Moscow proposes more than double reduction in funding of state programme for NCFD's development

It is proposed to reduce funding for the state programme of development of the North-Caucasian Federal District (NCFD) in 2017 to 13.7 billion roubles, while the amount of 31.8 billion roubles was initially allocated. According to Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, the focus is on attraction of private investment to the NCFD.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that the state programme on the development of the North-Caucasian Federal District for the period until 2025 was approved by the Russian government on December 13, 2012, and was repeatedly adjusted. Recent changes were made to the state programme on February 27, 2016.

According to the Russian Prime Minister, in the social sphere of the regions of the NCFD, major problems are related to health and education. In particular, construction of new schools fails to keep pace with demography, and therefore, in some areas of the NCFD, pupils go to schools in three shifts, noted Dmitry Medvedev.

Since 2017, the state programme for development of the North-Caucasian Federal District will be focused on the development of the real sector of the economy, including agriculture, consumer goods industry, and tourism. Meanwhile, private investments and not the federal budget are to become the main source of the growth in the region, reports the website of the Russian government.

According to Lev Kuznetsov, Minister for Development of Northern Caucasus, involvement of private investments to areas of the NCFD should be stimulated by allocation to the North-Caucasian regions of financial assistance within the same limits as part of the state programme.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.