OREANDA-NEWS. Vladimir Putin held a meeting with Government members to discuss social and economic development in the Far East and Baikal regions.

The meeting addressed special advanced economic development zones, whose creation the President proposed in the Far East and Eastern Siberia in his Address to the Federal Assembly in December 2013. These are territories with special conditions for organising non-extractive manufacturing facilities, intended in part for export.

First Deputy Minister for the Development of the Russian Far East Alexander Osipov gave the keynote speech. According to Mr Osipov, it is imperative to create conditions for implementing investment projects in special advanced economic development zones, which will be competitive with neighbouring areas in the Asia Pacific Region. The Ministry analysed 340 investment projects and selected 28. According to Mr Osipov, implementing investment projects in the Far East will allow for the creation of 36,000 jobs and provide an additional income of 360 billion roubles over the course of 10 years.

Head of the Accounts Chamber Tatyana Golikova gave a detailed report on the results of an inspection conducted by the Accounts Chamber in the Far East.

There was also a discussion on the progress in the relief efforts following the 2013 flood, particularly issues of providing housing to the victims.

Deputy Prime Minister and Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Far Eastern Federal District Yury Trutnev gave a progress report on overcoming the effects of the extensive flooding in the Republic of Yakutia (Sakha), Primorye and Khabarovsk territories, Amur and Magadan regions and the Jewish Autonomous Region.

The President stressed that he intends to visit the regions undergoing reconstruction efforts himself. Mr Putin stressed that the most important priority is for people to be living in new apartments and houses in time for the next winter season.