Russian Cabinet to confer over the socio-economic development of the far-eastern provinces

Russian Cabinet officials and regional governors will meet yesterday, September 18, in Vladivostok to confer over the socio-economic development of the far-eastern provinces.

Taking part in the conference will be Ministers of Economic Development and Trade, Transport and Natural Resources - German Gref, Igor Levitin and Yuri Trutnev, presidential envoy to the far eastern federal district Konstantin Pulikovsky and the heads of the far eastern regions. The ministers intend to discuss a range of socio-economic issues related to the Primorsky (Maritime) territory development, as well as possibilities for the formation of international transport corridors in special economic zones (CEZ). They will review a list of facities -- the investment recipients requiring state support in 2006-2008 -- and the funding of the federal socio-economic development program for the far east and Transbaikalia.

"That the far eastern federal district, while possessing important strategic resources, remains the most problematic Russian territory with a low level of economic and social development does not suit us," Pulikovsky said ahead of the conference.

Mining currently prevails in the industrial production of this federal district. The envoys believes that the insufficiently developed transport infrastructure is a major factor hampering economic growth.

The depreciation of production assets in the basic branches of the manufacturing sector has reached a critical level, Pulikovsky said, Itar-Tass reported.