Vladimir Putin: "Development of the Far East gives a resource for a breakthrough in the Russian economy"
Development of the Far East provides a powerful resource for achieving the planned breakthrough in the Russian economy as a whole, said Russian President Vladimir Putin speaking at the plenary session of the Fourth Eastern Economic Forum. This is reported by ITAR-TASS.
"We see this (creation of international cooperation and integration center in the Far East – TASS’s note) as a powerful resource for achieving the strategic goals we set for a breakthrough development, strengthening the country's competitiveness, improving the quality of life of citizens", Putin said.
According to the Russian leader, the development of the Far East for Russia is an unconditional priority, and all efforts of the authorities are aimed at creating here a powerful center for international cooperation and integration, business and investment activity, education, science and culture. Putin noted that the creation of such a center would benefit primarily the Far East themselves. "We understand the complexity of the challenges we face, we understand that the demographic, social, economic and infrastructure problems of the Far Eastern region that have accumulated for decades cannot be solved immediately, but we must do it, we do it and we will do it", the Head of state assured.
Putin added that modern models of working with business, the priority state approach already yield results, it becomes a point of growth, attraction of investment. Over the past five years, industrial production in the region has added almost 22%. It accounts for more than a quarter of foreign direct investment in Russia, while five years ago this figure was only about 2%. The Head of State also stated that under the special mechanism of the region's development (TORs and the free port of Vladivostok) over 130 new enterprises were launched and over 16,000 modern workplaces were created in various spheres.
The President announced the intention to expand the list of countries whose citizens will use electronic visas to enter the Russian Federation. "The spirit of development and openness is met by our decisions on electronic visas for coming to the Far East, now they are valid for residents of 19 countries who can draw up all documents remotely, in a simplified order", the Head of State said. He said: "We will work on this further, so that the number of states, whose citizens can receive an electronic visa, so that the number of these states is growing, including that of APEC countries".
Electronic visas were introduced in 2017. Such a document is executed on a special website and issued for a period of up to 30 calendar days with an allowed period of stay not more than eight days within the RF region to which the entry is made. Only in Primorye for a few months in 2017, about 5,500 foreigners entered by electronic visas. An electronic visa is issued free of charge. Earlier, Putin instructed to pass a law on the extension of the electronic visa regime to all international airports in the Far East.
The President said he would instruct the government to prepare a national program for the development of the Far East until 2025.
Speaking about the key directions of the national program, Putin mentioned the provision of high-priority dynamics in such areas as housing, housing and communal services, transport accessibility, healthcare, culture and opportunities for sport. According to the President, it is necessary to offer special measures of demographic development and support of families.
Putin expressed his confidence that "the Far East is able and should become a powerful economic, industrial center with a large export potential," and for this one cannot do without entrepreneurial energy and the growth of small and medium-sized businesses. According to him, the Far East should be competitive for business climate quality, as in comparison with other regions of Russia, and with neighboring countries.
The Head of State reminded about the instruments of federal business support in the Far East, including the possibility for investors of TORs and the free port of Vladivostok until 2025 to receive and enjoy a ten-year privilege on insurance premiums. In addition, investors have a guarantee of the unchanged conditions for implementation of their projects, the President added.
Putin suggested thinking how to encourage Russian exporters who use the infrastructure of the Far East to invest in effective social and economic projects.
The President also instructed the government and governors to check the use of agricultural land in the Far East, support the development of agro-industrial complex. "Here, in the Far East, we see a rapid growth in investment in agricultural projects, we need to support these trends, including stimulating the commissioning of unused land, sites subject to various restrictions", he said. "In this regard, I ask the government, the governors of the Russian regions, to closely deal with these issues, to see how the case is with the use of agricultural land in each particular region", he instructed.
Putin noted the rapid growth of investments in agricultural projects and called for supporting them. He recalled that he had met with foreign investors who showed a direct interest in this. Putin also said about the need to expand access to Far Eastern products to foreign markets, including the APR. "We offer our Chinese, Korean friends and partners, whose business is actively investing in the agribusiness of the Far East, to work together to remove barriers to food trade", he concluded.
The Head of State called for ensuring security in the Asia-Pacific region, which is necessary for its development. "In general for sustainable development it is necessary to ensure stability, peace and security in the APR, it is important not to allow the emergence of new conflicts and long-standing disputes should be resolved only on the basis of dialogue", the Head of State said. He assured that "it is this approach, such a constructive agenda, that Russia has promoted and will promote at all international sites, in working with partners in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, APEC, ASEAN, and other regional associations".
At the same time, Putin singled out the situation on the Korean peninsula separately. "I would like to return to the discussion of tripartite projects in infrastructure, energy and other areas with the participation of Russia, the Republic of Korea and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. To promote such initiatives, first of all, it is necessary to normalize the situation around the Korean Peninsula", he said.
"We are actively developing cooperation and investment ties with China. Today, with the participation of Chinese investors, more than 30 projects are implemented in the Far East with an investment volume of about 200 billion rubles", the Russian leader said. He also assured that Moscow is "aimed at positive cooperation with Japanese partners" and promised to support various projects of joint work. According to Putin, "there are good opportunities for advancing infrastructure, energy, environmental projects also with Mongolia, our long-standing, reliable partner". The President of the Russian Federation stressed that "companies of the Republic of Korea are successfully implementing their projects in Russia as well". "We see great prospects for cooperation with South Korean business in the Far Eastern regions", the Head of the Russian state.