Website of the President of Russia: State Council

Meeting of State Council commissions on economy and finance and on energy

2023-06-20T09:45:40+04:00

A joint meeting of the State Council commissions on Economy and Finance and on Energy was held as part of the 26^th St Petersburg International Economic Forum. The participants discussed ways to create conditions for advanced growth of the Russian economy.

The meeting was moderated by Deputy Secretary of the Civic Chamber Alexander Galushka, one of the authors of the book “Crystal of Growth. Towards the Russian Economic Miracle.” The main issues of discussion were the theses in the book, related to applicability of experience of running the national economy from 1929 to 1955, when Russia set a world record in economic growth.

Even though at that time sanctions were tougher and there was no external funding, the national economy grew 14-fold, ranking first in Europe and second in the world, with average annual growth rates at 13.8 percent, with the exception of the four war years. The average life span increased by 26 years, and the population grew by 46 million people despite the Great Patriotic War that was in the middle of this rapid growth period.

The meeting participants emphasized that today Russia is in the epicentre of building a new world order. They agreed that an analysis of historical materials related to the period of the country’s phenomenal economic growth in 1929–1955 could provide answers to some questions that must be resolved to create a new model of economic growth.

The meeting was attended by Presidential Aide, State Council Secretary Igor Levitin, Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Central Federal District Igor Shchegolev, Chelyabinsk Region Governor, Chair of the State Council Commission on Economy and Finance Alexei Teksler, Kemerovo Region – Kuzbass Governor, Chair of the State Council Commission on Energy Sergei Tsivilev, Head of the Federal Agency for Subsoil Use (Rosnedra) Yevgeny Petrov, VEB.RF Chief Economist Andrei Klepach, Acting Head of the Donetsk People’s Republic Denis Pushilin, Head of the Republic of North Ossetia – Alania Sergei Menyailo, Accounts Chamber auditor Dmitry Zaitsev, Murmansk Region Governor Andrei Chibis, Trans-Baikal Territory Governor Alexander Osipov, and Kaliningrad Region Governor Anton Alikhanov.

Proposals made by members of the commissions during the discussion were recorded in the meetings’ minutes.

Meeting of State Council Commission on Energy

2023-06-07T09:41:20+04:00

Presidential Aide, State Council Secretary Igor Levitin and Governor of the Kemerovo Region – Kuzbass Sergei Tsivilev chaired a meeting of the State Council Commission on Energy.

The meeting was held in a mixed format – in person in the city of Novokuznetsk at part of the international specialised exhibition of mining technologies, Coal of Russia and Mining, and via videoconference. Taking part in the meeting were Deputy Minister of Energy Sergei Mochalnikov, Deputy Minister of Transport Valentin Ivanov, representatives of sectoral federal executive bodies and Russian coal-mining regions, coal and engineering companies.

The meeting participants discussed ways to ensure technological sovereignty in the coal industry and the required measures of state support for mining machinery engineering.

Chair of the State Council Commission on Energy Sergei Tsivilev noted that the coal industry is still highly dependent on foreign equipment. The key task to ensure technological sovereignty is to create domestic industrial order for Russian manufacturers’ products. The meeting participants discussed proposals by coal and engineering companies on transitioning to Russian-made equipment.

In addition, the discussion touched on coal shipments to the east and to the west and the way they affect tax revenues for the budget, employment and socioeconomic situation in coal-mining regions.

Igor Levitin stressed the importance of the unfailing implementation of Presidential instructions on coal transport and carrying out a meticulous analysis of current transport logistics.

Sergei Mochalnikov reported on the work to analyse ways to insure the coal companies’ risks related to coal price volatility.

Meeting of the State Council Commission on Investment

2023-05-18T20:34:25+04:00

Presidential Aide, State Council Secretary Igor Levitin and Chair of the State Council Commission, Governor of the Sakhalin Region Valery Limarenko held a regular meeting of the State Council Commission on Investment, via videoconference.

The meeting concerned boosting investment activity in the regions. It was attended by Deputy Minister of Economic Development Murat Kerefov, General Director of the Russia the Land of Opportunity autonomous non-profit organisation Alexei Komissarov, representatives of federal and regional executive bodies and experts.

In his opening remarks, Igor Levitin noted that improving the mechanisms for working with investors in the regions, accumulating and extending the most effective regional practices are the key factors helping to boost investment in new production facilities and business growth.

Members of the State Council Commission reviewed the best practices currently implemented by the regions to support investors, including as part of the regional investment standard and the End-to-End Investment Flow project launched in 2022 by the Ministry of Economic Development and Rosatom in several regions.

Deputy Minister of Economic Development Murat Kerefov reporting on the progress of work to prepare a report for the State Council meeting. The document will, first of all, feature an analysis of the current state of investment activity and the impact of the support system for businesses introduced by the State Council in 2012. Another important aspect is adapting the existing instruments to the new reality, improving the measures of support and outlining the further logic of development until 2030.

As concerns initiatives from business representatives, there is a request for lowering regulatory barriers, system-wide analysis of regional legislation governing investment activity and developing stimuli for increasing investment in R&D, information technology and the security infrastructure.

Proposals submitted following the discussion will be reviewed by the Commission to create an investment development strategy of the Russian Federation until 2030 and will also be taken into account by the federal and regional executive bodies responsible for investment projects.

Meeting of the State Council Subcommission for Juvenile Crisis Prevention

2023-05-04T23:06:10+04:00

Presidential Commissioner for Children’s Rights Maria Lvova-Belova and Governor of the Leningrad Region Alexander Drozdenko co-chaired the first meeting of the Subcommission for Juvenile Crisis Prevention at the State Council Commission for Education.

This subcommission is made up of representatives of federal and regional executive bodies, academic and educational communities, and civic organisations, as well as doctors and psychologists.

According to Maria Lvova-Belova, the creation of the subcommission is an important step towards systematic work with minors’ violence-related traumas and suicidal behaviour, as well as efforts to make relevant help available to those who need it. Ms Lvova-Belova said that the subcommission was to take an important decision to develop an algorithm for inter-departmental interaction on issues of preventing and coping with the effects of suicidal behaviour among minors. When developed, the algorithm will be first introduced in 10 pilot regions of the country.

As an example, the subcommission will study the experience of the Leningrad Region, where, according to Alexander Drozdenko, a procedure for inter-departmental interaction to prevent suicide among minors has already been approved, and, in particular, it provides for an algorithm for individual work with each child and their families. A regional resource centre has been established for this purpose to accommodate the crisis service staff.

Maria Lvova-Belova believes they also need to consider the experience and work patterns of federal institutions. For example, the Centre for Emergency Psychological Help at the Russian Emergencies Ministry has established a service across the country that allows specialists to quickly provide aid, including to children. It is critically important to make quality psychological help available to every child, regardless of their place of residence, including the use of online formats.

Ms Lvova-Belova also believes it is important to develop a common conceptual approach to crisis conditions and improve work on collecting and analysing statistics. Educational programmes are needed to help everyone who surrounds a child – from teachers and parents to psychologists and friends – recognise the signs of suicidal behaviour.

Meeting of the State Council Commission on Tourism, Physical Culture and Sport

2024-10-18T15:48:20+04:00

Presidential Aide, State Council Secretary Igor Levitin and Governor of the Primorye Territory Oleg Kozhemyako chaired a videoconference meeting of the State Council Commission on Tourism, Physical Culture and Sport.

The meeting was attended by Governor of the Leningrad Region Alexander Drozdenko, Chair of the State Duma Committee on Tourism and Tourist Infrastructure Development Sangadzhi Tarbaev, Deputy Minister of Economic Development Dmitry Vakhrukov, State Secretary – Deputy Minister for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic Pavel Volkov, Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education Olga Petrova, President of the OPORA Russia national public organisation of small and medium-sized businesses Alexander Kalinin, representatives of interested federal and regional executive bodies, business and the expert community.

Opening the meeting, Igor Levitin noted that the President had set a number of key objectives to create the best conditions for boosting domestic tourism. It is important to build new hospitality facilities at attractive tourist destinations to the highest world standards.

It is important to focus on building a network of tourist trails that will be popular domestic tourism attractions, and to introduce special legal regulations that can ensure the development of comfortable infrastructure in these locations.

According to Chair of the State Council Commission on Tourism, Physical Fitness and Sport Oleg Kozhemyako, making amendments to the relevant legislation will ensure steady development of tourism in Russia, upgrade the level of tourist services, minimise the negative impact on nature and the environment, and create conditions for developing environmental education, research and recreation activities run by small and medium-sized businesses.

Dmitry Vakhrukov presented a report on practical implementation of specific measures under the Presidential instructions issued following a State Council Presidium meeting on the development of tourism in Russia, held on September 6, 2022.

The meeting participants discussed, in particular, taxation in the tourism and hospitality sector, children’s tourism management, introducing a resort fee and supporting charter programmes to boost the demand for domestic travel.

The proposals made by the meeting participants and reviewed by the Commission will form the basis for initiatives on improving legislation and will be submitted for implementation by federal and regional executive bodies in charge of developing and implementing the state tourism policy.

Meeting of State Council working group on energy saving and higher energy efficiency

2023-04-19T15:49:28+04:00

Presidential Aide, State Council Secretary Igor Levitin and Chair of the State Council Commission on Energy, Kemerovo Region – Kuzbass Governor Sergei Tsivilev chaired a regular meeting of the working group on energy saving and higher energy efficiency in the Russian Federation.

The meeting was attended by Astrakhan Region Governor Igor Babushkin, First Deputy Minister of Economic Development Ilya Torosov, Deputy Minister of Energy Pavel Snikkars, Deputy Minister of Construction, Housing and Utilities Alexei Yeresko, chief economist of VEB.RF Andrei Klepach, directors of departments of the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, representatives of relevant federal ministries, executive authorities of Russian regions and the business community.

In his opening remarks, Igor Levitin noted that the goal of reducing the GDP’s energy intensity by 40 percent, as stipulated by the Presidential Executive Order of 2008, had not been achieved. In this connection, he said, it was necessary to step up the work on drafting the state programme Energy Saving and Higher Energy Efficiency up to 2035.

Sergei Tsivilev noted that issues of energy saving and energy efficiency were of major significance to the industry, and that they affected the well-being of the population and concern all regions.

Ilya Torosov reported on implementing the Presidential instruction on drafting the state programme Energy Saving and Higher Energy Efficiency up to 2035, its strategic priorities and goals. Pavel Snikkars and Alexei Yeresko, as well as representatives of the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Industry and Trade, reported on measures to draft federal projects, due to be included in this state programme.

Andrei Klepach discussed current incentives for promoting projects in the sphere of energy saving and energy efficiency. Representatives of DOM.RF, the Rosatom State Corporation and the Ural Mining and Metallurgical Company shared their experience of implementing projects in this sphere.

Proposals made by the members of the working group will be taken into account when finalising the state programme Energy Saving and Higher Energy Efficiency up to 2035.

State Council Presidium meeting

2023-06-06T17:07:01+04:00

The President held a videoconference meeting of the State Council Presidium on the development of the Russian industry in conditions of sanctions pressure.

Governor of the Tula Region, Chairman of the State Council Commission on Industry Alexei Dyumin delivered the main report at the meeting. He reported on the Commission’s additional proposals concerning the further development of industry. The proposals aim to boost demand for domestic goods, to improve customs tariffs regulation, to develop offset agreements as tools for boosting product demand, to reduce the tax burden on high-priority sectors and to increase the regions’ authority level and their capabilities for supporting the industry. Alexei Dyumin also drew attention to such issues as the need for additional capitalisation of industrial assets, the need to provide state guarantees for backbone enterprises when they apply for loans, to streamline science and technology policy (in particular, increasing R&D funding), switching to long-term contracts with a term of five to ten years and eliminating the shortage of engineers.

Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Industry and Trade Denis Manturov and Minister of Finance Anton Siluanov commented on the report.

Promtekhkom General Director, Member of the Board of Directors of Tulazheldormash Alexander Silkin, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, Nizhny Novgorod Region Governor Gleb Nikitin, Central Bank Governor Elvira Nabiullina, Moscow Region Governor Andrei Vorobyov, Kirov Region Governor Alexander Sokolov, Russian Export Centre General Director Veronika Nikishina, Director General of State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom Alexei Likhachev and Head of the Republic of Buryatia Alexei Tsydenov took part in the discussion.

* * *

President Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon, colleagues.

One of the top priorities on our agenda today is the development of Russia's industry, our industrial potential, including in light of such factors as external pressure.

You know that many sectors have been affected by the sanctions. The Western instigators of this blockade have severed trade, economic and cooperation ties.

Nevertheless, we were able to concentrate our resources and efforts to ensure economic stability, including by taking a number of necessary steps to replace Western products with Russian analogues or foreign ones, from friendly countries. We started investing actively in replacing imported equipment and software, and introducing new mechanisms of preferential and project financing.

At the enterprise we visited earlier today, one of the company’s managers said a remarkable phrase. He said, We were forced to switch to import substitution where we had never thought of it before. This is the key phrase – ”we are forced.“ I think if we had not been forced to do it, we would never have done it. But as it is, our colleagues are working on it and everything is working out.

I will not list everything, of course, but I would like to stress that we had to work fast and very hard, I mean across the country as a whole. We can already see the positive results. Moreover, and I spoke about this in my Address to the Federal Assembly, we have been able to enter a new cycle of economic growth.

Today, taking into account the dynamics of the situation, we will determine the next steps in industrial development. I would like to note here that the sanctions, as we all realise, are a long-term prospect, so along with the priority measures to replace imported technologies and products, we also need medium- and long-term changes aimed at ensuring the strategic goals of the country's sovereign development.

I would also like to note the following aspect. In 2014, we responded to Western sanctions and limited deliveries of foreign agricultural produce to the domestic market. Right now, we also discussed this issue with workers at the enterprise and with the plant’s staff. This became a valuable positive factor for the development of Russian agriculture, major farms and private farms with reliance on their own potential, in the first place. Essential conditions were created for rapid import substitution and for expanding agricultural production. Russian citizens obtained a wide range of Russian-made goods and foodstuffs that also proved to be more environmentally friendly, purer and of higher quality.

Not only did we manage to expand production, but we substantially increased export deliveries, and this also emphasises the high quality of our produce.

For your information, agricultural producers of all categories boosted production by 27.4 percent between 2014 and 2022. In 2022, the agro-industrial sector posted $41.6 billion worth of exports, a 2.1-fold increase on 2014, more than double.

Today, the industry, just like agriculture, has all the required conditions for active development. I am confident that we will be able to achieve the same impressive results here. Although this is, of course, a difficult and complicated objective, we will certainly accomplish it.

We need to create a package of support measures and incentives as soon as possible. This package would make it possible to facilitate a more rapid development of the processing industry, allowing us to promptly launch production of critical goods, to increase the depth of raw materials processing, to develop entirely new products and technologies and to launch their production.

I would like to note that the Ministry of Economic Development and the Bank of Russia have accomplished a lot in the field of the so-called taxonomy. In effect, this implies the formulation of transparent criteria and standards for technological sovereignty and structural adaptation projects. Consequently, banks will abide by more lenient loan issue requirements, while financing industry (this does not mean that quality will be impaired), and loans will become more affordable.

I would like to emphasise that the Russian Federation’s territories should, of course, adopt the most proactive stance, while promoting major projects and supporting small and medium-sized industrial businesses. Today, we are staying in Tula, one of the country’s industrial centres. Of course, it is possible to see more clearly here on the ground, how the situation is developing. I am asking regional leaders to motivate their teams to work actively and to become involved in this work.

Next point. It is also necessary to develop technological partnerships with friendly foreign companies more dynamically. We are open to full-scale and long-term cooperation with all interested partners.

It is clear that considerable resources will be needed to implement the plans we have announced. But it is also obvious that the pay-off to the economy and citizens and the increase in their incomes based on high-quality jobs will be much greater. For this reason, I ask the Government to provide the effective support tools intended for the engineering industry with the necessary financial resources and to implement these programmes without delay. We will talk about this today.

The new look of the Russian economy and the labour market, the demand for science, original Russian technologies, etc., are largely dependent on the successful fulfilment of tasks posed in the context of the industrial policy. By and large, this is a matter of national security and the advancement of all the regions of this country, as well as of the national vocational training system, efforts to create up-to-date jobs, and family income growth.

Colleagues, the situation in different industries and at specific plants is, of course, different. Today, we visited a major facility producing vehicles and equipment for Russian Railways. Building, revamping, and maintaining railway tracks is certainly of strategic importance for the national economy.

The plant has questions and I heard them. It is clear that all these problems can be solved. I think we will discuss this today; this is the reason we have come here. It is clear that many plants, especially sophisticated ones, are experiencing difficulties, and it is our task to take the necessary measures that will help to promptly overcome them and in general to join the trajectory of sustained industrial growth.

The processing industry, regrettably, has seen a slight decline – 1.3 percent last year and another 1.7 percent in January and February of 2023 compared to the same period in 2022. But the forecast for 2023 is that the processing industry will increase its output by 1 percent in real terms in relation to 2022.

Therefore, for all this to materialise, we should act in a much more dynamic, aggressive and energetic way and use all the opportunities that are presenting themselves in order to achieve an active introduction of advanced technologies, fine connectivity of related industries, expansion of the range of products, consolidation of the scientific and industrial schools and new approaches to personnel training.

We need systemic incentives. At the same time, I repeat, we should look far beyond the horizon of the next few years.

We have repeatedly discussed a number of such incentives. Among them are industrial mortgages, an updated mode of operation for industrial clusters, and soft loans to help companies quickly launch projects to manufacture priority products.

Let me remind you that we have set an ambitious but absolutely realistic and achievable goal and a realistic task – to attract investment in projects to manufacture priority industrial products in the amount of at least 2 trillion rubles in 2023, and more than 10 trillion rubles by 2030. I ask the Government not to delay and, of course, to start supporting such projects.

Further. As we have mentioned today, industrial development funds – both federal and regional ones – have proved themselves to be an effective institution. They attract public and private investment in the real sector of the economy by providing soft loans.

Last year, almost 120 billion rubles were allocated for the Federal Industrial Development Fund (of course, this is not much for such large-scale work) and an additional 8.7 billion to regional funds to support specific projects and compensate enterprises for paying interest on loan agreements.

These incentives were timely, but they provided lending support only to a limited number of enterprises. At the same time, in the processing industry alone, the total amount of loans exceeds 10 trillion rubles.

This year, we plan to allocate more than 3 billion rubles to regional funds. At the same time, these funds in some cases can be more effective in the implementation of local projects, and they certainly need more substantial additional capitalisation. So, let us talk about it today. I know that this issue was discussed yesterday, Mr Levitin reported to me that the discussion was stormy, but that is what you gathered for.

Here I would like to additionally highlight the importance of research and development work aimed at creating new technologies and products that are in demand by the industry, including small-scale ones.

Extensive cooperation between scientists, technologists and industrialists for the purpose of solving certain tasks for specific companies is highly relevant and necessary, without doubt. At the same time, it is extremely important to update our comprehensive research and development programmes of a full innovation cycle. They must be coordinated in terms of objectives, resources and timelines, and it is necessary to ensure that research is conducted to create the groundwork and reserves that meet the demand of the industrial sector.

Implementation of these programmes requires allocation of funds under Russia’s scientific and technological development programme.

We need to focus in particular on developing engineering design centres and reverse engineering programmes that can adapt and make effective use of foreign technology.

Here, we should consider best practices and, based on this knowledge, create our own effective technologies. As an example, I want to return to what we saw at Tulazheldormash. I hope that you [the top management] will speak about this further. The plant adapted partner technologies to our local conditions to make them more effective and better suited to our conditions.

In general, it is necessary to expand financial preferences and state support measures for projects dedicated to achieving technological sovereignty, including additional subsidies for both the manufacturers and the consumers of their products.

As I said in the Address, it is necessary to introduce tax incentives for buyers of Russian high-tech equipment. The Government must create a list of such equipment and develop a procedure for granting such incentives. Colleagues, of course, I want to stress that the process must be fully transparent to prevent any corrupt elements in these decisions and to make sure that incentives are not granted on the basis of familiarity or partiality but rather to those who actually need them. And it is important to ensure that these tax incentives also apply to equipment purchased this year.

As for major breakthrough projects, they require subsidies and grants through special decisions and for the entire duration of such projects. At any rate, it is necessary to extend the terms. As a rule, the term exceeds the three-year budgeting cycle, as far as I know from what I was told today about Russian Railways. The budgeting or investment cycle covers three years but it is insufficient for a company.

Small and medium-sized businesses play a big role in industrial development. We should certainly consider this. By their nature, they can adjust quicker to changes, meet a contractor's new requirements, and flexibly restructure their operations.

Another basic area is the training of qualified engineers, technicians and workers. We have been short of these people for many years and we need to make cardinal changes and achieve tangible results in this respect. The goals facing the industry and the economy as a whole will not be achieved by themselves. They are achieved by the people, the specialists working at the companies.

By and large, we have determined the areas for developing vocational education. We must update academic programmes and the material, technical and laboratory facilities of universities, colleges, technical and vocational schools. I have just discussed this with Mr Levitin. Obviously, we must double-check their departmental affiliation. We need to find out whether everything meets the latest requirements and if the regions are able to run college education effectively in certain areas. Possibly, we should consider a vertical organisational structure for this – in the framework of certain production sectors – as we did in the past.

Industry badly needs highly qualified workers now. They study at secondary special education institutions, which are the responsibility of the regions, as I have said. I think we should return to the discussion of departmental affiliation. We have already developed good practices in this respect. I would like to ask the regional governors to share their experience, monitor these issues and resolve them in close contact with the relevant departments and ministries.

I know that at yesterday’s seminar you discussed in detail, with Government representatives, the measures I mentioned and the

regional governors’ initiatives, and mapped out specific proposals and steps. Let us analyse all of these again. I would like to ask you to tell me about the course of your discussions and the proposals and ideas that you came up with in the process.

Mr Dyomin, you have the floor, please.

<…>

Vladimir Putin: Colleagues,

First of all, I would like to thank all of you for the work accomplished yesterday during preparations [for this meeting]. Mr Dyumin, I am grateful to you and to all the colleagues who contributed to the efforts of the working group.

Here is what I would like to say. We must complete the draft list of instructions as soon as possible, without delay, ensure the implementation of all the decisions outlined and make use of the relevant instruments towards this end.

I would like to point out again that it is vitally important to ensure the priority development of the processing industry. It is one of our priorities.

First, I would like to ask the Government of Russia to provide the mechanisms of financial support for industrial projects. It is a matter of principle. I am aware of the budgetary specifics of the current situation – we are discussing it with the Government almost every day – but we nevertheless must support the production of critical industrial products. It is the most important element of our technological sovereignty.

Of course, we must do everything carefully, precluding any mistakes so as not to upset the macroeconomic stability we have achieved. But if we implement the necessary projects wisely, as we have been doing so far, our losses, economic risks and budgetary setbacks will be minimal, and the result will surpass all our expectations.

Second, we must increase the efficiency and participation of regional industrial development funds in supporting our projects. We must consider such guarantees, and so on, as Mr Dyumin has said. I have written down what he said, and this has immediately raised some questions. If some regions have sufficient budgets, as Mr Sobyanin does, they can and should issue these guarantees. But if there are not enough resources for this, it should be registered as state debt. In such case, the guarantor will be able to rely on the federal budget, because otherwise these guarantees will have no value and will not signify anything for the economic operators.

Anyway, this is what we must, of course, consider. In some cases, such regional funds can certainly act more efficiently and play a more effective role in the implementation of regional projects with due regard for local specifics. Once again, we must consider everything down to the smallest detail.

Therefore, I would like to ask the Government to seriously consider the possibility of increasing the authorised capital of regional funds, including with the resources of the National Welfare Fund, and to determine the concrete sums and stages of the capital increase.

I know that we have been sparing the NWF, which is quite correct, but in the current situation we must review allocations from the Fund and the projects that are being funded. Some of the large projects that are being financed from the NWF are being delayed for a number of reasons, including objective ones related to the sanctions, which means that these resources can be released. I am not saying that this should be done mindlessly. No, everything must be carefully considered, but we should take this resource into account.

Moving on, we need to step up our efforts to develop and introduce new technology and develop new products in order to create assets that will define the way we live in the near future. We have gone to great lengths to build a comprehensive system for supporting industrial facilities, and we must roll out the same comprehensive and expansive framework for supporting promising R&D projects, especially for critical products and technology.

This may pave the way to a package of measures, including preferences, subsidies, etc., while also supporting, taking into consideration and relying on private initiative. With this in mind, we need to pay special attention to creating conditions for raising extra-budgetary funds, while it goes without saying that the state must be there to lend its shoulder and support the most important development projects.

Our colleagues have also mentioned the need to fine-tune customs tariff regulations. I fully agree with this. I think that we need to take a serious look at this matter and make adjustments accordingly. How can it be that we offer zero customs duty on finished goods, while keeping high tariffs on raw materials and components? Where will this get us? We will not be able to make finished goods and will keep importing everything.

The idea to impose higher duties on finished goods whenever this is justified and to lower barriers for importing components has my full approval. Of course, this is what we must do, but it goes without saying that this must apply only to imports that we do not have ourselves and that we do not plan to make here. There was a proposal along these lines in Mr Dyumin’s report, and, as I have already said, I agree with this.

Of course, we need to ponder approaches for enabling regions to have a voice when taking decisions on changing the ownership of foreign companies, and Mr Dyumin mentioned this too. This is the right way to go, of course, and this is a vital matter for the regions and their development.

However, I would like to ask our colleagues in the regions to coordinate their actions with the Government, I mean the relevant Government agencies, at all times. Why? Because there is no need to give the green light and cater to the interests of countries or companies from countries who have failed to treat us appropriately. They disdain our interests and refuse to take them into consideration, so we must proceed from the present-day reality we live in.

I am also asking the Government to consider lowering the administrative and tax burden on small-scale industrial enterprises. This is very important. Of course, here too, we need to exercise extreme caution, but still, I suggest that we look into this issue as well.

To conclude, I would like to once again thank you for your work and repeat what I said at the beginning of my concluding remarks about the list of instructions. It must be finalised without delay – we have no time to spare – so that we can use all the instruments you have devised.

Thank you very much.

Meeting of State Council Commission on Energy

2023-03-30T21:45:13+04:00

Presidential Aide and State Council Secretary Igor Levitin and Kemerovo Region Governor Sergei Tsivilev chaired a videoconference meeting of the State Council Commission on Energy to discuss the domestic natural gas market.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Minister of Energy Pavel Sorokin, Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Energy Pavel Zavalny, Deputy Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Siberian Federal District Vadim Golovko, Head of the Federal Antimonopoly Service Maxim Shaskolsky, and representatives from relevant federal and regional executive bodies and fuel and energy companies.

Igor Levitin noted that building gas supply lines for the regions was a major socioeconomic development resource, and creating a specialised transportation system in eastern Russia would increase the share of gas in the fuel and energy balance of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation and meet the needs of the economy and households.

Sergei Tsivilev pointed out that gas infrastructure development would make new investment projects possible in the regions, would expand production sites and provide social facilities with gas.

Pavel Sorokin reported on the Ministry of Energy’s ongoing efforts targeting the domestic gas market priorities and mentioned effective interaction with the State Council Commission on Energy. He believes this interaction is particularly important at a time when the forecast fuel and energy stocks of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation are being formed. The interaction should be permanent and steady, and should involve all parties interested in the effective functioning of the fuel and energy sector at all management levels.

The participants focused on the domestic gas market and options for redirecting Russian fuel supplies from traditional production regions in Western Siberia to the domestic and new international markets, including the creation of small and medium-sized LNG plants. In addition, the participants reviewed the prospects for expanding gas infrastructure in Eastern Siberia and the status of the implementation of the regional programme for social gas supply aimed at improving the living standards and reducing environmental impacts.

Meeting of State Council Commission on Science

2023-03-25T10:08:55+04:00

Aide to the President and Secretary of the State Council Igor Levitin and Novosibirsk Region Governor Andrei Travnikov co-chaired a meeting of the State Council Commission on Science.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education Denis Sekirinsky, Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Science and Higher Education Sergei Kabyshev, Head of the Federal Service for Intellectual Property Yury Zubov, President of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs Alexander Shokhin, General Director of National Priorities autonomous non-profit Sofia Malyavina, Head of Talent and Success Educational Foundation Yelena Shmelyova, officials from related regional and federal government bodies, the Russian Academy of Sciences and leading higher education institutions, as well as the academic and expert community.

In his opening remarks, Igor Levitin noted that, given the circumstances, the key goal was to establish effective cooperation between research and companies from the real sector of the economy in order to address applied problems that are of paramount importance for achieving breakthroughs in the manufacturing industry. These issues will soon be reviewed at a meeting of the Presidium of the State Council.

Head of the State Council Commission on Science Andrei Travnikov reported on the commission's performance in 2022 and presented a work plan for the current year.

Sofia Malyavina covered progress in implementing the action plan for Science and Technology Decade in the constituent entities of the Russian Federation.

The participants focused on holding the 10^th International Technological Development Forum Technoprom 2023 in August.

They also exchanged views on various aspects of implementing developments and technologies in the real economy sector of the regions.

The proposals endorsed by the commission will be used when drafting materials for a meeting of the Presidium of the State Council.

Meeting of State Council Commission on Energy

2023-03-02T14:24:59+04:00

Presidential Aide and State Council Secretary Igor Levitin and Kemerovo Region–Kuzbass Governor Sergei Tsivilev co-chaired a videoconference meeting of the State Council Commission on Energy.

Taking part in the meeting were deputy ministers of energy Yevgeny Grabchak and Eduard Sheremetsev, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Mikhail Ivanov, Deputy Minister of Construction, Housing and Utilities Alexei Yeresko, Deputy Minister of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media Maxim Parshin, representatives of the relevant federal and regional executive bodies and organisations from the electricity and heating sectors.

The participants discussed ways to ensure Russia’s technological sovereignty in the electricity and heating sectors, including by localising the manufacturing of energy-efficient equipment for high-capacity gas turbines and providing for the maintenance of imported gas turbine power units, as well as switching to Russian software in the electricity and heating sectors in execution of the Presidential Executive Order No. 166 dated March 30, 2022 On Measures to Ensure Russian Federation’s Technological Independence and the Security of its Critical IT Infrastructure.

In his opening remarks, Igor Levitin said that strengthening Russia’s technological sovereignty is one of the key objectives for the country. Coupled with urgent measures to promote import substitution and rebuild logistics chains, it calls for enacting medium and long-term changes for overcoming structural challenges and achieving technological breakthroughs.

Sergei Tsivilev stressed that the electricity and heating sectors must use Russian technology and equipment. For that, Russia needs to mobilise all resources, and to operate on a sectoral level when setting goals and building orders. These efforts are expected to accelerate import substitution in energy and help achieve technological sovereignty.

Meeting of State Council commission on small and medium-sized businesses

2023-02-17T12:03:40+04:00

Presidential Aide and Secretary of the State Council Igor Levitin and Kaliningrad Region Governor Anton Alikhanov co-chaired a meeting of the State Council commission on small and medium-sized businesses.

Taking part in the meeting were Deputy Minister of Economic Development Tatyana Ilyushnikova, Governor of the Ryazan Region Pavel Malkov, Governor of the Pskov Region Mikhail Vedernikov, Chair of the State Duma Committee on Small and Medium Enterprises Alexander Dyomin, as well as representatives of regional governments, federal executive bodies, sectoral business associations, expert organisations and development institutions.

In his opening remarks, Igor Levitin noted the importance of monitoring efforts to carry out the Presidential instructions on small and medium-sized businesses, stressing the strategic goal of integrating the new Russian regions into the national socioeconomic space by offering federal support to small and medium-sized businesses.

SME Corporation’s Director General Alexander Isayevich, President of OPORA Russia public association Alexander Kalinin, as well as representatives of the Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics took the floor during the commission meeting and presented their proposals. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of the Republic of Crimea Irina Kiviko shared Crimea’s experience in adopting Russian laws governing business activity.

Participants in the meeting discussed regional policies to harmonise socioeconomic development levels in Russia’s new regions and the importance of SMEs as regional economic drivers.

Meeting of State Council Commission on Education

2023-02-13T16:15:45+04:00

Presidential Aide, State Council Secretary Igor Levitin and Sevastopol Governor Mikhail Razvozhayev chaired a videoconference meeting of the State Council Commission on Education.

Taking part in the meeting were Head of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) Aisen Nikolayev, Kirov Region Governor Alexander Sokolov, Head of the Republic of Mordovia Artem Zdunov, Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Science, Education and Culture Lilia Gumerova, Chair of the State Duma Committee on Education Olga Kazakova, federal and regional representatives, municipal officials, and businesspeople.

In his opening remarks, Igor Levitin noted that amid conditions of sanctions pressure and external threats during the special military operation, the transformation of the system of secondary vocational education (SVE) should consider the needs of the Russian economy for the accelerated development of domestic industry

Chair of the State Council Commission on Education Mikhail Razvozhayev informed the meeting participants about the increased interest of schoolchildren in working professions, as well as the measures taken to train personnel for the needs of priority industry sectors due to the focus on import substitution.

Representatives of the regions and the business community in their speeches touched upon the active involvement of employers in the educational process in the preparation of highly qualified personnel and the broad introduction of advanced training methods for priority industries.

There was also a discussion on the implementation of the Professionalitet federal project. Proposals for improving the regulatory framework were also discussed.

Igor Levitin instructed the meeting participants to work out the issue of training personnel for priority industries in today’s conditions and to formulate specific proposals for inclusion in the report for the meeting of the State Council.

Joint meeting of State Council Transport and Energy commissions

2023-02-07T20:13:26+04:00

Presidential Aide and Secretary of the State Council Igor Levitin, Governor of the Kemerovo Region–Kuzbass Sergei Tsivilev, and Head of the Republic of Buryatia Alexei Tsydenov chaired a joint meeting of the State Council Transport Commission and Energy Commission, via videoconference.

Taking part in the meeting were Deputy Minister of Transport Vasily Desyatkov, Deputy Ministers of Energy Sergei Mochalnikov and Yevgeny Grabchak, Head of the Federal Anti-Monopoly Service Maxim Shaskolsky, and representatives of relevant federal and regional executive authorities and organisations.

The participants discussed the implementation of presidential instructions on developing the Baikal-Amur and Trans-Siberian Railways in 2022, plans for 2023–2024 to increase the transportation capacity of the railway infrastructure, including construction and technological measures, as well as rate changes for coal transport by rail in 2023.

Igor Levitin noted that the Eastern Operating Domain is a key project in developing railway infrastructure, and that it is necessary to use every opportunity to expand transport and traffic capacity in the Far East.

Sergei Tsivilev proposed expediting the construction of the Eastern Operating Domain facilities that have the greatest impact on traffic capacity, while introducing a moratorium on rate increases for coal transport by rail.

During the meeting, Governor of the Amur Region Vasily Orlov presented proposals on further developing the border crossing at Dzhalinda (Amur Region) – Mohe (Heilongjiang Province, China) and related infrastructure in order to increase coal export capacities.

The meeting participants noted that work to implement the presidential instructions would be continued.

Meeting of State Council Commission on Agriculture

2023-01-27T20:12:18+04:00

Presidential Aide and State Council Secretary Igor Levitin and Governor of the Altai Territory Viktor Tomenko chaired, via videoconference, a meeting of the State Council Commission on Agriculture.

Taking part in the meeting were Deputy Minister of Agriculture Yelena Fastova, member of the Federation Council Committee on Agriculture and Food Policy and Environmental Management Tatyana Gigel, Chair of the State Duma Committee on Agrarian Issues Vladimir Kashin, as well as deputies of senior regional officials and representatives of relevant federal executive authorities, industry unions, expert organisations and development institutions.

In his opening remarks, Igor Levitin stressed that the agriculture industry must become a key area in achieving Russia’s technological sovereignty by upgrading agricultural machine building, among other things.

Proposals were made by Rosagroleasing CEO Pavel Kosov, President of the Askhod Agricultural Machinery Dealers Association Pavel Repnikov and representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture.

Meeting participants discussed the development of the domestic agricultural machinery market, the restructuring of logistics chains, and the search for new suppliers of machinery, equipment, components, spare parts and special equipment for the needs of Russian farmers.

Igor Levitin instructed the commission to further work out the issues discussed at the meeting and submit their proposals to the agenda of the State Council and its presidium.

Meeting of State Council Commission on Industry

2023-01-12T19:27:27+04:00

Presidential Aide, State Council Secretary Igor Levitin and Chairman of the State Council Commission on Industry Alexei Dyumin co-chaired a videoconference meeting of the Commission.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Industry and Trade Denis Manturov, Governor of the Kaliningrad Region Anton Alikhanov, Governor of the Voronezh Region Alexander Gusev, Governor of the Leningrad Region Alexander Drozdenko, Governor of the Kaluga Region Vladislav Shapsha, Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Industry and Trade Vladimir Gutenev, President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Sergei Katyrin, President of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs Alexander Shokhin, Chief Economist of the VEB.RF State Development Corporation Andrei Klepach, representatives of relevant federal and regional government authorities and the business community.

In his opening remarks, Igor Levitin noted that one of the priorities for 2023 is to strengthen Russia’s technological sovereignty, which includes the development of civilian industry in the current circumstances.

Alexei Dyumin and Denis Manturov briefed the meeting on the preparation of proposals for system-wide support of projects that ensure Russia’s technological sovereignty, as well as other proposals to be considered at the State Council meeting on the development of domestic industry under sanctions pressure.

First Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Vasily Osmakov reported on the preparation of a draft report that analyses the development of industry and outlines system-wide solutions for Russia’s further industrial development in the medium and long term.

The meeting participants made comments and suggestions. Andrei Klepach presented initiatives on loan support for import substitution projects, ensuring technological development, as well as training personnel for priority industries. Sergei Katyrin highlighted the need to develop the investment component of Russia’s industrial policy and cooperation between the Eurasian Economic Union countries. Alexander Shokhin presented the results of a survey, which showed that almost half of the industrial companies polled have refocused their work on new projects aimed at increasing labour productivity, energy efficiency and resource saving, on manufacturing components and equipment lacking after foreign suppliers left the Russian market, as well as on the relevant R&D projects.

Presidential Aide, State Council Secretary Igor Levitin instructed the Commission to explore the possibilities for training personnel for priority industries in the new conditions and draw up specific proposals to be included in the report compiled for the State Council meeting.

Meeting of State Council Commission on Economy and Finance

2022-12-24T15:45:28+04:00

Presidential Aide and State Council Secretary Igor Levitin and Chelyabinsk Region Governor Alexei Teksler co-chaired a meeting of the State Council Commission on Economy and Finance.

Taking part in the meeting were Finance Minister Anton Siluanov, heads of several regions, Deputy Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Central Federal District Artur Niyazmetov, top officials from the Finance Ministry, Ministry of Economic Development, Ministry for the Development of the Russian Far East and Arctic, members of the State Duma, and representatives of the Accounts Chamber, concerned federal executive authorities, expert and business community.

The discussion focused on improving financial stability and independence of regional and municipal budgets, summarised the results of the Commission’s work in 2022, and outlined the main tasks for 2023.

Alexei Teksler, who heads the State Council Commission on Economy and Finance, presented the report On Increasing the Long-Term Financial Stability and Independence of Regional and Municipal Budgets of the Russian Federation, which was prepared by the Commission jointly with the Centre for Strategic Development.

Anton Siluanov suggested that in 2023 the Commission should pay special attention to improving the efficiency of regional authorities in expanding their revenue bases, supporting economic and investment activities, improving the quality of infrastructure projects, including those funded by infrastructure loans from the budget.

The meeting participants voiced a number of proposals with regard to the issues discussed. The proposals will be taken into account during the drafting of the plan for the Commission’s work in 2023. They will be further elaborated and, if necessary, a report will be prepared and presented to the President of Russia.

State Council meeting

2023-02-16T13:30:47+04:00

The President held a State Council meeting on implementing youth policy in St George’s Hall of the Grand Kremlin Palace.

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon, colleagues and friends,

Today, at our traditional meeting on the eve of the New Year we will analyse issues related to the implementation of youth policy. As you can see, there are representatives of these movements with us. I had an opportunity to see an exhibit in the Manezh that they prepared. It is very interesting, and I will say a few words about it.

However, I would like to begin with what we know well, something that may be obvious. The topic we will discuss today is certainly of strategic importance because young people who represent our rising generations are starting out in life. In 20, or in some cases, even in 10 years’ time, they will be doing what we are doing today, things we are putting our effort in – implementing the national development goals we identify.

Their talents and achievements in many diverse areas will directly influence the development of Russia, and their aspirations and ideas, their understanding of the Fatherland and the importance of its millennium-long history, its values and traditions and their devotion to the homeland will, of course, determine its future.

Therefore, our key task is to ensure the deep and substantive continuity of generations. In this sense, the courage, energy and a striving for transformation, which the youth have, will work for Russia, and make a contribution to the strengthening of our home country.

There are about 40 million young people in our country. Naturally, they are called on to go forward and make breakthroughs that seemed impossible before. We just talked about this, and one person here expressed an absolutely correct idea – that it is typical for young people to not repeat or even improve something but to look for a new road and follow it. This is exactly so. We must do all we can to help them follow this road, to create conditions for the full realisation of their potential. We must help them find themselves and find a vocation that will allow them to realise themselves and to be in demand.

Today we will discuss what has already been done and what still lies ahead, what additional measures we should take to support self-realisation among Russia’s young citizens.

As I have said, before our meeting I looked over some very interesting projects at the Manezh, and I must say that the young people I talked to have a common outlook, what we call in such cases an active stance in life. They are always ready to help those who really need support, resolve the problems in their cities and villages, be sensitive to nature and promote sports and creative initiatives.

These attitudes prove that we still manage to carry out many plans in our youth policy. I said “still” because we do not manage to carry out everything. But this is why we have gathered here today – to discuss what should be done to implement our plans as fully as possible.

I would like to make special mention of the volunteers who support our military and their families, who are helping civilians in the special military operation zone at the call of the heart in the direct sense of this word, sometimes even risking their health and lives.

I must note that participation in volunteer projects has become a normal part of life for many people. Of course, it is necessary to support this noble effort. Thus, we need to create conditions that allow college and university students to combine their studies with practical training at volunteer centres, charity foundations, and socially-oriented NGOs, to gain experience in civil responsibility and solidarity.

In the past few years, much has been done to create new social lifts. In this context, I would like to mention a platform that I hope is already well-known in the country, Russia – Land of Opportunity. Its projects and competitions open serious horizons for unlocking the professional potential of young people. This platform is very popular with them; I have learned that some 18 million people are participating. If we assume we have 40 million young people, it appears that 18 million is almost half. This is very impressive, regardless of where these people live – in a big city or a regional centre.

I will emphasise that in general, a comprehensive system for the support of youth must be available all over the country. All young people should be able to use it freely, to have an opportunity to receive high quality, comprehensive education, find an interesting job and feel the state’s concern when their children are born and when they purchase their housing.

It is very important that today young people of all ages are in the focus of attention. Thus, recently the first congress of the Russian Children's Movement was held, attended by representatives of all Russian regions. They also outlined the movement’s values, such as friendship, patriotism, justice, mutual assistance, and chose a worthy name for their organisation: Movement of the First. Of course, I would like to wish them good luck, and I ask the heads of Russian regions and my colleagues present here to provide the new association with comprehensive support.

Considering age rather than area of activity, work on the youth track requires integration and active participation of many authorities. In this regard, the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs is carrying out the so-called administrative linking of these activities. A number of ministries have already designated persons responsible for the youth sector with the status of deputy ministers. This model is being successfully implemented at the level of the largest domestic companies, and they are also involved in this work. In 40 regions there are independent units that coordinate youth policy. I expect that this network will cover all 89 regions by 2024.

Of course, as we work with youth, we need to eliminate formalism and bureaucracy. We need to listen carefully to the requests of the youth, considering that the youth of Russia is multinational and represents different faiths, so we need to act subtly and very delicately.

This year, the Region for the Young programme was launched to accelerate advancements in youth policy locally. In the next three years, the Russian regions will receive 15 billion rubles on a competitive basis. These funds should serve to fundamentally redefine the very essence of youth policy and maximise the circle of young people involved in creative and socially-oriented activities.

Let me emphasise that the content of youth projects is of particular importance today. Due to the well-known events of a geopolitical nature, young people came under a flurry of information attacks and found themselves in a very vulnerable position. This informational confrontation has always been going on, but it is especially harsh now.

Our task is to give young Russians a solid foundation in the form of credible knowledge, and to do this, we must develop and introduce a separate course on the history and foundations of Russian statehood in the educational processes.

Educational projects are especially important now. Of course, there are tools for this, such as themed classes in schools, in extracurricular education or in military-patriotic and history clubs.

The project under the patronage of Russian universities, University Sessions, has also proven to be successful. With its help – I hope that it has also reached those young people who are here with us today in the hall – people from the Donetsk and Lugansk people's republics, and the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions have come into contact with the traditions and culture of different regions of Russia and made a lot of new friends. And such formats, of course, should be expanded.

I would like to note that the flagship education projects, which have been successfully carried out by the revived Znaniye Society for two years now, play a special role today. This organisation has done good work following a new model: new, modern formats of lectures, workshops, and education marathons have become really popular among the youth.

I want to congratulate everyone involved in this, because in today’s conditions, in the world of the internet, this is very difficult to do, but, apparently, we hit the bull’s eye, because there is a lot of information on the internet, but not much of it is reliable enough. And so, when information is presented by truly recognised professionals, it enjoys credibility, and this is of great importance.

I hope that in the course of this work and its continuation, young men and young ladies will also learn about our legendary fellow countrymen: engineers, designers, and scientists, such as Korolev, Kurchatov, Vavilov and many, many others, whose discoveries and inventions put our country in a leading position in the most important areas of progress for a great many years.

Examples of such active patriotism should become an inspiring force for the younger generation, attract children with knowledge, and inspire them to study subjects like physics, chemistry, biology in depth from an early age, and, that way raise a new impressive generation of scientific leaders who will successfully ensure the technological sovereignty of Russia.

And I would like to elaborate on support and promotion opportunities for personnel, those specialists who work with young people locally. When performing such important work, they should feel the attention and support of the federal and regional authorities. Colleagues, I would like you to focus on this. The conditions of their work and the resources they are provided with must correspond to the high importance of the jobs they do.

Before getting down to the discussion, I would like to wish all of the State Council members, staff members, and all regional teams a Happy New Year.

Next, we will hear from Dmitry Artyukhov, chairman of the State Council Commission on Youth Policy.

<…>

Vladimir Putin: Colleagues, we have a draft list of instructions that specifies everything the State Council Commission and the Government have been involved in and also what they believe we need to activate.

Of course, the key issue here is developing and approving a strategy for carrying out the youth policy in the Russian Federation. Next, there are issues of creating an effective environment for the self-fulfillment of young people, as well as wage levels, organising the work of the related specialists and so on.

Hopefully, you have read this draft list of instructions. Do you have any comments? As I understand, if [Finance Minister] Mr Siluanov has not raised his hand, he agrees to everything. (Laughter.)

What would I like to say in conclusion? We used to meet for a half business/half party dinner at the end of the year, but I believe you understand that this year we will not do that. Still, I want to thank all of you for your work throughout this year and extend my season’s greetings to you and your families.

I also want to thank our guests. I do not think they took an interest in everything we were talking about in our current work. However, it might be useful because it has at least allowed them to gain insight into our world and have a look at what we are doing and how we do it. Hopefully, they will use this later in their work.

The issue we have addressed today is not just a worthy effort, it is also very important. I said this in the beginning of my opening remarks. Apparently, nothing can be added to this.

I would like to thank the State Council working group, and I hope the proposals that have been put forward will be carried out through our joint efforts.

Thank you all very much for our joint work today.

Meeting of State Council Investment Commission

2022-12-07T15:01:15+04:00

Presidential Aide and State Council Secretary Igor Levitin and Sakhalin Region Governor Valery Limarenko co-chaired a meeting of the State Council Commission on investment, which also included First Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Belousov.

Taking part in the meeting were Governor of the Kemerovo Region – Kuzbass Sergei Tsivilev, Governor of the Orel Region Andrei Klychkov, Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Budget and Financial Markets Anatoly Artamonov, President of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs Alexander Shokhin, General Director of the Agency for Strategic Initiatives to Promote New Projects Svetlana Chupsheva, representatives of the concerned federal and regional executive agencies, as well as business and expert communities.

In his opening remarks, Igor Levitin said that attracting investment in the current circumstances was one of the most important issues and should contribute to ensuring Russia’s technological and industrial sovereignty. According to the State Council Secretary, it is especially important to maintain a systemic dialogue between regional administrations and investors regarding opportunities for starting and doing business, as well as to help companies find markets for their products and complete supply chains, while keeping track of the basic processes related to businesses’ access to resources.

Deputy Minister of Economic Development Murat Kerefov reported on the introduction of the regional investment standard, and highlighted the best practices for working with investors used by the regions that confirmed the adoption of this standard in 2022.

The Commission Chairman, Governor of the Sakhalin Region Valery Limarenko spoke about the successful experience of supporting investment in the region using project management, lean technologies and data management.

First Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Belousov noted in his remarks that a region’s investment appeal depended on the degree of effectiveness of the regional team. He stressed the importance of implementing three major processes – adopting the regional investment standard, monitoring of the process by business associations and entrepreneurs, and also the introduction of a system of incentives for the regions.

The Commission will work out proposals based on the discussion for further use by federal and regional executive bodies responsible for the implementation of investment projects.

Meeting of State Council Commission on Science

2022-12-03T18:56:46+04:00

Presidential Aide and State Council Secretary Igor Levitin and Novosibirsk Region Governor Andrei Travnikov co-chaired a regular meeting of the State Council Commission on Science.

The commission’s meeting was held as part of the 2^nd Congress of Young Scientists. The participants included deputy ministers of Science and Higher Education, Head of the Federal Service for Intellectual Property Yury Zubov, Director General of the Russian Science Foundation Alexander Khlunov, officials of respective regional and federal bodies, representatives of the Russian Academy of Sciences, leading federal universities, and academic and expert communities.

The meeting participants discussed coordination of efforts within the Science national project and other national projects to establish conditions for retaining academic staff in the regions, as well as issues of intellectual property management and setting up technology transfer centres in the constituent entities of the Russian Federation.

Igor Levitin noted in his opening remarks that the state has identified and is consistently giving priority to increasing the scientific potential in the regions.

Chairman of the State Council’s Commission on Science Andrei Travnikov reported on progress in implementing the President’s instruction to provide academic personnel with housing and create a comfortable social and transport infrastructure for them, and also on additional proposals by the commission to make housing more affordable for young scientists.

Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education Airat Gatiyatov reported on the implementation of the roadmap on developing housing construction and social and transport infrastructure, and on projects of launching world-level research, education and scientific centres as well as a network of MegaScience-class complexes.

Yury Zubov reported on proposals by the Federal Service for Intellectual Property on streamlining intellectual property management in the constituent entities of the Russian Federation. The meeting participants also heard a report on best regional practices in intellectual property management and the establishment of technology transfer centres in the Russian regions.

The Ministry of Science and Higher Education will review proposals approved by the commission seeking to increase the regions’ role in the country’s scientific and technological advance. The proposals will be incorporated in reports to be presented to the President.

Meeting of State Council Commission on Youth Policy

2022-12-01T18:58:30+04:00

Presidential Aide, State Council Secretary Igor Levitin and Governor of the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Area Dmitry Artyukhov co-chaired a meeting of the State Council Commission on Youth Policy to prepare for a State Council meeting on pursuing the youth policy in current conditions.

Head of the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs Ksenia Razuvayeva also attended the meeting.

Igor Levitin noted that youth policy is one of today’s priorities for the state. Therefore, it is important to develop a unified approach to this work at all levels of governance, include all categories of young people, and work with them to fulfil their potential.

The meeting participants discussed preparations for the State Council meeting and the Commission’s major initiatives to improve management in the sphere of state youth policy.