Mr Kozhemyako said that the gross regional product increased by 106 percent in 2016. The coal sector is growing fast, with an increase of 134 percent, while the oil and gas sector was up by 107 percent, and agriculture – by 111 percent.
In the social sector, the region is implementing in full the May 2012 executive orders, particularly those concerning wages for teachers, mid-level medical personnel and doctors.
Work continues on the programme to resettle people from dilapidated housing.
The region is taking measures to support large families, families with disabled children, and the elderly. The region is seeing a demographic growth. The number of large families has increased by 750 over the past year. The region plans to build 10 new schools over the next five years, and construction is already underway on two of them. School capacity will increase by 5000 in total.
The region is offering a full social support package to attract specialists to Sakhalin. Work continues on a rental housing construction programme. Last year, 400 apartments were built, and 500 will be built this year. A total of 4,500 apartments are to be built over the next five years, particularly on the Kuril Islands. The housing mortgage programme is working well and gives people a chance for long-term planning.
Jointly with Gazprom, the region is carrying out a programme to connect the region to the gas distribution network on a co-financing basis.