WEBVTT 1 00:00:05.840 --> 00:00:08.327 Good afternoon, colleagues, 2 00:00:08.327 --> 00:00:15.519 As agreed, and we have long planned to hold this meeting to discuss 3 00:00:15.519 --> 00:00:19.823 the socioeconomic development of Crimea and Sevastopol, 4 00:00:19.823 --> 00:00:25.486 we will discuss today the issues that are facing the region’s 5 00:00:25.486 --> 00:00:29.590 leadership as well as federal ministries and departments. 6 00:00:29.590 --> 00:00:34.600 I would like to note that much has been done in the past few years 7 00:00:34.600 --> 00:00:39.374 to unlock the potential of Crimea and Sevastopol and integrate them 8 00:00:39.374 --> 00:00:46.607 into Russia’s common social, legal, economic and humanitarian space. 9 00:00:46.607 --> 00:00:50.893 The creation and expansion of the basic infrastructure has become 10 00:00:50.893 --> 00:00:53.266 an important and largely decisive factor in this respect. 11 00:00:53.266 --> 00:00:55.369 Obviously this is the main thing, 12 00:00:55.369 --> 00:01:00.097 a foundation without which it is impossible to develop altogether. 13 00:01:00.097 --> 00:01:03.337 Needless to say, this is the most expensive part. 14 00:01:03.337 --> 00:01:05.452 A lot has been done but not everything. 15 00:01:05.452 --> 00:01:11.106 It is still necessary to work on water supply and water discharge 16 00:01:11.106 --> 00:01:15.987 and resolve environmental issues that nobody seems to have 17 00:01:15.987 --> 00:01:17.683 dealt with at all. 18 00:01:17.683 --> 00:01:25.645 But what has been done – the Crimean Bridge, energy networks, 19 00:01:25.665 --> 00:01:29.346 gas supply, federal roads and the airport – 20 00:01:29.346 --> 00:01:33.214 represents just the basic conditions for development. 21 00:01:33.214 --> 00:01:35.927 This should be followed by results. 22 00:01:35.927 --> 00:01:39.457 Naturally, these projects have provided a serious impetus for business 23 00:01:39.457 --> 00:01:44.429 and social activities (the projects that we have already implemented) 24 00:01:44.429 --> 00:01:47.498 . They have enhanced the tourist appeal of the region and allowed us 25 00:01:47.498 --> 00:01:52.716 to create new jobs and open up more business and investment 26 00:01:52.716 --> 00:01:54.007 opportunities. 27 00:01:54.007 --> 00:01:57.594 For reference, I would like to mention that industrial production 28 00:01:57.594 --> 00:02:01.158 in Crimea has almost doubled, and it has increased by 2. 29 00:02:01.158 --> 00:02:03.426 5 times in Sevastopol. 30 00:02:03.426 --> 00:02:07.553 Retail trade has grown 12 percent in Crimea 31 00:02:07.553 --> 00:02:11.343 and by an impressive 29 percent in Sevastopol. 32 00:02:11.343 --> 00:02:14.187 The unemployment rate in the Republic of Crimea has decreased from 7. 33 00:02:14.207 --> 00:02:19.808 2 percent (in 2015) to 5.5 percent at the end of 2019. 34 00:02:19.808 --> 00:02:25.893 In Sevastopol it has dropped from 8.3 percent to 4.1 percent. 35 00:02:25.893 --> 00:02:30.707 This became possible because a number of companies resumed operations 36 00:02:30.707 --> 00:02:34.128 and were loaded with orders, including orders from federal 37 00:02:34.128 --> 00:02:35.825 ministries and departments. 38 00:02:35.825 --> 00:02:41.382 In 2019, 7,4 million tourists visited Crimea, 39 00:02:41.382 --> 00:02:47.632 which is a 9.3 percent increase over 2018. 40 00:02:47.632 --> 00:02:55.171 More than half of them (57 percent) arrived via the Crimean Bridge. 41 00:02:55.171 --> 00:02:57.732 Relying on this foundation it is necessary to improve the quality 42 00:02:57.732 --> 00:03:01.224 of life on the peninsula and develop its urban and social 43 00:03:01.224 --> 00:03:05.807 infrastructure in line with the highest and most advanced standards. 44 00:03:05.807 --> 00:03:09.477 Understandably, everyone is happy about these major 45 00:03:09.477 --> 00:03:10.445 infrastructure projects. 46 00:03:10.445 --> 00:03:12.791 They are creating this foundation and this is perfectly obvious. 47 00:03:12.791 --> 00:03:17.246 However, now I would like to talk for the most part not just about 48 00:03:17.246 --> 00:03:20.722 tourists but about people who live in Crimea and Sevastopol. 49 00:03:20.722 --> 00:03:25.183 Let’s talk about this today and focus on what needs to be done 50 00:03:25.183 --> 00:03:28.251 for the permanent residents. 51 00:03:28.251 --> 00:03:32.166 It is essential to clearly understand local people’s needs in order 52 00:03:32.166 --> 00:03:36.150 to meet them promptly and make decisions faster. 53 00:03:36.150 --> 00:03:38.578 Long overdue problems must be resolved. 54 00:03:38.578 --> 00:03:41.367 What are the issues, in my opinion, 55 00:03:41.367 --> 00:03:44.302 that we need to focus on and pay attention to. 56 00:03:44.302 --> 00:03:47.316 First, we need to further improve the quality of life 57 00:03:47.316 --> 00:03:49.290 for Sevastopol and Crimea residents. 58 00:03:49.290 --> 00:03:55.348 I mean the most obvious, pressing problems that people have to deal 59 00:03:55.348 --> 00:03:57.393 with every year, in fact, every day of their lives. 60 00:03:57.393 --> 00:03:58.694 This includes the renovation of residential buildings, 61 00:03:58.714 --> 00:04:00.194 reconstruction of utility mains, 62 00:04:00.194 --> 00:04:05.003 improvement of surrounding grounds and public spaces, 63 00:04:05.003 --> 00:04:07.913 like parks, public gardens and embankments. 64 00:04:07.913 --> 00:04:14.739 As I said, this includes all areas, 65 00:04:14.739 --> 00:04:17.552 not just resorts and tourist zones. 66 00:04:17.552 --> 00:04:21.909 We need to conduct a detailed inventory of Crimea’s urban environment, 67 00:04:21.909 --> 00:04:23.584 to evaluate its current state and to improve its quality; 68 00:04:23.584 --> 00:04:27.334 this includes using the resources of national projects. 69 00:04:27.334 --> 00:04:31.560 Second, upgrading the regional communications systems calls 70 00:04:31.560 --> 00:04:33.910 for resolute and well-planned actions. 71 00:04:33.910 --> 00:04:35.989 I am also talking about the construction and renovation of local 72 00:04:35.989 --> 00:04:39.254 motorways, railway platforms and stations, 73 00:04:39.254 --> 00:04:42.568 modernisation of commuter train rolling stock. 74 00:04:42.568 --> 00:04:48.066 Everything that the region’s residents use every day. 75 00:04:48.066 --> 00:04:52.758 As I said, we have set high standards for building Crimea’s trunk 76 00:04:52.758 --> 00:04:56.321 infrastructure, so we need to take the regional component 77 00:04:56.321 --> 00:04:59.508 to the same level. 78 00:04:59.508 --> 00:05:02.871 Third, the normalisation of prices for basic goods, like food, 79 00:05:02.871 --> 00:05:06.253 fuel and construction materials; 80 00:05:06.253 --> 00:05:09.295 this is a big problem that people talk about. 81 00:05:09.295 --> 00:05:12.814 I would like to note that the start of regular railway service should 82 00:05:12.814 --> 00:05:15.566 positively influence supplies to the Crimean market 83 00:05:15.566 --> 00:05:17.947 and the availability of high-quality and affordable goods. 84 00:05:17.947 --> 00:05:21.890 Of course, I am especially counting on this after regular 85 00:05:21.890 --> 00:05:25.419 freight traffic starts. 86 00:05:25.419 --> 00:05:28.027 Mr Ditrikh, when will the first cargo trains arrive? 87 00:05:28.027 --> 00:05:28.976 Mr President, service will start on July 1. 88 00:05:28.976 --> 00:05:33.234 July 1. Freight trains will start carrying goods 89 00:05:33.234 --> 00:05:37.284 on a regular basis on July 1. 90 00:05:37.284 --> 00:05:40.798 We must see to it that the level of consumer prices measures up 91 00:05:40.798 --> 00:05:43.501 to the income levels of Sevastopol and Crimea residents. 92 00:05:43.501 --> 00:05:48.511 The regional authorities must work closely with business circles 93 00:05:48.511 --> 00:05:51.446 to expand logistics, prevent monopolism, 94 00:05:51.446 --> 00:05:55.988 support competition and open new trade facilities. 95 00:05:55.988 --> 00:06:00.128 Colleagues, I am asking you to do this quickly, 96 00:06:00.128 --> 00:06:05.547 without administrative delays and to basically use mechanisms that 97 00:06:05.547 --> 00:06:07.938 will, first of all, suit people, and that will, of course, 98 00:06:07.938 --> 00:06:10.569 prove cost-effective for the business community. 99 00:06:10.569 --> 00:06:12.716 Fourth, the state of the regional healthcare system 100 00:06:12.716 --> 00:06:15.143 requires a lot of attention. Yes, 101 00:06:15.143 --> 00:06:17.857 the scale of this is enormous. 102 00:06:17.857 --> 00:06:22.334 This sector is simply in a terrible state. 103 00:06:22.334 --> 00:06:23.720 There is a shortage of specialists. 104 00:06:23.720 --> 00:06:26.726 The hospitals, clinics and equipment are rundown and substandard. 105 00:06:26.726 --> 00:06:32.395 When we talk about the same problems nationally, well, 106 00:06:32.395 --> 00:06:36.721 the situation here is worse than in the rest of Russia. 107 00:06:36.721 --> 00:06:39.061 Not all questions regarding the licensing of medical 108 00:06:39.061 --> 00:06:40.286 activity have been resolved. 109 00:06:40.286 --> 00:06:43.333 This has created a disproportion in favour of private healthcare. 110 00:06:43.333 --> 00:06:47.621 We need to eliminate this disproportion and guarantee high-quality 111 00:06:47.621 --> 00:06:50.839 medical treatment in line with accepted national standards for every 112 00:06:50.839 --> 00:06:53.534 resident of Crimea and Sevastopol. 113 00:06:53.534 --> 00:06:57.555 I ask you to address this subject specifically today and come up with 114 00:06:57.575 --> 00:07:01.830 concrete proposals on ways to improve the situation in healthcare. 115 00:07:01.830 --> 00:07:03.192 All right, let’s get down to it.