Agenda: expansion of the engineering schools programme, progress in the elimination of accumulated damage, and preparations for the international Games of Future.
Opening remarks by Mikhail Mishustin
Report by Viktoria Abramchenko on the implementation of the Clean Country federal project
Report by Dmitry Chernyshenko on preparations for the international Games of Future
Excerpts from the transcript:
Meeting with deputy prime ministers on current issues
Meeting with deputy prime ministers on current issues
Mikhail Mishustin: Good morning, colleagues.
First of all, about the decision that has been taken, which is to provide qualified personnel for the real economy. This is essential in order to achieve technological sovereignty and the dynamic development of our state.
Last year we launched a large-scale project on the establishment of advanced engineering schools, so that, in close cooperation with high-tech companies, universities could strengthen the training of in-demand specialists under the guidance of experienced mentors, give them practical knowledge, experience of working at enterprises and the most modern equipment and, of course, additional incentives for self-fulfillment.
From now on, schoolchildren can also take part in the activities of engineering schools. On the instructions of the President, the government has made the necessary changes to the law. Young people, as well as undergraduates and graduate students, will have the opportunity to try their hand at inventing and research, to get involved in solving problems at work, implement their own ideas and decide on their future profession.
This year grants for the development of such schools will be awarded to 30 universities. The total amount will exceed 10 billion roubles, which is several times more than the funding for last year. Universities will continue working to strengthen Russia's talent pool in cooperation with industrial partners.
We have a lot of talented young people, who, I am sure, are capable of multiplying the successes of Russian engineering. We will continue to create the right conditions for this.
The next important topic is ecology.
One of the most sensitive issues for people in this field is connected to the elimination of dangerous sites of accumulated damage, including landfills. Many of them were created without permission, they pose a risk to the health and lives of our citizens and pollute the environment.
The Government is tackling these problems through the federal Clean Country project. It is an important component of the national Ecology project.
The President has drawn attention to the need to continue this work.
The priority here is to eliminate hazardous waste sites, as well as landfill sites within the boundaries of cities, including industrial waste storage facilities, landfills and production sites of enterprises that have ceased to operate. Their clearance requires a separate project, involving a comprehensive approach and specialists, in order to keep our people as safe as possible. This year we will allocate about 30 billion roubles for this purpose.
Ms Abramchenko, could you tell us what is being done to meet the targets set by the President and how many hazardous facilities are planned to be eliminated by the end of this year?
Viktoria Abramchenko: Mr Mishustin, colleagues.
Of course, it is impossible to talk about a people-friendly and safe environment if a landfill site is located near residential buildings. This is why the elimination of unauthorised municipal landfill sites now ranks among the priorities of the Government’s work under the Ecology national project.
Along with the regions, we need to eliminate 191 landfill sites and 88 other hazardous facilities by late 2024. The reclaimed land will blend with the urban environment; this is what was done to the largest landfill site in Chelyabinsk.
Last year, we reclaimed 19 landfill sites with a total area of over 140 hectares in 14 Russian regions, including the Lipetsk, Kaliningrad, Samara, Tver, Sverdlovsk, Nizhny Novgorod, Leningrad, Kirov and Kaluga regions, as well as the republics of Chuvashia, Kabardino-Balkaria, Chechnya, Ingushetia and Crimea.
The largest landfill sites were in Malgobek, the Republic of Ingushetia (21 hectares) and in Nizhny Novgorod (18 hectares). The Government allocated over four billion roubles for land reclamation projects in these regions. So, the environmental conditions improved for 2.5 million people.
Since the project’s inception, we have eliminated 58 unauthorised landfill sites with a total area of over 500 hectares. These efforts improved the living conditions for over 10 million people.
Mr Mishustin, we have set up command centres for eliminating landfill sites. Every week, I confer with the regional command centres, and we discuss each landfill site separately. We are going beyond the federal project’s targets.
This year’s budget stipulates 22.7 billion roubles for reclamation expenses. We are planning to eliminate an additional 53 landfill sites before the year is out. In March, we will completely reclaim a 64 hectare landfill site in Vladikavkaz, the largest in the North Caucasus.
We have adopted some additional measures to successfully implement the Clean Country federal project.
First, we have established a database that lists optimal technical reclamation solutions depending on the specifications of landfill sites, including the height and volume of accumulated waste, the need to build purification facilities, retaining walls or an active gas removal system.
Second, we have reduced the expert inspection deadlines for Rosprirodnadzor and Glavgosexpertiza, a federal agency carrying out state evaluation.
Third, we have included a provision that Rosprirodnadzor will issue a special document on accepting project results at all reclamation stages. This process will involve analytical laboratories and technical measuring centres.
All these measures reduce project deadlines and minimise budget spending. After stipulating maximum reclamation expenses, we reviewed 77 projects and streamlined technical solutions for 18 projects worth about 10 billion roubles.
The second aspect of the Clean Country federal project aims to eliminate dangerous facilities, including abandoned and disused industrial sites, waste dumps, tailing dumps and other dangerous facilities.
In late 2022, we achieved our goals and eliminated eight facilities in the Moscow and Chelyabinsk regions, the republics of Buryatia, Kabardino-Balkaria and the Karachayevo-Circassian Republic. Since the project’s inception, we have eliminated 74 most dangerous facilities.
We will eliminate four more facilities throughout this year. Notably, we will completely reclaim the Yadrovo landfill site with an area of over 30 hectares in the Moscow Region. This landfill site was shut down in 2020 following numerous public complaints.
This year, we have set aside 6.8 billion roubles to implement this.
The Government prioritises the implementation of the Clean Country project. These measures should eventually improve the living conditions of Russian citizens.
Under the Clean Country project, we are reducing the number of administrative procedures, choosing the optimal technological solutions and improving cost estimates while eliminating as many hazardous facilities as possible.
Mikhail Mishustin: Thank you, Ms Abramchenko. I ask you as usual to keep an eye on how this work is progressing in the regions. All the measures that we have planned under the national project must be implemented on time and in full.
Now about preparations for the first international tournament with our new format – the Games of the Future. By Presidential Executive Order, this will be held in a year in Kazan and will combine traditional and eSports, as well as modern technology.
This year the Government will allocate nearly 1.8 billion roubles from the federal budget for these purposes, and next year almost twice as much. Private investment will also be attracted.
We expect that the first games will attract about 2,000 participants in more than 200 teams from different countries.
Mr Chernyshenko, how are the preparations for the games going?
Dmitry Chernyshenko: Mr Mishustin, colleagues.
The preparations for the International Games of the Future are being carried out by the Organising Committee which was set up by Government directive. The committee includes representatives from ministries and agencies, and those who have already been part of the organising of, for example, the FIFA World Cup, Universiade, the Olympics and other major events. This is a professional team that is working on accommodation, catering, medical and transport support, security and volunteer work.
As you correctly noted, the tournament will be held at the expense of the federal budget and extra-budgetary funds. By the way, the Republic of Tatarstan will also finance it.
I would like to update you on the dates of the Games of the Future. They will be held in Kazan from 23 February to 2 March 2024. It will be a spectacular international multi-sport tournament. The competitions will run nine days and, as you mentioned, will feature 256 teams with over 2,000 participants. The programme includes 16 technological disciplines.
All participants will compete in virtual disciplines, and then on real sports grounds. It is important that this tournament is taking place at the junction of education, sports and digitalisation. This is what is called “phygital” sport. It is already included in the National Sports Registry.
Competitions in these disciplines are already taking place at schools and universities. The All-Russian Federation is now in the final stage of registration, and they will fix the rules for these competitions because this is all happening for the first time. Regional branches have already been set up in 24 regions.
To hold a tournament on such a scale, of course, requires a separate bill. This is already being prepared by the relevant committee at the State Duma.
Also, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is helping us promote the Games of the Future at the international level. Information on the games has already been sent to more than 100 friendly countries, and 29 states have confirmed full interest.
The Ministry of Science and Higher Education has selected 30 volunteer centres across the country and created an educational platform for the promotion of phygital disciplines based at Innopolis University. All this is in progress.
I would like to remind you that last year we launched the world's first phygital centre at the Russia – Country of Sports forum in Kemerovo. This year, as part of the Business Sprint federal project, another five centres will be set up in the pilot regions, and then other regions will pick up the baton.
Rustam Minnikhanov, Head of the Republic of Tatarstan, is personally overseeing the preparations for the Games. You know that the region has a lot of experience in hosting international competitions. In 2022-2023 Kazan is hosting the test events for the tournament; 13 countries have already taken part in them.
So, Mr Mishustin, the preparations are proceeding according to plan. In addition to the federal executive authorities, public organisations are also involved in this.
We will report to you regularly on the progress of the preparations.
Mikhail Mishustin: Thank you, Mr Chernyshenko.
