PSB and Karelia: Expanded Cooperation and Athletics Development
In a working session with Karelia’s head Artur Parfenchikov, Pyotr Fradkov, the chairman of PSB, expressed the bank’s readiness to deepen ties with the Republic of Karelia and participate in advancing the region’s industrial potential. The commitment reflects PSB’s ongoing strategy to partner with regional authorities to support sustainable growth, job creation, and the modernization of key sectors across the North West. The discussion highlighted shared interests in boosting investment, improving infrastructure, and fostering a favorable climate for business and sport alike. According to PSB press service, the move aligns with the bank’s broader regional strategy.
Fradkov also held a separate meeting with Roman Golubev, Karelia’s minister of education and sports, Sergei Vorobyov, the president of the Karelia Regional Athletics Federation, and Anatoly Voronin, the rector of Petrozavodsk State University. The talks focused on aligning PSB’s sponsorship and program resources with the needs of local sporting and educational institutions, offering pathways to long-term collaboration that support athletes from youth development through to elite competition. PSB’s role in these plans is framed as a catalyst for coordinated programs that connect schools, universities, and athletic organizations, with a view to sustainable outcomes for the region, according to the bank’s communications team.
Participants explored concrete measures to strengthen athletics and public organizations in the region. Ideas included joint funding of youth sport initiatives, development of training facilities, and the deployment of PSB’s experience in event management to help organize large-scale athletic competitions that attract participants and spectators from across Karelia and neighboring regions. The goal is to create a robust, inclusive sports ecosystem that spurs health, community pride, and regional visibility.
Fradkov noted that PSB has a track record of backing popular mass sports events and for rolling out its own projects that expand sports infrastructure and promote athletic activity among residents. He emphasized that the bank’s experience in planning and delivering sport events would be valuable to Karelia as authorities steer the republic toward broader participation in sports while also supporting high-performance programs. The remarks were made in the context of ongoing regional and national efforts to elevate sport’s role in community well-being and economic vitality.
Parfenchikov pointed out that Karelia aspires to become one of the leading centers for athletics development in the North West. He cited the republic’s solid base in both youth and elite sport, quality facilities, and a supportive ecosystem that could attract coaches, teams, and events from across the region. He stressed that Karelia’s readiness is complemented by a clear plan to integrate education, sports science, and public engagement to foster a thriving sports culture that benefits communities and the economy alike.
Parfenchikov and Fradkov also toured several venues to get a sense of the current infrastructure in place. The group visited several venues, including the athletics field at Petrozavodsk State University, the Yunost universal athletics stadium, and the Spartak Central Republican Stadium. The visits provided an on-the-ground assessment of facility conditions, capacity for growth, and opportunities to upgrade or repurpose spaces for broader community use. Both leaders underscored the importance of accessible, modern venues in encouraging wider participation in sports and in supporting the development pipeline from school-age athletes to national-level performers. These visits aligned with a broader strategic objective to weave sport, education, and economic development into a cohesive regional plan for Karelia.