Meeting on socioeconomic development of the Republic of Tuva

Taking part in the meeting were Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Patrushev Patrushev DmitryDeputy Prime Minister of the Government of the Russian Federation , Minister of Industry and Trade Anton Alikhanov Alikhanov AntonMinister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation , Minister of Economic Development Maxim Reshetnikov Reshetnikov MaximMinister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation ,
Minister of Finance Anton Siluanov Siluanov AntonMinister of Finance of the Russian Federation , Minister of Construction, Housing and Utilities Irek Fayzullin Fayzullin IrekMinister of Construction, Housing and Utilities of the Russian Federation , Rostec State Corporation CEO Sergei Chemezov Chemezov SergeiCEO of Rostec State Corporation , Presidential
Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Siberian Federal District Anatoly Seryshev Seryshev AnatolyPresidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Siberian Federal District , and Head of the Republic of Tuva Vladislav Khovalyg Khovalyg VladislavHead of the Republic of Tuva .
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President of Russia
Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon, colleagues,
We are meeting here in Tuva
ahead of a significant date for the republic and the entire country: the incorporation of Tuva, the Tuva People’s Republic, into the Soviet Union. This
took place in October 1944, and we are going to mark this date.
I would like to emphasise
that Tuva became the first independent state and the Soviet Union’s ally to join our common struggle against Nazism and to declare war on Nazi Germany and later on militarist Japan.
Much has happened since
then, but this patriotic spirit of the people of Tuva was laid down by our
ancestors, our grandfathers, great-grandfathers and our fathers. It continues
to be a vital force driving the republic’s development and plays a significant role
in shaping the interethnic and inter-faith harmony that our country takes great
pride in and which forms the foundation of our statehood. On this wonderful
anniversary, I would like to extend my best wishes to everyone.
The decision made at that time was a pivotal stage in forging the Russian state as a multi-ethnic
power. At that time, the people of Tuva demonstrated their patriotism by taking
up arms to fight Nazism. The whole economy was mobilised to bring victory
closer. Today, the people of Tuva are also defending our common Fatherland.
Together with the Tuvan people, we have faced
many challenges, from enduring the toughest years of the Great Patriotic War to rebuilding the country, restoring production, and reviving cities and towns. Undoubtedly,
we will continue to advance together and address the issues facing both Russia
and the republic today.
In this context, I want to emphasise that Tuva
possesses significant potential. It is crucial to fully harness and effectively
utilise this potential to advance regional development and improve the quality
of life for its residents.
I would like to remind you that a new
individual programme for the socioeconomic development of Tuva through 2030 is
currently in preparation. The practical implementation of this programme is set
to begin next year. The primary goal of such individual programmes is to create
conditions for development in the constituent entities of the Federation that
experience insufficient socioeconomic growth. Similar programmes are also
active in the Altai Republic, Karelia, Mari El, Adygea, Kalmykia, Chuvashia,
the Altai Territory, as well as the Pskov and Kurgan regions.
Today, I suggest we discuss the key aspects of this programme for Tuva as a whole. We will delve into the specific challenges
the region faces in education, healthcare, natural resource development,
tourism, transportation, housing construction, and other sectors.
Tuva boasts abundant raw materials, including lead,
coal, non-ferrous and rare metals. One of Russia’s largest lithium deposits is
located here. Lithium is highly sought after for producing batteries,
electronics, and various components used in the nuclear, space, and aviation
industries, essentially, for the industries of the future.
Tuva holds the top position in Russia for lithium reserves, accounting for nearly 30 percent, just over 28 percent to be
precise. The extraction of this metal is, without exaggeration, a matter of strategic importance, and the way we handle it will largely determine the efficiency
of our programmes aimed at ensuring import substitution and technological
independence. During our meeting, I would like to hear about the prospects for developing the republic’s major deposits, the areas that need special
attention, and any challenges that require specific solutions and support from
the federal centre.
I would also like to note that,
thanks to various measures already being implemented in Tuva, it has become
possible to build more housing. This is particularly important for a republic like
Tuva because new families are being created. Tuva is one of the youngest
regions in the Russian Federation, with people around 18 years old making up 30
percent of its population. Tuva ranks second in terms of the birth rate
nationwide. We should all follow the example of the people of Tuva.
As I mentioned earlier, we need to expand regional housing construction volumes, create engineering and transport
infrastructure, build social facilities and improve overall living conditions. These
relevant projects should be included in the regional development programme, which
is currently being drafted, and should be backed with the necessary financial
resources.
I have just met with the students
who are starting a new school year. One of them asked about the development of tourism. The tourism industry is one of the most promising sectors in the republic, primarily because of its rich, interesting and unique nature. We need
to increase the number of tourists visiting Tuva. To achieve this, we must
create additional accommodation at hotels and holiday resorts and offer attractive
tourist programmes. At the same time, we must also focus on efforts to preserve
the unique and rare nature and animal species in the republic. Today, we will see
how this work is organised. I know that the republic and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment are currently discussing the possibility of establishing Tuva National Park in the specially protected territory of the same name.
We will also analyse the implementation of current national projects in the region, particularly
focusing on making education and healthcare more accessible, as well as addressing Tuva’s high priority development objectives when drafting new
national projects until 2030.
On the whole, I hope to hear
detailed reports on the current situation in Tuva’s economy and social sphere, as well as its development prospects.
Let us turn to our agenda. Head of the Republic Vladislav Khovalyg has the floor.
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