The article examines the relationship of developing Siberian business with central and local authorities. The features of Siberian economic development and relations of the Russian government with its Eastern suburbs are characterized. Main attention is paid to the characterization of attitude of government and Siberian merchants to the pre-reform Siberian economy industries’ trade with the countries of South-East Asia and commercial exploitation of the Pacific region. A great amount of factual material shows the evolution of the approaches of the government and business to the key problems of the territory economy from confrontation to development of main directions of cooperation. Merchant projects and initiatives for more effective development of the Siberian territories and resources have been analyzed.