The main topic of the presidential meeting was regional development.
Photo: REUTERS.
The main topic of the presidential meeting was regional development. But, as is often the case, Vladimir Putin was the first to discuss topical issues. Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Trutnev spoke about the results of the Eastern Economic Forum: 313 agreements worth more than 5.5 trillion rubles were signed. Minister for the Development of the Far East Alexey Chekunkov said that under the new rules, deliveries to the North are cheaper and faster. Head of the Ministry of Agriculture Oksana Lut spoke about the progress of harvesting and sowing winter crops, and Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Dmitry Patrushev spoke about import substitution in agriculture. Minister of Natural Resources Alexander Kozlov reported on geological exploration.
HARVEST VIEWS
Vladimir Vladimirovich noted the good grain harvest and praised the export potential of 60 million tons. According to forecasts, this year farmers will harvest 132 million tons of grain. This is less than last season – it was 148 million tons. But domestic consumption is about 90 million tons, so there will be enough for us and plenty left for export.
– Do we still have an export potential of more than 40 million tons plus the remaining? Putin clarified to Lut.
“Russia can afford to export 60 million,” the minister confirmed.
– Good. If it goes as planned, the result will be good,” the country’s leader concluded.
THERE ARE NO EASY RESOURCES LEFT
– Large and easily discoverable deposits are almost exhausted. Geologists are forced to go deeper into the Arctic and into hard-to-reach regions of the Far East and Siberia,” Kozlov said.
The minister noted that there is still potential for mineral exploration. In the Far East, only 35% of the territories have been geologically studied, in Siberia – 45%.
Kozlov warned that the lack of geological exploration could lead to a decline in the production of key raw materials: “Almost all profitable reserves are already licensed. And let me remind you that this obliges all participants to strictly comply with all licensing obligations.”
In the case of uranium, chromium, manganese, titanium, fluorspar, tungsten and aluminium, proven reserves will last between 5 and 15 years. The minister noted that it is necessary to intensify geological exploration.
– The supply of a number of products is being limited. Well, we may also have certain restrictions. [ввести]- Putin suggested. – Uranium, titanium, nickel. Just don’t do anything that will harm you.
NORTH DELIVERY
They want to use a single shipping operator for deliveries in the North, something that is currently being tested in Chukotka, throughout the North.
– An agreement has been signed with Rosatomflot and Chukotka. A pilot project on cargo delivery will be launched in 2025, and in 2026 it will be expanded to other regions,” Chekunkov said.
A northern delivery tracking system is also being created, which will automate management, cargo tracking and execution control. The new law on northern deliveries was adopted in August 2023 and concerns the delivery of food, medicine and fuel to the Arctic.
GDP GROWS AFTER RPO PRODUCTION
Vladimir Vladimirovich noted that after import substitution, our business began to perform better than competitors in the West.
– [В ответ на] By restricting the import of industrial products, our business is taking over certain areas of work. And sometimes it acts even more effectively than our partners, who simply supplied relatively cheap products to our industrial products market. This is partly related to the growth of the country’s GDP. It is not the same, but these comparisons are quite appropriate,” the president said.
