Arkhangelsk top news in November
WEEK 44 (November 1-7)
New Vice-Governor.
Roman Balashov has been approved by the Regional Deputies Council as a new Head of the staff in the Arkhangelsk regional Government. Balashov used to be Head of the staff in the regional Government with the previous Governor Nikolay Kiselev and was fired by Kiselev with no apparent cause.
Another step in merging the universities.
On November 1 NAFU and PSU held the first joint meeting of scientific and research councils. This is another step in the direction of merging two largest universities of Arkhangelsk which is planned to be completed in 2011.
Arkhangelsk oblast investments rating.
Arkhangelsk Oblast and NAO have been included in the list of 30 most investment-attractive regions of Russia according to the expert board of the international investment premium «Investment Angel».
Prirazlomnaya platform ready.
Assembling of the offshore ice-resistant platform Prirazlomnaya is coming to the end. The ceremony for sending the platform to the final stage of construction to Murmansk from Severodvinsk will take place on November 16. There will be people from Gazprom, Gazprom neft shelf, administration of Severodvinsk and Arkhangelsk regional Government present at the arrangement. The platform is planned to be operated at the first Russian Arctic offshore field.
Investments in peat processing.
There are plans in Arkhangelsk to start developing facilities for non-waste processing of peat. Annual production of peat may exceed 1 million tons. Chief investor in the project is declared to be MIR company. The company is intended to start reconstruction of a number of boiler houses in the Primoslkiy and Kholmogorskiy districts of the Arkhangelsk region. The company is going to supply some of the products to the local market and also export them to the Middle and Far East countries (Libya, UAE, Tunis, Thailand, etc.) and South America.
WEEK 45 (November 8-14)
Belkomur development discussed
The questions of developing transportation corridor Belkomur were discussed on November 9 in the Arkhangelsk regional Government at the meeting of the representatives from the local Ministry of Industry, Transport and Communication and the managers from the Swedish logistic project TransBaltic. The region is interesting for the European Union from the point of view of modernization and optimization of navigable sea routes in the Baltics, since it has a harbor, perspective from the logistical point of view, with a good potential in loading capacities, and it also has access to the main thoroughfares of the country.
International Youth Forum
2nd International Youth Civil Forum "Learn to Act" took place in the capital of the Pomor Land on November 3-5. 150 people took part in the Forum: representatives from youth non-profit organization (NGO), activists from the sphere of youth politics, culture, business and authorities from the Northern European countries and cities in the North-west of Russia. The Forum participants had an opportunity to share positive experience of social practices, to establish good contacts with each other with the purpose to develop cross-border youth cooperation in the Barents region and the civil society. The Forum participants worked in mini-groups: NGOs and youth, youth and culture, NGOs and environmental protection, youth and tourism, youth in business.
Russian-Norwegian medical conference
Arkhangelsk Oblast is planning to develop cooperation with the Northern Norway in order to improve medical healthcare as was declared during the Russian-Norwegian conference on reduction of mortality and disability rate among people injured in traffic accidents. In 2009 the Arkhangelsk Oblast was chosen as one of the pilot regions for implementation of federal program to help people injured in road accidents. The results were not slow to arrive, but the number of traffic accidents in the Arkhangelsk oblast still remains on quite a high level.
Governor's video blog
Blog of the Arkhangelsk Governor Ilya Mikhalchuk started to work. It will contain TV interviews, messages and speeches of the regional Head. http://www.dvinaland.ru/power/head/videoblog/
Road to Solovki
The Solovki Islands are planned to be made more available with the construction of a road. In order to improve transportation access and affordability of trips to Solovki the regional Government suggests using the territory near coastal settlement Letnyaya Zolotitsa in the Primorsky district of the Arkhangelsk region for construction of transportation and logistics hub and tourist facilities. The regional Government has prepared its proposals for the administration of the RF president to be included in the federal target program for development of the Solovki archipelago.
Nenets Okrug to cooperate with Yamal
The Governor of the Nenets Autonomous Okrug Igor Fyodorov and the Governor of the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug Dmitry Kobylkin have signed a protocol of activities for 2010-1013 under the implementation of agreement for commercial, economic, scientific, technical and cultural cooperation. The parties agreed to cooperate in commercial sphere, social and economic development, as well as in the establishment of favourable investment climate. Joint projects are also planned within economic development of indigenous peoples's communities.
Human-rights conference
A seminar-conference on observation of human rights was held in the capital of the Pomor Land with the support from the human rights organization Moscow Helsinki Group. Representatives from organizations and movements related to observation of human rights took part in the arrangement. Seminar participants discussed the questions of establishment and development of civil society institutions on the federal, as well as on the regional level, tolerance and liberal attitude towards religion, situation with the observation of human rights and human rights movement in the Arkhangelsk Oblast.
Regional budget 2011
Public hearings on the Arkhangelsk oblast draft budget for 2011 took place on November 10. Regional budget revenue is expected to reach 37.818 billion roubles, budget expenses are expected to be 42.527 billion roubles. Regional budget deficit will amount to 4.709 billion roubles.
Save the Children project in Arkhangelsk oblast
New Russian-Norwegian Cooperation agreement signed not so long ago between the Russian representative office of the Association «Save the Children» (Norway) and the Velsk Centre of social assistance to families and children served as a trigger for the project «Strong family: Assistance to families in upbringing children in the Arkhangelsk region», which is designed to help problem children and their families. There will be 46 people working in the Centre. At the beginning they will focus on two activities: rehabilitation of children with disabilities and prevention of juvenile neglect and family ill-being.
Priorities of economic development in 2011
While preparing for the approval of the regional budget for 2011 the Government of the Arkhangelsk Oblast has prepared a forecast of the social and economic development of the Arkhangelsk oblast and NAO for 2011 and the planning period of 2012 and 2013. More active state policy is suggested to be focused on the development of transportation infrastructure, spheres of science and technology, housing construction, fuel and energy complex and housing and utilities, regional development, and restrained policy for regulation of tariffs for electricity.
More social spending for Nenets Okrug
Authorities of the Arkhangelsk region in 2011 will increase expenses for social support of the population living in the Nenets Autonomous Okrug. Next year expenses for education and social policy in the Okrug will grow by almost 25% and will amount to more than 1.4 billion roubles.
Northern Shipping company contributes in construction gas pipeline from Yamal
Ships of the NSC-Arkhangelsk have completed delivering coated pipes to the «MRTS-Defender» complex in the Bajdaratskaya Bay in the Kara Sea. For the shipping company this has been the third navigation of this type and an important part of all the coastal transshipments this year. During three and a half months marine vessels of JSC NSC-Arkhangelsk made 33 voyages and transhipped more than 35 kilometres of pipes.
WEEK 46 (November 15-21)
Lomonosov Readings opened.
More than 200 arrangement s are planned to be held on the Pomor Land during 39th Lomonosov readings “Arctic vector of the Russian development”. They will take place in the municipalities, educational and cultural establishments and will include scientific conferences, seminars, presentations, exhibitions, etc. Lomonosov readings is an opportunity to attract the attention of the federal authorities and the Russian society to the Arkhangelsk Oblast as the Motherland of the great scientist.
Narvik cooperates to Kotlas
Delegation from the Narvik community stayed with a visit in the Kotlas district. It was the final meeting under the Russian-Norwegian project “Youth cooperation: culture and tourism as viewed by young people”. Guests from Norway went sightseeing in Solvychegodsk. The Norwegians read some lectures for the students “About experience of establishment and work of young people’s enterprises in the Narvik community”. Protocol of Intentions was signed at the meeting of the Head of the Norwegian delegation Tore Nysater with the Head of the Kotlas District Svetlana Bralnina and the Head of Administration Vladimir Apraksin.
Agricultural major company to be established
New agricultural holding will start working in the Arkhangelsk region in spring 2011. Merging of agricultural companies will help to supply the region will necessary stock of grains or vegetables and also to solve the problems of efficient use of the agricultural lands.
Arkhangelsk opens air flights to Helsinki
It has been decided to launch a regular flight from Arkhangelsk to Helsinki and back. The flights will be performed by air company Nordavia – regional airlines, will most probably start of December 16 and will be done three times a week.
Russian and Norwegian Deputy Ministers discussed cross border cooperation.
First meeting of the Russian-Norwegian working group on Interregional and Cross-border Cooperation took place in the Arkhangelsk regional Government. The meeting was chaired by RF Deputy Minister of regional development Mr. Maxim Travnikov and State Secretary of the Norwegian Ministry of trade and industry Ms. Rikke Lind.
Energy efficiency on the top of Russian-Norwegian regional cooperation
Russian-Norwegian round table on energy efficiency took place in the local Government. The meeting has been initiated by the General Consulate of Norway in Murmansk and aimed at studying the local priorities in energy efficiency and energy saving for further cooperation with the Norwegian partners.
Cultural heritage on the web
Web-page “Cultural Heritage of the Arkhangelsk North” has been presented in the city collecting information about comprehensive culture of the Pomor Land. On the web-page one can get information about rich cultural heritage of the Arkhangelsk area, about traditions and customs of the Northerners, about material and spiritual cultural and historical monuments, both lost and existing, and about people who created them. The link for the web-page is www.cultnord.ru
NARFU to develop space technologies
Centre of Space Monitoring of the Arctic has been opened in the Institute of Information and Space Technologies at N(A)FU. Optical and radar images make it possible to perform non-stop monitoring of Arctic region. New book on the Arctic development. A book by Yuri Lukin, Professor of the Pomor State University, “Great Rearrangement in the Arctic” has been presented in Arkhangelsk. The main goal of the study is to give comprehensive coverage of the Arctic challenges taking into account Russian interests.
Regional budget 2011 approved in the first reading.
Deputies of the Regional Council have approved of the key budget parameters for 2011. The income is expected to be on the level of 37 bln 818 mln roubles, where own income, i.e. received within the region – 26 bln, and the rest is federal subsidies. The expenditures will amount to 42 bln 527 mln roubles. The deficit of 4.7 bln roubles will be compensated with the help of loans. The regional budget will finally be approved in December.
Industrial production index in growth
Growth of the industrial production index in the Arkhangelsk region (without Nenets Okrug) in January - October 2010 was 116.4%
NARFU cooperates with innovative companies
Technological Platform is being established on the basis of NAFU and the leading innovative companies. It will be dealing with the problems of infrastructure development for safe development of natural resources and improvement of life quality for the population in severe Northern climatic conditions.
Federal allocations for Nenets okrug.
Russian Treasury has given 437 million roubles to the Arkhangelsk region to execute its powers on the territory of the Nenets Okrug. The received money is planned to be spend to cover losses from supplying heat and electricity to rural population and to raise salary to employees from regional institutions located on the territory of the Okrug.
WEEK 47 (November 22-28)
NARFU strengthens cooperation with Norway
Rector of the Northern (Arctic) Federal University Elena Kudryashova and the Head of foreign citizens training Section in the RF Ministry of Education Oleg Isayev negotiated in Tromso with the Rector of Tromso University Jarle Aarbakke and the President of the University of the Arctic Lars Kullerud. During the visit it was agreed that the RF Ministry of education will give 15 study grants to Norwegian students to study in NARFU. In 2011 University of the Arctic will open a research center in NARFU. At the meeting in the Tromso Mayor's Office great interest was demonstrated again towards establishing twin-city relations between Tromso and Arkhangelsk.
Nenets okrug may get federal subsidies for tourism development
RF Ministry of regional development has praised the Nenets Okrug for using all the subsidies in due time. Thanks to this in 2011 NAO may receive a subsidy in the amount of 11 million 400 thousand roubles for the construction of Ethno cultural tourist center.
Social situation in the families is still complicated
In spite of positive demographic trends in the Arkhangelsk region the percentage of socially troubled families still remains high. The number of single-parent families is constantly growing. This was discussed at the Fathers' Forum which took place in the Pomor capital. According to official statistics there are more than 2000 children living in socially dangerous environment in the region.
Nordic Week in Arkhangelsk
The Nordic week marking the 15th anniversary of official cooperation between the Nordic Council of Ministers and Northwest Russia was arranged in Arkhangelsk. The Nordic week, which included a number of arrangements for both professionals and wider audience, was opened by Halldór Asgrimsson, the Secretary General of the Nordic Council of Ministers.
International volunteers meeting in Kotlas
Project "International volunteer meetings" started in Kotlas. Within the project it is planned to learn about the history and main ideas of volunteer activities, to present international volunteer programs and opportunities to participate in long-term volunteer projects of the European Volunteer Organization under EU program.
Severodvinsk to get federal financing for economic diversification
Severodvinsk is included in a list of single-industry towns applying for financing from the Federal budget in 2010 and will get almost 1 billion roubles for development of its investment attractiveness on the condition that it timely adopts its Integrated Investment Plan. The main objective in the plan should be to change the single-industry structure of the city's economy through diversification its production.
Conference on social orphanage
Regional scientific and practical conference with foreign participants "Family placement of orphan children: experience and perspectives in the Arkhangelsk region"took place on November 25-26 in Arkhangelsk. There were 150 participants from 22 municipalities of the Arkhangelsk region, also representatives from Vologda region and Sweden.
Round table on investments climate
Round table was arranged on attracting investments and improvement of investment climate in the region. The participants were representatives from most Ministries and Departments of the local Government and management of business companies.
Northern Sea Route development discussed in Narjan-Mar
Visiting session of the Federation Council Commission on national marine policy took place in Naryan-Mar. The Senators discussed relevant issues of State regulation on the Northern Sea Route and its influence on the regional development, the case with the Nenets Okrug.
Journalists seminar on HIV/AIDS and drug addiction
A seminar for journalists to increase their professional competence in HIV / AIDS and drug-addiction was arranged under the project "Social partnership against HIV / AIDS and drug-addiction in the North-west of Russia". Reporters from the North-west, representatives from press services together with their colleagues from Nordic countries exchanged experience in making TV stories and articles focused on prevention and fight against HIV / AIDS and drug-addiction.
New regional tourists brands to be developed
Competition has been announced in Arkhangelsk to develop a regional and municipal tourist brands. A brand should contain a logo and a slogan. In December 2010 united tourist e-map is planned to be launched.
Consul General of Great Britain visited Arkhangelsk
Delegation from Great Britain has arrived to Arkhangelsk headed by the Consul General of Great Britain in St.-Petersburg Mr. Gareth Ward. At the meeting in the Arkhangelsk regional Government they discussed participation of British military troops in the celebrations of the Northern Convoys jubilee, and also possibilities for developing economic cooperation between our countries.
Federal subsidies for forests restoration
Arkhangelsk region will receive 292 million roubles from the federal budget for forest restoration. The region will also be supported, among other things financially, in establishing aviation service for forest protection. It has been decided to arrange International Forest Forum in Arkhangelsk next year.