The city of Omsk founded in 1716 for a relatively short period of time as per historic criterion has passed the path from a small frontier fortress on Irtysh river bank created for the defense from nomads raids till a modern and comfortable megapolis, a city with million population of the Siberian Federal District of the Russian Federation, administrative center of Omsk region.

The history of Omsk fortress transformation into a huge megapolis is directly connected with the development of Siberian lands, natural resources of these areas, with settling in of lands including areas located along Irtysh river.

Omsk fortress was founded in the epoch of rapid reforms of Peter the First. Initially it was built on the left bank of Om river, in the mouth of Om river under the order of the duke M.P.Gagarin, Siberian governor, and then on the right bank where the headquarters and residence of Lieutenant-General I.I.Schpringer, new Commander of the Siberian inspection were transferred to. There were built four gates: Omsk, Irtysh, Tobolsk and Tara gates. Up to the present time Tara gate is one of the business cards of the city. Stone-work Ilyinskaya Church was the patronal temple of Omsk and later Ilyin Day became the Day of the city.

In 1782 as the result of an administrative reform Omsk fortress became the chief uyezd (district) town, and in March of 1785 Ekaterina II approved the emblem of the city of Omsk.

The year 1822 was very important for the city, as P.M. Kaptsevich, first Governor of West-Siberian Governor-General District selected the city as his residency, Omsk region was formed and the city of Omsk became the center of the region. The above-mentioned assisted to the revival of trade and economic relations and appearing the merchant class, start of Irtysh river navigation.

In 1839 the city was granted the status of the political and administrative center of Western Siberia. The first local government bodies were created, elections to the municipal Duma and of the city mayor were held.

The construction of the Trans-Siberian Railway at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century (railway line Chelyabinsk - Omsk - Irkutsk - Khabarovsk - Vladivostok) played a key role for the further growth of the city. The railway included the region's economy into the system of Russian and European markets. Omsk became an important commercial, industrial and transport center of the region. Those years Omsk gained its historic image, appearance of an ancient Siberian city.

The active development of the city began: new temples, trade houses, shops, theatres, schools, libraries, grammar schools, museums were erected.

The economic development of the Middle Irtysh river basin area and the construction of the railway assisted to the formation in the city of factory-and-works industry basically oriented to the production and repairs of agricultural implements, processing of agricultural products. New enterprises of the food industry: confectionery, sausage-making, vodka distillery, brewery and butter- making plants, flour-milling plants started to develop intensively.

The first foreign concessions and monopolies appeared in the city: foreign companies of Nobel, Singer, Elvorti, “German International Companies”, consulates of Germany, England, USA opened their representative offices.

The development of commerce and industry, an advantageous location of Omsk on the migration way of migrants from Central Russia assisted to the quick growth of the city population.

In the 1920s-30s Omsk remained the center of the agrarian and industrial complex of Siberia, new production sites of agricultural machinery were developed. The higher education was started to develop: Agricultural, Veterinary, Medical Institutes were opened. New motor car assembly, tyre production, carbon black and cord production plants were under construction.

In 1936 the first tram passed on the city streets, the first stage of sewerage networks was commissioned. A semi-automatic telephone station, pontoon bridge through Irtysh river were constructed.

The new stage in the city's life was related to the Great Patriotic War when more than 100 organizations were evacuated to Omsk from the European part of the country, among them: 56 plants of the metal- working industry, 7 of the food industry, 27 of the tanning, textile, chemical and other industries. The evacuated enterprises laid a powerful industrial potential of the city including the defense complex. During the war years the industrial products growth increased more than 4 times, mechanical engineering and metal-working took the leading positions in the industrial output.

After the war the city enterprises were re-oriented to the production of civil output and from the mid 1950s Omsk became the center of the oil-refining and petrochemical industry in Siberia. In 1955 the first in Siberia and the largest in Russia oil-refining plant was commissioned, new huge concomitant production facilities appeared synthetic rubber production plant and plastics production plant.

Together with the authority of an industrial city in 1950s - 60s Omsk acquired the glory of a garden city, because the city authorities and inhabitants as well paid much attention to the complex municipal improvements and greenery planting in yards, streets, public gardens and parks. In summer the city was buried in verdure, and even the central city streets were constructed with the dividing strip of green plantations.

In 1970s-80s the development of industrial, cultural and housing construction determined the production volume growth of construction materials. Plants producing reinforced concrete structures and items, brick factories, cardboard and ruberoid plant appeared. The capacities of industries processing agricultural produce were significantly increased.

The rapid development of the industrial production assisted to the fact that the city population by 1979 had exceeded one million.

Since 1990s in connection with the formation of non- governmental sector in economy the process of coming into being of the market infrastructure was started, private enterprises, credit institutions, financial and investment companies, funds etc were formed.

In difficult conditions of the market relations formation the city succeeded to retain its face, save the scientific and cultural potential. In many respects that was happened thanks to the activity, optimism and entrepreneurial spirit of Omsk inhabitants who at all times worried about their small native land and did everything possible in order the city grew, developed and became better.

The secret of its present flourishing is based upon historic background of the city.

At present Omsk is characterized as a dynamically developing city. On the territory of Omsk region investment risks are stably reduced, investment potential is increased. For the last three years according to the data of the rating agency “Expert RA” the region was moved from the 31st place to the 25th in the investment potential rating among 88 regions of the country, and as per investment risk from the 51st to the 28th.

Existing tendencies in the development of the city and availability of a sufficiently high credit rating assigned by one of the leading international rating agencies Standard & Poor's will give the possibility to potential partners to see all advantages of the city as a future investment object that is confirmed by a growing number of investors applications.