OREANDA-NEWS. December 12, 2008. Despite current difficulties in the financial and economic spheres, the government will not cut social programmes nor fail to deliver on the promises of a social nature it has made to its citizens, the President of Russia said at the meeting.

The head of state said that the global financial crisis offers Russia opportunities to address long-standing challenges, namely real gains in productivity, optimisation of production and development of new market niches. Labour market structures must also be optimised and regional authorities should actively support those wishing to start their own businesses and minimize the number of dismissals. The President referred to the conservation of highly qualified personnel as one of the government's key tasks during this period.

The President emphasised that domestic producers must be protected and urged that the economy be smoothly reoriented towards the domestic market.

Dmitry Medvedev believes that there is everything necessary in the Urals Federal District to resolve economic and social problems in a difficult period of global financial crisis. He also stressed that the strategic projects in the Urals will not be phased out, including those associated with the development of the Polar and Circumpolar Urals.

During his working visit the President also met with Governor of the Kurgan Region Oleg Bogomolov, visited the Kurgan FSB Border Institute, the regional orphanage and one of the largest companies in the area, Kurganstalmost, a bridge-building company.