Agenda: The outcomes of the working visit to Kazakhstan, the simplified employment process for residents of the new regions, and the progress of the programme for developing a network of world-class campuses.
Mikhail Mishustin’s opening remarks
Excerpts from the transcript:
Meeting on current issues with deputy prime ministers
Meeting on current issues with deputy prime ministers
Dmitry Chernyshenko at a meeting on current issues with deputy prime ministers
Meeting on current issues with deputy prime ministers
Mikhail Mishustin: Good morning, colleagues.
Last week, the Russian delegation visited Kazakhstan.
In Astana, extensive negotiations took place with President of the republic Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov. The discussions focused on the development of bilateral trade and economic relations, as well as investment cooperation. Additionally, the parties reviewed the progress of joint investment projects and the bilateral agenda.
In Almaty, alongside our partners from the Eurasian Economic Union, we participated in the plenary session of the annual international digital forum, now held for the seventh time. We showcased our countries’ achievements and exchanged ideas on expanding cooperation in the implementation of modern technologies and innovations.
We also convened a meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council. The President emphasised that “integration collaboration brings real benefits to every member of our association. It helps facilitate stable and sustained economic growth in the five member states and in the entire Eurasian region.”
Together with our colleagues, we focused on the functioning of the common market and the expansion of industrial cooperation. As part of the new subsidy mechanism for business initiatives from three union countries, two projects have been selected for support. Companies from Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan will collaborate on the production of high-tech, in-demand products.
We also agreed to extend this support mechanism to other sectors of the economy.
Collaborative efforts are ongoing to maximise the transport and logistics potential of the union, enhancing connectivity across our territories. Additionally, we are working on the development of an integrated information system to facilitate electronic data and document exchange among the five member states.
Together with our union partners, we will continue to take all necessary steps to foster economic growth and improve the quality of life for our citizens.
Colleagues, I ask you to closely monitor the implementation of the relevant agreements with our partners within your respective areas.
Now, moving on to the next issue.
The Government has introduced a simplified employment procedure for residents of our new regions – the Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics, as well as the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions. Due to certain circumstances, not all individuals have records of their previous employment documented in their employment record book.
This creates significant challenges for people, particularly when relocating to other regions of Russia. Previously, obtaining an official employment record required contacting local government authorities at their former place of residence or coordinating separately with a prospective employer. Now, they can simply submit an application with details of their previous employment termination at any branch of the Social Fund. The necessary support will be provided, and the information will be updated in the relevant registers, which are also accessible to HR departments.
It is important to ensure that citizens are aware of this opportunity.
Another important topic concerns the programme for developing a network of world-class campuses, which we are implementing as per the President’s instructions.
Last year, we had an in-depth discussion on this topic during a meeting with the President. He emphasised the importance of taking action now to ensure that young people entering universities in 10–12 years have access to expansive, high-quality opportunities for successful career and personal development, helping them become true professionals in their fields. To achieve this, educational and research infrastructure is being created in 23 regions. The campus of Bauman Moscow State Technical University and the first phase of the Novosibirsk State University campus have already been completed. We recently visited these facilities during our working trips.
New facilities have been opened in Nizhny Novgorod, Kaliningrad, Chelyabinsk, and Ufa, providing modern spaces for education, research, housing, and sports for both students and faculty. Currently, there are 25 such campuses across the country.
A key aspect of this initiative is the collaboration between federal and regional authorities, along with active business participation. Companies recognise the value of training skilled professionals for their industries and are deeply involved in the process. Over one-third of the total funding for campus development has come from non-budgetary sources.
Mr Chernyshenko, could you please provide more details on the progress of the programme and, what interests me most, which facilities will be launched this year? Additionally, I would appreciate your insights on the prospects for the near future.
Dmitry Chernyshenko: Mr Mishustin,
As you have already noted, the project is designed to create an advanced educational infrastructure for our youth for decades to come.
In line with the President’s instructions, 25 modern campuses covering about three million square metres in total must be built by 2030. The history of Soviet and Russian education has never seen such large-scale projects. The campuses will provide an additional 85,000 accommodation places for students and teachers. As stated in the Presidential Address to the Federal Assembly, their number should reach 40 by 2036.
The implementation of these projects will help achieve national development goals. The key result is that conditions will be created to train highly qualified personnel, as well as to foster cutting edge technologies for the scientific and technological progress of the country and for ensuring technological leadership in priority areas.
Each campus’s subject specialisation is related to the strategy for the socioeconomic development of the region, the future structure of the GRP, and in some regions, to the regional scientific and technological development programme.
It is also important that these campuses will make studying in Russia more attractive for foreign students. Let me remind you that, at the President’s instruction, the number of foreign students must increase to 500,000 by the end of the decade.
Mr Mishustin, you were right to say that businesses are counting on these campuses and investing in them, because these projects will provide them with both personnel and technologies. Joint research will be conducted to obtain and implement specific solutions within the framework of technology parks at the campuses.
In total, about 670 billion roubles have been allocated to build the campuses. As you noted, extra-budgetary funds account for more than 240 billion of that sum.
Modern infrastructure will facilitate the implementation of technological leadership projects along with the Priority 2030 and Advanced Engineering Schools programmes.
Mr Mishustin, last summer you opened the first-phase facilities of the Novosibirsk State University’s new campus. In early September, President Vladimir Putin and Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin opened new buildings at Bauman State University.
This year, we plan to open the campus of the Ural Federal University in Yekaterinburg (more than three buildings), as well as facilities in Ufa and Kaliningrad. We will also open residential facilities in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk and Nizhny Novgorod.
A big thank you to Marat Khusnullin. Such issues as designing and building campuses are worked on meticulously in the government commission on regional development. All projects are supported by a public law construction company.
Previous selections provided us with 25 campus projects, which are now at various stages of implementation: 11 are in the active stage of construction and equipment, six are in the design phase, and for eight recently selected projects, the final approval of the main parameters with the Government is underway.
The final selection will be announced in March, which will ensure an additional 15 projects.
We can see that demand is high, even competitive: more than 30 entities are already preparing their applications. This confirms that the programme is in high demand and is important for the development of territories.
Mikhail Mishustin: Thank you, Mr Chernyshenko.
This is a large and complex undertaking. Without a doubt, the infrastructure investments made by the state, regional authorities, and businesses will create a comfortable environment where young people will be happy to study, engage in science and sports, and to relax.
The level and quality of education must always be assessed through feedback. We need to recognise that we are establishing these campuses at our best, leading higher education institutions, universities, engineering schools, as well as secondary education, vocational institutions, and schools that are located nearby. A comprehensive approach is needed here to ensure that our young people receive an excellent education that meets the needs of enterprises.
