The meeting focused on the activities of the Ministry of Regional Development regarding the implementation of the state policy in the Arctic; the results of the performance of the Investment Fund of the Russian Federation; and, the implementation of Presidential Decree No 600 dated May 7, 2012 and the President’s Address to the Federal Assembly dated December 12, 2012 in the constituent entities of the Russian Federation of the Far Eastern Federal District.
In his opening remarks, Minister of Regional Development Igor Slyunyayev stressed that many issues must be resolved to preserve and develop the Arctic zone, including setting up conditions for labor migration to the region and creating comfortable living conditions in the territory; increasing the level of available infrastructure of the mega region as well as raising the quality of state and municipal management in the Arctic area region.
The Ministry of Regional Development is working on a programme for the social and economic development of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation. According to the Minister, the programme could be implemented through the Investment Fund of the Russia Federation –its future is currently being decided upon, and the federal targeted programme for the Arctic zone’s development, which has been initiated by the Ministry of Regional Development.
When discussing the second item on the agenda – the implementation of the President’s instructions in the Far Estern Federal District, it was noted that the region has the lowest rate of new housing construction per capita. In 2012, the rate was just .31 square metres.
Meanwhile, new housing prices in the first quarter of 2013 were 20% higher than the average prices in Russia, and higher than those in the Central Federal District.
Summing up the results of the Russian Investment Fund's performance, (the Fund was set up in 2005), the Minister of Regional Development reported that 17 projects of national significance and 39 regional projects were approved with the fund’s participation from 2008 to 2012, totalling 1.3 trillion roubles with 932 billion roubles of private investment.
The fund contributed to developing mechanisms for fulfilling investment projects through setting up regional investment funds.
Thus, at present, regional investments funds already operate in the Republic of Kalmykia, the Altai Territory, and the Arkhnagelsk, Kostroma, Tambov and Tula regions, where the regional budgets provide for the implementation of a number of investment projects.
Source: Ministry of Regional Development
