Mikhail Mishustin holds strategic session on Russia’s spatial development

Opening remarks by Mikhail Mishustin:

Good afternoon, colleagues.

Today, we are going to discuss balanced development of Russian territories, which is crucial if we want to meet the national goals set by the President in his May executive order and improve the quality of life in urban and rural areas.

Earlier in spring, we reviewed in detail the top regional priorities, approaches to planning residential areas, and efforts to create growth points for the economy. The decisions that we put together back were used to update the Spatial Development Strategy. The document takes into account the current situation and modern-day challenges. All initiatives and activities included in it must be synchronised with updated sector-specific strategies, national projects, and state programmes, as well as current plans for building infrastructure.

Unprecedented sanctions have taken their toll on Russia's trade with the West over the past two years. Over the same period, trade with friendly countries was up by more than 50 percent. According to experts, trade with the partner states will have grown by 150 percent by 2030.

Trends like that have a major impact on the situation in the regions. The cargo shipment logistics have undergone fundamental changes. The territories that accommodate new international transport corridors, particularly in the Eastern and the Sea of Azov-Black Sea directions, tend to become more important. Prospects for the port cities, including along the Northern Sea Route, are improving.

Economic activity centres have sprung up in places that never had them. The industrial potential of the Volga Region, Urals, and Siberia has expanded as well. The unmatched tourist attraction of Altai, the North Caucasus, Crimea, and many other regions and areas is being discovered.

In his Address to the Federal Assembly, the President made clear that top priorities included supporting medium-sized cities and small towns, rural areas, the Arctic, the Far East, and of course, the new regions which boast significant potential in various sectors, including the agro-industrial complex.

Everyone in our country regardless of the geographic location, be it northern latitudes, or sparsely populated or hard-to-access areas, must be able to enjoy decent quality of life that it is not inferior to the average national level.

Young people should be able to study in comfortable conditions as they acquire modern skill sets. High-tech jobs should be created, and healthcare facilities where medical professionals provide care across a variety of specialties should be available as well. The quality of healthcare services should be on a level with the rest of the country. Apartment blocks and cultural and sports facilities should be built as well.

Meanwhile, it is likewise important to continue expanding major urban metropolitan areas which drive innovation. An innovative economy, including creativity-driven industries, is emerging and expanding. The traditionally higher productivity in these areas helps move forward important investment projects.

We are using a broad range of tools and support measures to help the regions maintain their growth dynamics.

These include special state programmes for the Arctic, the Far East, the North Caucasus, Crimea, Sevastopol, and the Kaliningrad Region, as well as for the Donetsk and Lugansk people' republics, and the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions. Customised programmes are being drafted for later use in a number of Russian regions, and comprehensive development efforts in rural areas are being implemented as well.

Following the President's instruction, unified standards for upgrading core communities are being developed, and urban master plans are being drafted and implemented. We are building infrastructure and launching mechanisms to incentivise private investment. Without a doubt, personnel training is our top priority.

Another goal set by the President concerns the creation of a digital platform for managing comprehensive socioeconomic and spatial development of communities which will significantly boost the efficiency of the decision-making process.

Unlocking the potential of the regions is crucial for successfully shaping a supply-side economy and improving the individual well-being.

Using the systematic approach which takes into account the peculiarities of the territories and their forecasted needs is of paramount importance. It should be a multi-pronged effort addressing many areas at once, ranging from improving urban environment and social sphere to expanding transport and industrial infrastructure, and timely upgrading of power generation plants, grids, and ensuring reliable communication lines. This effort must be undertaken in cooperation with the governors and the State Council.

Colleagues,

The opinions of the public and businesses must be heeded when drafting major plans for taking the country to a whole new level. Governors of the Russian regions have joined us via video link so that we can get the feedback. Our colleagues will take the well-founded proposals and remarks under advisement. The new Spatial Development Strategy of Russia is expected to be approved no later than December.

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