Translated material
The record, however
For the first time in Russian history, the prime minister traveled to Chukotka
Yesterday, the most remote region of Russia - Chukotka - was visited by two high-ranking guests. The first is Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov. The second is the governor of the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug , permanently residing in London, Roman Abramovich.The head of government was the first official of this rank in Russian history to visit Chukotka. Governor Abramovich, as you know, is the first official billionaire to lead a federal subject. Which, by the way, clearly benefited the region . The team assembled by Mr. Abramovich in Chukotka, where he appears, as they say, only “on major holidays,” managed in six years to transform the region from a deeply depressed region into a place where at least one can live. Suffice it to say that since 2001, the gross regional product has increased by 3.2 times, the average per capita income of the population has increased by 5.2 times, and the share of the population with incomes below the subsistence level has decreased from 50.1 to 19.5%.
In a word, it is not for nothing that the authorities of Chukotka have been praised more than once at various meetings chaired by both the president and the prime minister. Just last week, at a meeting of the State Commission for the Development of the Far East and Transbaikalia, headed by Mr. Fradkov, the head of the Ministry of Economic Development, German Gref, said several kind words to the leadership of Chukotka. He praised Roman Abramovich’s subordinates for their competent and most business-like participation in the preparation of the Federal Target Program for the Development of the Far East and Transbaikalia. At the same time, Mr. Abramovich himself exercises only general leadership, since, by his own admission yesterday, he is not a great expert in Chukotka issues.
Yesterday, the journalists accompanying the prime minister tried to find out from Roman Abramovich the details of the region's development strategy. But that was not the case. The governor did not betray himself and stated that he was not giving interviews. “Even on Chukchi topics?” - asked the journalists. “The experts will tell you everything,” Mr. Abramovich moved the hands. “Don’t you consider yourself an expert?” - the correspondents did not let up. “Nope,” the governor said with a smile.
At a meeting held at the new Anadyr airport, Mikhail Fradkov also praised the local authorities. “In recent years, a lot has been done by the leadership of the Autonomous Okrug, personally by the governor, and his well-coordinated team. There are noticeable changes,” said the head of government.
However, judging by the draft development strategy for Chukotka until 2020, approved at the end of the meeting, there will be much more transformations ahead. The prime minister supported the most ambitious version of the strategy, which envisages increasing economic activity in the region through a significant increase in mineral production, primarily gold. In 2008 and 2010, it is planned to put into operation two world-class deposits, Kupol and Mayskoye, the reserves of each of which are estimated at more than 200 tons of gold. The deposits are being developed by large foreign investors. "Kupol" (production volume 19 tons per year) - Canadian Kinross, "Maiskoye" (8 tons per year) - British with Russian co-owners Highland Gold.
It is this option, according to economists, that will allow us to count on an almost threefold increase in the average per capita income of the population and a significant increase in tax payments to the Russian budget system.
“This option seems at first glance to be fantastic, since it is necessary not only to invest money, but also to attract business. But there is experience in organizing such work in Chukotka,” Mr. Fradkov told reporters. However, the leadership of Chukotka plans to invest a lot of money - 106 billion rubles. until 2020 (apparently, this is how much work the governor and Roman Abramovich have to do, whose request for resignation, submitted at the end of last year, was rejected by the president) with an equal share of investment from public and private capital. Mr. Fradkov considered that the budget could easily reach 53 billion in 12 years. At the first stage, part of the funds will be allocated within the framework of the federal target program currently being developed, as well as from the investment fund.
Mikhail Fradkov proposed starting to implement Napoleonic plans by solving the transport problem. There are only about 600 km of paved roads in Chukotka. However, they have no connection with the rest of Russia. And the only year-round mode of transport is air (it is planned, in particular, to more actively develop small aviation).
Energy problems in Chukotka today are not so acute. The energy generated in the region is sufficient for local needs in abundance. Due to the lack of consumers, power plants, including the Bilibino Nuclear Power Plant, are even forced to operate at less than full capacity (the Chukotka power system is closed, supplying electricity to other regions is impossible). However, the problem is that during the implementation of the announced socio-economic projects, energy consumption will increase sharply, and a number of outdated energy capacities are expected to be decommissioned. However, Chukotka will definitely not be left without electricity. Rosatom intends not only to extend the life of the Bilibino NPP, but also to “adjust” a floating nuclear power plant to the Chukotka shores in a few years.
The first guest of Chukotka - Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov - flew from Anadyr to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, where he will continue his Far Eastern tour today, at about 10 pm local time. The second - Governor Roman Abramovich - about half an hour later. Apparently to London.