Governor of Chelyabinsk Region Petr Sumin met up with his deputies to discuss the measures aimed at fighting the economic crisis. The spokesperson for the Governor reports the meeting was also attended by the Minister for Economic Development Elena Murzina and the Minister for Industry and Natural Resources Evgeniy Teftelev. Upon the Governor’s request, these ministers chair the working teams on anti-crisis action plans for small and large enterprises.

The performance of all the regional governmental departments related to support of the local economy is being coordinated by Deputy Governor Yuri Klepov, who informed the Governor of the current state of events in the real sector and the banking field. Elena Murzina reported that the Ministry for Economic Development and the region’s NGOs had been monitoring the small businesses on a daily basis and that a hotline was introduced for the local business community. The Ministry had received twenty-eight applications from SMEs for the regional budget’s support to compensate for the interest they pay on loans and leasing agreements. Besides, the regional budget is to undergo changes on the basis of a revised socioeconomic forecast of the region’s development that is being prepared by the Ministry.

The regional deputies are expected to carry out the second and the third reading of the region’s budget in mid-December. According to Evgeniy Teftelev, thanks to the Russian Government’s assistance some credit lines were offered by the banks to the region’s major enterprises such as Magnitogorsk Iron & Steel Works (MMK), ChTZ – Uraltrac, and Magnesite. What is more, the Ministry for Industry and the regional enterprises have been negotiating with the federal authorities for purchases of large shipments of nickel and zinc for the state reserve needs. The heads of local defense enterprises have also applied to the Ministry for assistance in getting the state-guaranteed orders. Five more businesses are suggesting that the start of the project on the industrial development of the Urals’ north (known as The Industrial Urals-The Polar Urals) should begin earlier, in January, for instance.

Petr Sumin asked all the working teams to keep monitoring the state of economic events and speed up the implementation of the anti-crisis measures.

‘We must assess and forecast, but, most importantly, we must make a positive impact. We must work daily in order to help the region’s breadwinners – enterprises and business entities,’ he remarked.