Kazbek Kokov reported that the region has commenced the implementation of groundbreaking investment projects approved by the Government of the Russian Federation.
This includes, in particular, the development of the year-round tourist and recreational complex Elbrus. It is expected that 14.5 billion rubles of budget funds will be invested in 2024–2026 to implement infrastructure solutions, expand the ski area to 35 kilometres, install new ski lifts, and create parking facilities. Additionally, participants in the free economic zone established in the Elbrus municipal district of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic will invest around 39 billion rubles in building hotel and recreation facilities.
The second big project is in agriculture. Its initial phase has been finished, with 37 hectares out of the projected 100 hectares under cover put into operation in July 2023. Approximately 18 billion rubles have been invested in this project.
Projects are being implemented in residential construction, including comprehensive development of two big neighbourhoods with approximately 1.3 million square metres of residential space.
Additionally, the Tyrnyauz tungsten and molybdenum project will be launched soon.
In collaboration with Kavkaz.RF, there are plans to initiate a project for establishing an IT park.
On the whole, the volume of investments in fixed assets of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic in 2023 reached almost 68 billion rubles, which is eight percent more compared to the previous year. Vladimir Putin noted that this is a good result.
Speaking about the region’s socioeconomic development, Mr Kokov noted that the gross regional product for 2023 is expected to amount to about 291 billion rubles. The forecast for 2024 is close to 320 billion rubles.
Currently the republic’s budget (republican funds only) equals approximately 20 billion; or 24.8 to 25 billion with municipal funds. It enables the authorities to solve social issues within the republican powers.
The President stressed the need to pay additional attention to the state of kindergartens, schools, timely repairs, building of new outpatient clinics and medical, and paramedic centres. Mr Kokov noted that such works have already been launched following the President’s instruction.
Specifically, 7.2 billion rubles have been earmarked for upgrading primary healthcare (outpatient clinics) until 2025. These funds will be spent to purchase medical equipment and special vehicles.
Mr Kokov also informed the President that the construction of the largest outpatient clinic for 500 visits per shift, with the total area of 11,000 square metres, will be completed in Nalchik, the republican capital, in 2024. In addition, major repairs of the Children’s Republican Clinical Hospital, where 17,500 children annually receive medical services, have been completed.
The region’s head confirmed that the region would arrange for additional payments to doctors working in rural areas. This will help solve the problems of personnel shortage. In Kabardino-Balkaria, such payments will be made to 5,348 employees of medical organisations for a total amount of 1,2 billion rubles in 2024 alone.