Agenda: Extending the programme for subsidising flights on socially significant routes in the Far East, extending concessional financing for radio electronics enterprises, and improving the terms for granting mortgages to IT specialists.
Mikhail Mishustin’s opening remarks
Dmitry Chernyshenko’s report on improving the terms for granting mortgages to IT specialists
Mikhail Mishustin: Good afternoon, colleagues.
Meeting with deputy prime ministers on current issues
Let us begin with support for residents of the Far Eastern Federal District.
The Government is extending the programme for subsidising flights on socially significant routes in the Far East for another three years. Aviation is a special topic for this macro-region, which the President has repeatedly spoken about, emphasising the importance of connecting the Far Eastern regions with each other, covering as many destinations, cities and districts as possible with air traffic.
The programme of discounted air travel is very much in demand. Over 350,000 people took advantage of it last year. The number of routes has almost doubled, up to 37.
At the same time, the ticket cost is of particular importance here. It is necessary to provide people not only with transport, but also with affordable flights to neighbouring regions.
We discussed in detail progress on this matter during a trip to the Trans-Baikal region. We will continue to develop this area further in order to improve the quality of life in the Far East.
Another one of the Government’s priorities is to support the radio electronics industry. This sector is of key importance for the digitalisation of economic sectors and, in general, for fulfilling the task set by the President to achieve technological sovereignty.
The supply logistics and, of course, the cost of electronic components have changed amid the external restrictions. In order to help Russian manufacturers of computer equipment, last year we launched a programme to subsidise interest rates on bank loans. This mechanism has proved its relevance. Billions of roubles of borrowed funds were used to purchase the necessary components and materials.
The Government decided to extend the concessional financing of domestic enterprises. About 7.5 billion roubles will be allocated for these purposes this year as part of the state programme.
At the same time, loans at rates up to 5 percent per annum are now available to manufacturers of telecommunications and office equipment. The period of concessional lending has also been extended from one to five years.
The measures taken will help to strengthen the financial stability of the radio electronics industry and accelerate the creation of new own high-tech production in this strategically important sector.
The next issue concerns improving the terms for granting mortgages to IT specialists. Such a mechanism to support the industry was introduced at the initiative of the President.
A government resolution has been signed that will make housing loans under this programme available to employees aged 18 to 50 years of all accredited companies. It also makes the wage requirements more flexible. In this case, income not only from one’s principal place of work but also from part-time jobs will be considered.
Mr Chernyshenko, please elaborate on the upcoming changes and how this programme is going in general.
Dmitry Chernyshenko: Thank you very much. Mr Mishustin, it is true that IT mortgages are in high demand with those who work in ICT.
Since the presidential executive order and government resolution were issued last year, almost 17,000 applications have been approved and 6,000 housing loans have already been issued.
In total, loans worth more than 54 billion roubles were granted.
The top five regions in terms of the number and volume of IT mortgages per thousand population, in addition to Moscow and St Petersburg, are the Novosibirsk and Sverdlovsk regions and the Republic of Udmurtia.
This year, the marginal rate of IT mortgages remains unchanged - up to 5 percent per annum.
It can be further reduced with banking and regional programmes.
Last year, the average rate was 4.04 percent.
Together with the Ministry of Digital Development, we have worked to simplify the rules for issuing IT mortgages.
Now employees of all accredited IT companies can get it.
There are about 20,000 such organisations in Russia. Their list is posted on the public services portal. Previously, about 12,000 companies met the requirements, as they were supposed to receive more tax benefits.
As you said, Mr Mishustin, the terms for obtaining a loan are also becoming easier; the wage requirements are lower for industry workers.
The heads of regions also requested this, noting that the monthly income of IT specialists there is lower than, for example, in Moscow or St Petersburg.
For Moscow, the previous minimum salary requirement remains the same: 150,000 roubles (before personal income tax is deducted), 120,000 roubles in cities with a million population, and from 70,000 roubles in other regions.
According to the new rules for obtaining an IT mortgage, monthly income will be determined based on the place of work specified in the employment contract.
It can be either a company’s head office or regional branch.
Previously, the applicant’s salary for such a housing loan had to correspond to the city where the head office is located, which, of course, made it more difficult for specialists in the regions to obtain an IT mortgage.
After applying for a loan, you will need to work at an accredited IT company for at least five years. The previous rules required such employment for the entire term of the mortgage. If an employee leaves, the preferential rate will stay fixed for six months, and not three, as it was before.
Mr Mishustin, considering the easing of the rules for obtaining an IT mortgage, we predict an increase in applications. And this year, 6.5 billion roubles have been allocated from the federal budget to reimburse part of the interest rate on loans, in line with your instructions. The plan is to support at least 24,000 IT specialists. In 2024, there are also plans to allocate 8 billion roubles from the budget for servicing loans, which will support more than 20,000 applications.
As a result of the programme, more than 50,000 IT specialists will be able to improve their living conditions. The total amount of loans issued will, according to our estimates, be about 240 billion roubles.
It is noteworthy that the Government has adopted several other incentives for IT companies in line with your instructions, such as an exemption from income tax, preferential loans at a rate of up to 3 percent per annum, support with a maximum amount of up to 500 million roubles, and several others.
So, your instruction to create a full range of support measures for IT, such an important industry for our economy, is being implemented as planned.
Mikhail Mishustin: Thank you, Mr Chernyshenko.
The President set the task of ensuring the technological sovereignty of the country. Competent IT specialists are needed to accomplish this. It is important to provide them with comprehensive support and maintain the human resources of the entire industry.
