Oleg Nikolayev started his report by presenting the republic’s socioeconomic performance indicators. Its gross regional product increased 1.85-fold over the past five years, while industrial output grew by a factor of 2.3. Average monthly salaries and average per capita income increased 1.9-fold, while budget revenue surged 2.1-fold. Tax proceeds exceeded budget spending, which enabled the Republic to achieve self-sufficiency in its finances.
Turning to manufacturing, Oleg Nikolayev focused on two standout investment contracts. One involves the production of light and medium tractors, and the other consists of using the anthraquinone process for producing hydrogen peroxide. The latter has already reached its project capacity and covers 95 percent of domestic demand for this product, while its market share in Kyrgyzstan and Belarus is about 50 percent. The region has run into some challenges with light and medium tractors since it initially included its Italian partners into the project. However, the republic has been able to find workarounds and plans to reach the projected capacity by 2030. It has also created seven manufacturing clusters over the past five years, which have helped localise the manufacturing of several products.
The Head of the Chuvash Republic went on to report that agricultural sector demonstrated solid performance in cattle and poultry production, as well as wheat and eggs. Investment grew by a factor of 1.7 compared to 2020, with 174 projects worth 200 billion rubles underway, including in the Novocheboksarsk special economic zone and in industrial parks. Most of them focus on machine engineering, including equipment for the food industry and advanced agricultural processing. The region is also embarking on a project to build a plant for making traction electric motors for construction equipment. The Republic contributes to Angara, the latest space programme, considering that it is uniquely qualified to perform aluminium cold welding and produces heavy machinery for welding together Angara rockets.
The agenda also covered efforts to promote tourism, SMEs, and exports. The latter increased by 4.5 percent compared to 2020, with non-commodity exports, high-technology products, i.e., machines, tractors, and highly refined chemical products accounting for 99 percent of the region’s export mix.
In his report, Oleg Nikolayev also talked about efforts to improve social services, including healthcare, education, physical fitness and sports, as well as cultural projects. Asked by the President, the Head of the Republic elaborated on housing and road construction.
Oleg Nikolayev also mentioned the special military operation in his report, stating that about 20,000 people from his region were deployed in the special military operation zone, and over 1,000 of them received various state awards, including seven Hero of the Russian Federation titles. The Republic enacted over 30 measures to support the participants in the special military operation and their families.
In conclusion, Oleg Nikolayev thanked the President for his trust five years ago when he ran for the office. The head of the region went on to remind the President that the Chuvash Republic was scheduled to elect its head in 2025, and said that he was ready to take part in the election as long as he had the support of the people of Chuvashia, and the President’s approval. Oleg Nikolayev expressed his readiness to deliver on all the existing plans.
Vladimir Putin said that outstanding issues are never in short supply, and that there are always challenges of various kinds that must be addressed. However, Oleg Nikolayev knows the region well and has been effective in his post. His overall performance has been quite satisfactory. Having said that, the President wished Oleg Nikolayev success.