Summing up the discussions at a joint session of the State Council Presidium and the Government Marine Collegium on developing Russia’s sea transport infrastructure, Mr Putin said that the quality of state policy in this sector will have a direct impact on economic development throughout the entire country. The president proposed drafting a new federal targeted programme, taking into account the meeting’s decisions, for developing Russia’s transport system over the period 2010–2015.
Mr Putin spoke of the need to make Russia’s sea transport infrastructure more competitive through coordinated development of all elements in the sector. The sector’s competitiveness will be crucial for Russia’s effective integration into the global transport system and for the country’s economic development, the President said.
Mr Putin instructed the Marine Collegium to coordinate work to develop the major ports on the Baltic and Black Seas, in the Far East and on the Northern sea route.