Participants in the meeting discussed the draft federal law On Territories Undergoing Accelerated Socioeconomic Development and Other Measures of State Support for Regions of the Russian Far East.
Dmitry Medvedev’s opening remarks:
Meeting on the accelerated development of the Russian Far East
Yesterday, with several of our colleagues who are now present here, I discussed the Caucasus. Today we will deal with the Russian Far East. We will discuss its accelerated development (this is a new term that has emerged) and, naturally, accelerated development mechanisms for the Russian Far East. In addition, we will have to say a few words about industry-specific state programmes dedicated to tourism and sport in the region.
The change we have been promoting in the Russian Far East requires different economic dynamics for the region. The Russian Far East, understandably, needs strategic investors; investors, for their part, need a normal business environment. What exactly is a business environment? It primarily has to do with administration, a tax regime and business involvement. This being the case, we will still have to look to our neighbours, because this is a single region when it comes to investment. It is clear that the APR countries have climbed to a very high level in this regard and have done a very competent job creating an investment climate. We should at least try to approach these indicators. We should facilitate the establishment of export-oriented non-resource businesses that, on the other hand, are oriented to import substitution; we should launch the investment projects we have discussed with many of you as soon as possible; we should try to remove infrastructure restraints that abound in the region because of its remoteness from central Russia; and, of course, we should recruit skilled personnel and create new jobs.
Dmitry Medvedev: "It is important that the interests of the investors themselves should serve as a major criterion for listing specific regions among the accelerated development territories, because we can create whatever we want, but that doesn't mean that investors will go there. We should select various projects for specific investors and potential users. For this purpose, we need to launch dialogue with those specific companies which already operate or which are ready to start working there. Of course, we have to inform investors on the market and demonstrate our advantages. And we should also try to create such advantages if they are still lacking."
These so-called accelerated development territories should become a practical mechanism for accomplishing these objectives. We have reviewed the appropriate draft laws a number of times, and my colleagues are telling me that they are already in their advanced stages. Today, we will discuss all the remaining major and important nuances, and I hope that we will finalise this issue and finish the main work on the draft laws.
It is important that the interests of the investors themselves should serve as a major criterion for listing specific regions among the accelerated development territories, because we can create whatever we want, but that doesn't mean that investors will go there. This would be the worst-case scenario for the Far Eastern investment policy. We should select various projects for specific investors and potential users. For this purpose, we need to launch dialogue with those specific companies which already operate or which are ready to start working there. Of course, we have to inform investors on the market and demonstrate our advantages. And we should also try to create such advantages if they are still lacking.
We have also noted the need to focus on a number of industry state programmes. In March, I instructed the relevant officials to revise several state programmes, with due consideration for Far Eastern development priorities, and to single out special sections and key efficiency-assessment indicators. Today, we will review two of them, specifically, on culture and tourism, and physical fitness and sport. And we will see what is sufficient, and what is lacking. So, here is our agenda, and I would like to ask everyone to be brief. First, I will give the floor to Minister for the Development of the Russian Far East Alexander Galushka. Please, Mr Galushka.
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