President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr Besprozvannykh, we had a meeting just recently and discussed matters dealing with the socioeconomic development of the Kaliningrad Region at a Security Council meeting. Today’s meeting is taking place as we are preparing to celebrate the Kaliningrad Region’s 80th anniversary. I would like to congratulate you and all residents of the region on this anniversary.
Let me note that by demonstrating hard work, talent, and dedication to serving their home region and our vast Russia, the people of the Kaliningrad Region have achieved serious and tangible results in promoting socioeconomic development in all its aspects. This includes science, manufacturing, education, and agriculture.
I would like to wish you and all residents of the region prosperity and further success. Of course, we will do everything we can to implement all the development plans for the Kaliningrad Region, including the ones discussed and agreed upon during the latest Security Council meeting.
Governor of the Kaliningrad Region Alexei Besprozvannykh: Mr President, thank you very much. I will make sure to convey your congratulations to the people of the Kaliningrad Region.
You have our deepest gratitude for the support the Kaliningrad Region has been receiving from you and the Government. Thank you for finding the time to have this meeting ahead of our main holiday which will take place on July 4 in our region. It is thanks to the victory forged by our grandfathers and great grandfathers, and the work of people who moved to this region and veterans who made the first steps in developing it, as well as today’s generation, of course, that the Kaliningrad Region is currently one of the most vibrant regions, and the numbers are there to prove this.
In keeping with my March report, we can see the positive trend continue. The region is also attractive for investors, both domestic and foreign. The region’s first budget was drafted in 1946, exactly 80 years ago. It provided for 88.5 million rubles in budget revenue and budget subsidies of 56 million while the total spending was 69 million. At the time, it was noted that the region underperformed in terms of its expenditure despite the fact that there were available budget funds for that. They did not have enough time to use these funds.
I would like to point out that the situation has radically changed. Today, the Kaliningrad Region has a consolidated budget exceeding 180 billion rubles, and we can see that all these funds are engaged. At the same time, federal budget subsidies have been declining. We aim to have this indicator at around 1.8 billion rubles by the end of 2026. In 2027, we plan it around 700 million rubles and strive to become an unsubsidised region by 2028.
We have made great strides in reducing public debt in recent years. This has been facilitated by a programme for socioeconomic development of the Kaliningrad Region that we’ve been actively implementing since 2014. The region has already invested 415 billion rubles in this programme to carry out 220 projects, including major ones under your supervision. This is a very important programme as it provides a clear and systemic blueprint for promoting regional development across all sectors.
For this reason, I would like to ask you to support the extension of this programme until 2036 so that we can work with the Government on preparing its key projects and initiatives.
Vladimir Putin: This does sound reasonable. I suggest that we dive into the details of this matter.
Alexei Besprozvannykh: Very well. Thank you.
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