Before the meeting, Vladimir Putin toured an exhibition dedicated to the results and prospects of the agency's five national initiatives, covering social development, technology, entrepreneurship, workforce, and the environment. He was accompanied by ASI General Director Svetlana Chupsheva and Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office Maxim Oreshkin.
The central stand featured the leaders of ASI ratings among Russian regions. The results of the Dymov Group of Companies’ investment project in Suzdal were used as an example of comprehensive infrastructure development.
The stand of the national social initiative presented successful regional practices that help improve people’s quality of life. The stand of the national technology initiative was devoted to the development of unmanned aerial vehicles, and the stand of the national personnel initiative focused on working with young people.
The stands of ASI’s environmental, entrepreneurial and climate initiatives presented the quality of life rating in the field of Ecology and the investment climate rating. In addition, Head of the Donetsk People’s Republic Denis Pushilin briefed the President on the implementation of the Strategy for the Sustainable Development of the Azov Sea Region.
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Vladimir Putin: Colleagues,
The Agency for Strategic Initiatives will be marking its 15th anniversary in 2026. This is a major milestone for this proactive, forward-looking team and a significant landmark in its development.
I would like to begin this meeting of the Supervisory Board by thanking the ASI team and all those who stood at the roots of this agency and who continue this important work today by helping to carry out vital social projects.
I signed an executive order to further improve the framework for supporting civil society initiatives. It defines the agency’s operating domain and tracks. I do hope that you will continue to make a meaningful and tangible contribution to promoting lasting and steady development at the regional and municipal levels, which is expected to foster development nationwide.
The National Quality of Life Ranking is one of the key tools for measuring our joint performance. As usual, the Supervisory Board sums up its results during our meetings. I would like to ask you to focus on the regions which excelled in supporting young people and families with many children.
We must spread the best practices and ensure that they become part of the regional programmes for increasing the birth rate. The agency has already helped 19 regions to devise plans of this kind.
Employers also have a major role to play in the demographic agenda. After all, being able to earn an adequate and stable income, benefit from corporate benefits and a flexible working schedule – all this offers additional incentives for working parents to create big families and have more children.
The number of children under six years old in the families of employees will be factored into the Standard for Corporate Social Capital. This is very important in this context. The Agency initiated the drafting of this document and the Government approved it.
Being able to exercise is just as important for achieving demographic objectives. The agency and Russian businesses in general have successful, system-wide practices in corporate sports. I am looking forward to hearing a report on this topic during today’s meeting too.
Overall, Russian businesses carry out quite a few projects in social affairs, environmental protection, technology and other domains. I would like to ask Sber and other leading companies to literally micromanage regions and municipalities in order to introduce them to their best practices and help implement them, just as the agency has done using its Smarteka platform, as Svetlana Chupsheva just said in her remarks.
The projects we are running with Russian businesses build upon the long-standing tradition of Russian corporate social responsibility. I just mentioned this when touring the exhibition. We saw the initiative by a private investor to develop Suzdal, one of Russia’s oldest cities.
This is an interesting, important and useful experience. We need other teams and regions across the country to adopt it.
We will hold a separate meeting dedicated to small towns and rural communities, including historic settlements. It is important to help them define and implement their role in the present era. Together with businesses and civil society representatives, we need to launch a programme of positive change while preserving their distinctive character, identity, and cultural heritage sites.
Historic buildings should be given a second life by transforming them into museums, educational centres, galleries, and hotels. The agency already has experience in supporting similar projects involving both entrepreneurs and DOM.RF.
I would like to ask DOM.RF to help ensure that such initiatives are implemented nationwide, engaging businesses, development institutions, public and business organisations, as well as government bodies at all levels, primarily in the regions.
In this regard, I would like to make several proposals.
First, I would like to ask the agency, beginning this year, to assess the effectiveness of these initiatives when compiling the National Investment Climate Rating, specifically, whether the regions are genuinely assisting entrepreneurs, to what extent, and the quality of support being provided in the restoration of cultural heritage sites. I am referring above all to the removal of administrative and other barriers at all stages of the implementation of such investment projects.
Second, it is necessary to eliminate red tape. We speak about this constantly, and much has already been done in this regard, especially in our leading regions. However, these bureaucratic barriers tend to re-emerge and escalate over time, much like efforts to reduce excessive administrative staffs: cuts are made, but before long, the same processes begin again. This issue also requires attention today.
Administrative barriers and obstacles are regularly discussed at both the federal and regional levels. The key objective is to significantly reduce the timeframe for restoration work, without, of course, compromising cultural heritage sites.
I would like to ask that you engage in dialogue with the business community, including within the framework of a specific track of the National Model of Targeted Business Conditions, approved at the end of last year. Its implementation must begin without delay. I would also note that we will review the initial results on the eve of the St Petersburg International Economic Forum.
Third, last December the Government adopted the Preservation of Cultural Heritage Sites of the Peoples of Russia programme. As part of this strategic document, I propose approving a detailed plan – tailored to each region – for the restoration of historic houses, estates, and industrial buildings in poor condition. Crucially, this plan must include specific and consistent steps to integrate these historical sites into economic and cultural life, as well as into the overall spatial development of cities and settlements.
To implement the plan, the Ministry of Culture must conclude agreements with all constituent entities. I request that an interdepartmental working group under the Presidential Executive Office oversee this work. The results achieved will be discussed at the end of the year during a State Council meeting dedicated to the preservation of historic and cultural heritage.
I would also like to add that creative industries play a significant role in transforming living environments and generating opportunities for people. To ensure their accelerated development, the Government, in collaboration with the Presidential Executive Office, must establish mechanisms to promote such projects and initiatives.
The overarching objective is to complete the work on the draft Strategy for the Development of the Creative Economy as quickly as possible and, by September of this year, prepare and integrate an action plan for its implementation into the Effective and Competitive Economy national project.
At the same time, the competition for Russia’s growing brands must remain a key tool for supporting the creative and other industries – indeed, everything continues to develop dynamically. This year, we will hold it for the fourth time at the venue of the ASI’s Strong Ideas for a New Time forum.
Simultaneously, I propose launching, as early as this year, a separate competition for technology brands that define the country’s future. Its fundamental task is to assist small Russian technology companies in building their reputation, promoting their products and services, and ensuring their recognition and acceptance not only domestically but also internationally. Crucially, a comprehensive support system for promising projects must be established, bringing together innovators and investors.
Alongside promoting our talented people, we will facilitate the relocation of foreign nationals to Russia. We have already begun this work for individuals who share traditional Russian values, our culture, and customs.
Starting in April of this year, specialists of particular interest to our country will be able to seek support from a specially designated organisation. The Agency for Strategic Initiatives will serve as its founder and operator.
These individuals include those with highly sought-after professions and expertise, capable of making a significant contribution to the development of the domestic economy, with achievements in sports, the creative industries, the cultural and humanitarian sphere, academia, and, of course, science and technology advancement.
For its part, the Interior Ministry will address all matters related to the legal status of such citizens. The corresponding Executive Order was signed in December of last year. A separate meeting will be held to discuss its implementation.
Before we proceed to the discussion, I would like to congratulate Svetlana Chupsheva on her reappointment as Director General of the Agency for Strategic Initiatives. We all wish you continued success.
To be continued.