Governor of Chelyabinsk Region Petr Sumin provided some comments on the President of the Russian Federation Dmitriy Medvedev’s annual Address to the Federal Assembly.

‘This is a carefully thought-through strategic document. Its overarching idea is that Russia needs to upgrade its economy, infrastructure, and socio-political fields. The President is right: we have no time to lose. This is a matter of the country’s global survival. We can only survive in this world by truly moving to a new, high quality standard of living, by creating a post-industrial, innovative economy, and by adopting a new political culture,’ the Governor said.

‘The President’s Address gives a step-by-step implementation plan and covers five strategic areas of technological upgrades, including innovations, nuclear energy, space research, and IT. This is important news for Chelyabinsk Region, since the defense and industrial enterprises located in the area can help implement the plan proposed by Dmitriy Medvedev,’ Sumin added.

‘The President wants the state authorities and the business community to launch a complete overhaul of the country’s industrial and communal housing services infrastructures. It’s true that we are still living off the things built by our parents and grandparents. It’s time we contributed something ourselves. We have to replace the obsolete technologies with the new ones, introduce new urban development principles, and turn our villages and residential areas into nice places to live in. This challenge was part of the regional Strategy-2010 plan, and I see this was the right thing to think about,’ Governor Sumin noted.

‘I feel Dmitriy Medvedev strikes a rather delicate balance between the state and the private participation in the economic reform. The global economic gloom has definitely led to a stronger state influence. However, the important thing is to stick with the chosen policy. It is the strict control of the state that can help reach an understanding with businesses and state corporations whose economic efficiency looks dubious.’

Sumin believes the President has given clear-cut tasks to all levels of authority, including the federal constituencies.

‘We have to think not only of using our budgets more cleverly and of improving the public sector services, but also of reforming the whole administrative structure and of making better decisions. Chelyabinsk Region’s authorities will definitely do their best to meet the President’s challenge,’ the Governor promised.