The Komi Republic was formed on the 22 of August 1921 and is situated in the European part of Russia, covers the territory of 416,8 sq. km. The Republic bordered by the Arkgangelsk Region in the north, Tumen Region in the east, Sverdlovsk Region in the south-east, Perm Region in the south and Kirov Region in the south-west.

The Republic is rich in oil, gas, coal, combustible shales, ores and other natural resources. Forests are our regional gold. Nearly 70 per cent of the Republic's area is conered by forests. Total forests stocks amount to 30 million hectares, which is equivalent to 3.5 per cent of Russia's total or 40 per cent of forests in Russia's Evropean north.

The pattern of the Republic's natural resources manufacturing has had a direct effect on the region's economic division. Most manufactures are concentrated in the areas along main railways, particularly near Syktyvkar, Ukhta, Pechora, Usinsk and Vorkuta, which enjoy considerable diversification in manuafcturing, extensive infrastructure and potential for innovation. The rest of the Republic is dominated by agriculture and forestry.

Industry of the Republic is the basis of its economic development and has diversified character, but priorities are given to timber cutting, woodworking industry, pulp and paper industry, gas, oil, coal. Agriculture is considered to be the zone of risky planting, only plain vegetables are grown, cattle-breeding is famous for reindeer-breeding.

Approximately 1124 thousand people, more than 100 nationalities are living in the Komi Republic, among them 26 % are native people - Komis, whose national written language and culture have rich traditions.

The Komi Republic is a member of the Russian Federation enjoying equal rights, its state languages are Russian and Komi. The Republic includes 12 regions and 8 cities of republican importance, the largest among them are Vorkuta, Inta, Uhta, Pechora, Usinsk and others. The capital is Syktyvkar (till 1930 was named Ust-Sysolsk) was found in 1780, the number of inhabitans - 245 thousand people.

The main center of science in the North of European part of Russia is the Komi Science center of the Ural branch of Russian academy of Sciences. It includes 6 branch institutes. Highly qualified specialists for national economy receive knowledge in the following higher educational establishments: Syktyvkar State University, Komi State Pedagogical Institute, Uhta State Technical University, Syktyvkar Timber Institute, the Komi Republican Academy of State service under the Head of the Republic of Komi, branch of St-Petersburg Institute of Mines, branch of Kirov Medical Institute.

Cultural life of the Republic is full of various events: from annual international festivals of opera and ballet art "Syktyvkarsa Tulys" (Spring) till republican festivals of amateur composers and performers "Vasilei". 5 professional offer diverse repertoire, 2 of them support and develop traditions of national language and culture.