Gleb Nikitin spoke briefly about the current developments in the region. Due to the record high heat, there was a serious threat of wild fires in the area near Mordovia. It was controlled with the help of the Ministry of Emergencies, Ministry of Defence, and the National Guard Troops. The situation was quite serious, but now there is no danger to the settlements. Concerning COVID-19, things are also under control, and the speed of the vaccination campaign is higher than average across Russia. The primary healthcare is being upgraded: 100 first aid stations and 664 primary healthcare facilities will be repaired as well as 1,500 vehicles purchased for medical workers.
According to the governor, last year state support measures to the region’s economy amounted to 3.1 billion rubles. This year, 1.9 billion rubles have already been allocated for support. All of this makes it possible to maintain the people’s wellbeing. The pre-pandemic level of unemployment has already been reached: 0.69 is the officially registered level and 4.6 according to the ILO method. This is the lowest unemployment level in Russia. The restoration of the economy is underway, and the forecasted growth of the GRP is 104.5. The growth of investment amounted to 120.6 percent in the COVID-19 year of 2020, and this year it was 125 percent over a period of six months. Industrial growth amounts to 114 percent. Budget growth is 11 percent following the first six months, although this is due to last year’s low base.
Also discussed were an increase in housing construction and housing infrastructure, the development of public transport, as well as a priority campus project, which will attract human resources and stabilise the migration flow in the interests of the region, and innovation. Among other things, this makes it possible to create an IT neighbourhood with at least 10,000 jobs.
The governor thanked Vladimir Putin for his decision on the Europe–Western China transport corridor. The M12 will pass through Nizhny Novgorod Region: it is the longest section. Work in close cooperation with the Government is underway on this project. Gleb Nikitin also expressed his hope that the issue of the Moscow – Nizhny Novgorod high-speed network will be addressed. He also stressed that the region of Nizhny Novgorod was the place with the quickest effect from various projects, because it had high KPI and potential. Its people also have huge potential.
Vladimir Putin noted that the region had gained a good pace that can be preserved considering the decisions on financing certain projects.