Agenda: extending the socioeconomic development programme of the Kemerovo Region, lowering the debt burden on the producers of equipment for the electronic component base, financing the construction of medical facilities in the Komi Republic and the Kursk Region, and budgetary allocations for the construction and renovation of federal routes.
Mikhail Mishustin’s opening remarks:
Good afternoon, colleagues.
Government meeting
Government meeting
Minister of Civil Defence, Emergencies and Disaster Relief Alexander Kurenkov
Government meeting
Today is Rescue Worker’s Day. Rescue workers are among the most highly respected professions in our country. I would like to extend my most cordial greetings to the staff of the Emergencies Ministry and Minister Alexander Kurenkov, the professionals who work around the clock to help people in trouble, eliminate the consequences of fires, accidents, natural disasters and various industrial disasters.
We are now dealing with a federal emergency following the oil spill pollution of the Russian territory. Everything possible must be done to minimise the adverse impact of the disaster on people and the environment. I request the Government to provide assistance to Mr Kurenkov and all our colleagues involved in the relief operations.
I would like to express gratitude to the personnel of the Emergencies Ministry for their selfless work and heroism and to congratulate them on their professional holiday.
Before we go over to the discussion of the issues on the agenda, I would like to inform you of a decision that has to do with further support for quality changes in Kuzbass. That major industrial centre in West Siberia must be made more comfortable for families and children.
Major improvements have recently been reported in the region. In particular, the north-western route bypassing the regional capital and a new bridge across the Tom River have recently been unveiled. Drivers and local residents waited for that bypass to open for 50 years. The first phase of the landing strip in Kemerovo Airport has been renovated. Residential housing, municipal transport, and energy and utility infrastructure are being renovated at a fast pace, and employment in small businesses is increasing.
All of these improvements are the results of measures implemented within the four-year programme of the socioeconomic development of the Kemerovo Region.
As instructed by the President (who, among other things, chaired a large-scale meeting), we will extend it for another six years. We will allocate about 30 billion roubles’ worth of federal funding for this purpose. Total funding volumes from all sources, including extra-budgetary investment, should exceed 80 billion roubles. I would like to specially thank Alexander Novak, Maxim Reshetnikov, Roman Starovoit and our colleagues who addressed programme extension issues in the regions. We have assessed initial results and adopted all essential decisions in accordance with the President’s instructions.
This will help resolve high-priority objectives in the region, including improved transport accessibility and enhanced tourism ratings. We will also continue to incentivise small and medium-sized businesses, we will focus on strengthening the HR potential and boosting the effectiveness of the coal-mining industry that remains a significant driver of socio-economic growth in Kuzbass.
Colleagues, it is necessary to unfailingly fulfil all planned measures in cooperation with the Kemerovo Region’s authorities. It is also necessary to monitor investment programmes, charted as far back as 2021 for transforming and renewing the Kemerovo Region’s economic growth.
I would also like to mention efforts facilitating the production of Russian-made electronic devices. This is a key aspect for attaining technological sovereignty; and the President emphasised the need for this.
The Government has already made decisions on various types of assistance for the electronics sector, including the radio-electronics industry. This includes access to low-interest funding from development institutions, loan subsidies, as well as multiple substantial breaks during budgetary and insurance premiums’ payments.
From 1 January, we will spread profit tax preferences to enterprises manufacturing equipment for the electronic components industry. The relevant tax rates will go down to one third and total 8 percent.
We are talking about such high-tech devices as modern lathes for materials processing, equipment for growing semiconductor crystals and their further formation, for the layout of microcircuits and boards, as well as for the assembly of ready-made tools and instruments.
This tax incentive will be in effect for the next three years, so that the working conditions in this area will remain as attractive as possible, provide a return on investment, and help expand
production. And, importantly, these enterprises should be able to pay decent
wages to their employees.
Today’s agenda includes an issue that has to do with regional healthcare. In keeping with the President’s instruction, we continue to modernise the primary medical care system throughout the country.
The Government will allocate nearly 580 million roubles to build medical facilities in two Russian regions. Most of the funds – almost 420 million – are intended for a new multispecialty children’s hospital in the Kursk Region. I became familiar with the project when I visited that region earlier and discussed the details with Roman Starovoit, who was governor at the time. A new cutting-edge medical centre for young patients will make high-quality medical care more accessible, including specialised and high-tech treatments. The region is badly in need of this.
Another 160 million roubles will be channelled to co-finance the construction of an infectious diseases hospital in the Komi Republic. The funding will be mostly used for an advance payment to procure large medical devices and equipment, which needs to be made at the current stage.
Mr Murashko (addressing Healthcare Minister Mikhail Murashko), it is important to ensure that agreements with the governments of the Kursk Region and the Komi Republic on the respective subsidies are signed by the end of the year. And we must closely monitor the process to ensure that all plans are fulfilled on time. These are very necessary projects. This requirement actually applies to every project. Agreements on subsidies must be closely monitored. I will hold a meeting sometime in the first week after the New Year to review the fulfilment of all the instructions that were given.
Moving on to another subject, a number of significant transport and road infrastructure facilities were recently launched, with the President participating in the ceremonies.
The President praised the professionalism of the teams that had worked on the projects, and the well-coordinated interaction with the regional authorities, while stressing that much was still to be done and the work must be continued.
Today, we will consider allocating over a billion roubles to build a bypass road around five communities on the Kazan-Yekaterinburg route.
This is an important decision; the funding is needed to complete the maximum amount of the work by the end of this year, ensuring that most of the facilities on this route are nearing completion.
We will also direct 1.5 billion roubles to build a road bypassing Oryol. I discussed the need to build it with the head of the region during my working trip there. The funds will be used to prepare the terrain for the new road, and will help expedite the construction.
We have achieved a fast pace on these projects. I ask the Ministry of Construction to make every effort to keep it up, and continue to enhance the nation’s road infrastructure and connectivity across Russian regions.
Colleagues,
The long New Year holidays will begin soon. Adults and children in our country are very fond of this season. It is a time for family reunions, meetings with friends and travelling.
For many municipal services, it is also a time of heightened alert, and the Government must work seven days a week. Please keep the situation under close scrutiny and take all necessary measures promptly, if the need arises.
