be found at the "My Business" center (мойбизнес52.рф), which operates as part of the federal project "Small and Medium Entrepreneurship" of the national project "Effective and Competitive Economy." A hotline "My Business" is also available at 8 (800) 301-29-94 (the call is free). The national project "Effective and Competitive Economy," initiated by the President of Russia Vladimir Putin, aims to create a new model of long-term economic growth and includes federal projects "Small and Medium Entrepreneurship," "Labor Productivity," "Increasing Investment Activity," "Low-Carbon Development," "Development of Technological Entrepreneurship," "Development of the Financial Market," and "Development of Competition."