Vladimir Putin met with Acting Governor of Chelyabinsk Region Alexei Teksler. They discussed the social and economic situation in the region.
Alexei Teksler has been Acting Governor of Chelyabinsk Region for four months. He cited well-developed industry as one of the region’s strengths. Chelyabinsk Region is home to the Magnitogorsk Iron and Steel Works and defence industry enterprises. Three large industrial state corporations are actively operating there, as well as the machine building industry; agriculture is also developed.
He noted environmental issues and economic diversification as primary concerns. According to him, the IT field, digital services, robotics, enhanced services including medicine, and tourism have good potential in the region.
The region has major plans in the social sphere, such as building new kindergartens and schools and renovating around 50 old athletic facilities. More funds are being allocated to infrastructure development. Work is ongoing with human resources; a new HR project has been announced, The Chelyabinsk Region Team, to promote young people.
Issues related to holding international events within the SCO and BRICS summits were discussed separately.
The President said that due to the larger number of participants in those events, they will be held in two cities: some events will be hosted by Chelyabinsk whereas the summit proper will take place in St Petersburg. The President stressed that the federal funds earmarked for the city’s preparations for the events will not change and will go to the development of the city.
According to Alexei Teksler, most important is that Chelyabinsk will be a venue for the events within Russia’s SCO and BRICS presidencies. There will be about 30 such events including a forum, cultural events and BRICS sports games. The remaining federal funds will be channelled to infrastructure development, which includes roads, new interchanges, municipal improvements, façade renovations, a new airport complex that will meet the highest international standards, and a new airport.