Agenda: the results of a working visit to the Far Eastern and Siberian federal districts; additional support for importers of crucial products; extension of the programme of subsidies for shipping companies.
Meeting with deputy prime ministers on current issues
Mikhail Mishustin’s opening remarks:
Good morning, colleagues.
Last week, we made a working visit to the Far East and Siberia.
We inspected the campus of the Far Easern Federal University on Russky Island. It has the necessary infrastructure for high quality education and comfortable residence.
We also discussed plans for the further development of the island. We can use its unique location and research basis to turn it into one of the largest educational and innovation centres in the country, where innovative research will be conducted and high-demand modern products manufactured. This will help us ensure the technological sovereignty of that microregion’s industries and of the country as a whole.
We examined the implementation of investment projects with government support in the Primorye Territory. There are over 2,000 such projects, and more will be launched. We got to know some of them in depth. All of them will promote the region’s economic modernisation, help create much needed new jobs and improve the quality of people’s lives. We regard this as the practical effect of federal budgetary investment.
During the trip, we took part in the Development of Small Cities and Historical Settlements forum. As you know, that important event has been supported by the President. We toured an exhibition of the best improvement practices and solutions. We are giving considerable attention to this issue. We will continue to work with experts, businesses and the regional and municipal governments to improve small cities and make life there more comfortable. At the same time, we should rely on feedback, as the President has pointed out. We should get feedback online and use the people’s opinions when approving changes.
The results of the national competition for the best designs for a comfortable urban environment have been announced. It was won by 145 municipalities in all regions of Russia, including new regions – the Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics and the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions. They will receive grants for improving parks and gardens.
As per the President’s instructions, we have held two such contests for municipalities in the Far East. We announced the results of the first competition last spring. Following the second contest, 50 embankments, central squares and other public areas will be improved in all the 11 regions over the next few years. The most important projects include the improvement of an embankment in Vilyuisk and the Nikolskaya Sopka (volcano) area [in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky], and the development of the Yantarny sports and fitness park in the Sakhalin Region and the famous Mayak Park in Magadan, which has entered the fourth stage of its development.
The total grant fund for these contests is over 20 billion roubles.
As for Buryatia, we have visited important transport facilities there. Their operation is extremely important, in view of the President setting the task of ensuring transport connectivity in the country.
A locomotive repair plant is involved in the upgrade and warranty servicing of traction equipment and the manufacturing of spare parts. This is vitally important for uninterrupted railway communication.
We also visited an aircraft manufacturing plant that turned out a family of modern helicopters. If I remember correctly, Denis Manturov used to work at that plant.
Mr Manturov, what post did you hold at the plant?
Denis Manturov: I was deputy director.
Mikhail Mishustin: When was that?
Denis Manturov: From 1997 to 1999.
Mikhail Mishustin: There you go.
The plant plans to supply one of its models, Mil Mi-171, to United Far Eastern Airlines. The company was founded two years ago on the direct instructions of the President. The number of subsidised routes is growing and currently stands at 39. We will continue to take measures to make flights more accessible to passengers, including by improving the existing infrastructure.
We also had a discussion with the head of the republic on a master plan for the development of Ulan-Ude. At the President’s instruction, master plans are being created for 25 cities in the Russian Far East. The Government, regional officials and the business community are involved in their development. We make sure that we take local residents’ wishes into consideration. The master plans focus on resolving the issues that the public considers the most important.
Colleagues, development of the Russian Far East is one of the Government’s priorities. It is necessary to continue improving the quality of life in this macro-region, one of the most important regions for the country, improving transport connections and shaping a favourable investment climate. Please monitor the issues you are in charge of.
I want to thank you, Mr Trutnev, and your colleagues for organising all the events in the region.
Speaking about the decision concerning this federal district, the President set a goal to build long-term conditions for saturating the domestic market. The Government is currently working on it.
The sanctions have changed logistics chains. Supplies of goods via the Far Eastern sea routes are on the rise. Containers are unloaded from vessels at terminals and transported initially by road and then by rail. Transit procedures when using several modes of transportation are rather time-consuming and complicated.
The Government is working on simplifying the current procedures for importers. They will be exempt from providing security for the payment of customs duties and charges. Previously, it was mandatory to file two customs declarations for this purpose. Now only one declaration is required.
This measure will save companies time and money and expedite customs clearance procedures, and also facilitate the delivery of goods to destinations. The workload on the seaports in the Far East will be reduced.
Back to the main topic of the trip, I want to tell you about the meeting in the Republic of Altai on the development of domestic tourism.
We had an in-depth discussion with experts and business people on improving the infrastructure, transport connections and the tourism appeal of Russian regions. We covered the demand for human resources and generally reviewed the status of this important sector of the economy. As you know, the tourism multiplier effect is usually the highest.
The feedback we received from stakeholders was extremely important in enabling us to take effective decisions.
We also reviewed several projects that have been completed or are planned for implementation. They prove yet again that the hospitality industry has an extremely high potential. In cooperation with businesses and regional officials, we will continue to do all we can to fully employ this potential and to make trips around Russia most comfortable and affordable for our citizens.
Members of the business community presented a range of proposals. We will discuss them during a dedicated strategic session on tourism, scheduled for the near future.
During my trip to the Siberian Federal District, I personally visited Norilsk Nickel, a company of great importance to the region’s economy. The company is largely involved in improving the environmental situation in the city and contributing to achieving our country’s technological sovereignty, a task set by the President.
We discussed the fulfilment of the important four-party agreement signed between the Ministry for the Development of the Far East and Arctic, the Krasnoyarsk Territory, Norilsk and Norilsk Nickel. The agreement provides for serious measures concerning the city’s development. We also discussed the progress of the comprehensive plan for the socioeconomic development of Norilsk that was approved by the Government 18 months ago. The plan includes construction of kindergartens and an outpatient clinic, as well as other important facilities, and major renovation of the social service facility.
Substantial funding has been allocated from the federal budget for this.
With the federal centre’s support, the city is working on resolving social issues, creating jobs and attracting investment. Essential facilities are under construction. Measures are being taken to unlock the city’s full industrial potential.
Overall, we can see that the city is actively developing, largely thanks to the state and businesses consolidating efforts to improve the quality of life. There should be even more examples of partnerships between the governing authorities and the business community.
Colleagues, following our trip to the Far East and the Siberian Federal District, please make sure you process all the instructions promptly.
Now, I want to mention another important decision that will additionally support the shipbuilding industry amidst the external restrictions.
The President said that it was necessary to develop convenient financial mechanisms to generate new orders within Russia for quality modern vessels, to increase the workload of Russian manufacturers and create more technology-intensive jobs.
In order to stimulate the demand, the Government will extend the subsidies programme for navigation companies by another two years. The state will compensate up to 75 percent of leasing costs and the interest rates under the loans taken out for the purchase of civilian ships.
The opportunity to purchase vessels in instalments will continue until the end of this year. It is another effective instrument that became particularly popular after the unfriendly countries introduced sanctions. By changing owners, we were able to continue the safe operation of more than 50 vessels.
The respective Government resolution has been signed. We expect that these measures will support the sustainable development of this strategically important industry.
