Category: Университетская жизнь /

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Government of the Russian Federation – Government of the Russian Federation –

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The government is systematically modernizing public utilities infrastructure across the country. The federal project "Modernization of Public Utilities Infrastructure," part of the national project "Infrastructure for Life," which launched in 2025, is aimed at systematically upgrading the country's housing and utilities sector.

"The housing and utilities sector, whose workers celebrate their professional holiday on March 15, has always been one of the most challenging. But problems accumulated over decades are being gradually addressed. Modernization of utilities infrastructure is one of the most ambitious and socially significant components of the national project 'Infrastructure for Life.' This work not only includes targeted upgrades of critical infrastructure but also creates a foundation for sustainable regional development. Comprehensive modernization plans have been developed, including more than 50,000 measures aimed at upgrading over 18,000 housing and utilities facilities and approximately 140,000 km of utility networks. Since the start of the national project, certain results have been achieved, laying the foundation for a systemic upgrade of the country's housing and utilities sector. Construction, reconstruction, and major repairs have been completed on more than 1,300 utilities infrastructure facilities," said Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin.

Various projects have already been completed in a number of regions. Significant work has been carried out in the Ryazan, Tula, Oryol, and Pskov regions. In the Krasnodar Krai, 20 water supply facilities were modernized in 2025, improving the quality of utilities for over 150,000 people. In the Republic of Bashkortostan, approximately 450,000 residents benefited from improvements following the completion of work at 19 water supply facilities. In the Republic of Kalmykia, three water supply facilities were commissioned, improving the quality of services for over 190,000 people.

"The most important condition for systemic modernization is the systematic transition of the industry to self-sufficiency and the attraction of extra-budgetary investments. Memoranda have been signed with 83 regions participating in the federal project "Modernization of Public Utilities Infrastructure" of the national project "Infrastructure for Life." These memoranda provide for a set of obligations to improve the efficiency of the housing and utilities sector: an annual reduction in overdue accounts receivable of resource supplying organizations by at least 2%, approval of investment programs for all organizations implementing activities within the framework of comprehensive plans, ensuring the renewal of at least 2.5% of heat, water supply and sanitation networks from 2030, as well as an annual reduction in the average time of emergency restoration work on the networks. In addition, by 2027, the level of implementation of investment programs must reach at least 80% of the planned target, and by 2030 – 100%. We are faced with an ambitious goal – by 2030, it is necessary to radically improve the quality of housing and utilities services for 20 million people. Within the framework of the federal project "Modernization of Public Utilities Infrastructure", we are consistently moving towards this goal, synchronizing the efforts of the federal center, regions and businesses,” noted Deputy Minister of Construction and Housing and Public Utilities Alexey Eresko.

Total funding for the housing and utilities sector in 2025–2030 is estimated at 4.5 trillion rubles, with private investment planned. Off-budget funding for this period is planned at 1.9 trillion rubles.

To date, all constituent entities of the Russian Federation have developed and approved comprehensive plans for the modernization of public utility infrastructure through 2030, which have been accumulated in the automated information system of the Territorial Development Fund (AIS FRT).

"The Territorial Development Fund monitors comprehensive plans for the implementation of the federal project 'Modernization of Public Utilities Infrastructure,' the activities of utility providers, and the implementation of memoranda signed between the Ministry of Construction and the regions. Overall, the AIS FRT contains detailed information on over 1.1 million housing and utilities facilities. This system is the only master database of public utilities facilities in the country, providing a comprehensive picture of the state of the industry," emphasized Vasily Kupyzin, CEO of the Territorial Development Fund.

Modern technological solutions are being employed during the reconstruction and major repairs of facilities in the regions. For example, during the renovation of main pipelines, trenchless and open-pit methods are used, with the complete replacement of worn steel pipes with low-density polyethylene alternatives. This increases the system's corrosion resistance and flexibility, ensuring a service life of over 50 years.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Government of the Russian Federation – Government of the Russian Federation –

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Deputy Prime Minister Vitaly Savelyev held a meeting on the implementation of the Moscow–St. Petersburg high-speed railway project. Participants discussed the current status of infrastructure construction and rolling stock production for the high-speed railway.

Active construction and installation work is currently underway in the Moscow and Tver regions on the test section from Zelenograd to Tver. This section will be used for testing the new high-speed train before the line's launch. Preparatory work has begun on the remaining stages.

As the Deputy Prime Minister noted, the intensity of construction work on the high-speed railway is increasing. "Since the end of last year, the number of workers involved has increased by more than 50% and now exceeds 20,000. The amount of equipment deployed has almost doubled, reaching over 10,000 units," said Vitaly Savelyev.

The project is highly technically complex due to the route's terrain and geology. It will require the construction of 239 bridges and overpasses, totaling 180 km. They will be constructed using 32-meter-long beams weighing 700 tons, significantly exceeding the parameters of standard road construction designs. To simplify logistics and maintain the rapid pace of construction, 10 production plants are being built along the entire Moscow–St. Petersburg HSR route.

Two robotic factories for the production of special ballastless slabs are being built simultaneously. Fourteen pile production plants will also be equipped for the project. Four such plants are already operating at the pilot site.

The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized that it is crucial to maintain the current pace of work to ensure the launch of traffic on the first line of the high-speed railway within the deadlines set by the President.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

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Source: Government of the Russian Federation – Government of the Russian Federation –

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The Russia-Namibia Business Forum was held in Windhoek, Namibia, as part of the 11th meeting of the Intergovernmental Russian-Namibian Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation. The event was organized at the suggestion of the Namibian side and at the instruction of Yuri Trutnev, Deputy Prime Minister and Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Far Eastern Federal District and Chairman of the Russian side of the Intergovernmental Commission.

"Our countries are bound by a strong and long-standing friendship. Beginning in the 1960s, the USSR was one of the few countries that tangibly assisted the Namibian people in their liberation struggle. I believe we have no right to forget this. It is precisely this time-tested friendship that can serve as a reliable foundation for future relations. However, current relations are no less important. A number of conflicts are raging around the world. The Russian Federation continues its special military operation, and the situation in the Middle East and several other regions remains unstable. We know that Namibia supports the Russian Federation's position in UN voting. Together, we oppose the spread of Nazism and actively promote disarmament issues. Today's forum is primarily dedicated to business dialogue. Clearly, developing economic ties contributes to the preservation and development of friendship between our countries," Yuri Trutnev opened the business forum.

The forum was co-organized by the Ministry of International Relations and Trade of Namibia, the Namibia Investment and Development Promotion Board (NIPDB), the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI), the Far East and Arctic Development Corporation, and the Roscongress Foundation, with the support of the Russian Ministry of Economic Development.

Namibia's Minister of International Relations and Trade, Co-Chair of the Namibian Intergovernmental Commission, Selma Ashipala-Musawyi, noted the growing momentum in bilateral relations and the two countries' commitment to deepening economic cooperation, developing trade, and investment. "Today's business forum represents an important milestone in relations between Namibia and Russia. For decades, our countries have enjoyed strong diplomatic relations based on solidarity, mutual respect, and shared expectations for further development. Historically, the political relationship between Namibia and Russia has been strategic. However, the same cannot be said of our economic and trade relations. Our task today is to develop relations on this foundation and translate political will into practical economic partnership, investment, and industrial cooperation," Ashipala-Musawyi emphasized.

The Russia-Namibia Business Forum served as a discussion platform aimed at developing and strengthening the trade and investment partnership between Russia and Namibia. Representatives of over 20 Russian companies attended the event, including Rosatom, VEB.RF, Rostec, Nord Gold, and Uralkali. Representatives of over 70 Namibian companies also participated.

"I would like to thank the participants from the Russian Federation, who have come a long way. We are also grateful to the Namibian business community for their attention to developing relations with our country. I would like to emphasize that the Russian delegation is very representative. Our meeting today is being held as part of the Intergovernmental Russian-Namibian Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation. Clearly, the level of economic cooperation, reflected in the $18.4 million in trade turnover, cannot be considered sufficient. At the same time, if we look at trends, the volume of trade between our countries has been growing in recent years. I am confident that we will be able to find opportunities for cooperation in energy, high technology, mining, petrochemicals, finance, and the agro-industrial sector," said Yuri Trutnev.

Representatives of government and business circles from both countries discussed practical aspects and prospects for expanding cooperation in areas such as trade, energy, geological exploration, investment, transport and logistics, agro-industrial complex, high technology, and other priority areas of bilateral cooperation.

At the forum's plenary session dedicated to developing trade and investment partnerships between Russia and Namibia, Artem Dovlatov, Deputy Chairman of VEB.RF, noted the high potential for bilateral business development and the importance of financial mechanisms for practical implementation. "Russian businesses are ready to share solutions with Namibia in areas where Russia has clear expertise and proven experience. VEB's task is to assist in the implementation of the business agreements reached," Dovlatov stated.

Particular attention was paid to developing cooperation in education. Over 220 Namibians are studying at Russian universities. According to Yuri Trutnev, this will further facilitate the expansion of cooperation in this area and support the targeted training of Namibian personnel, primarily in in-demand engineering and technical fields.

"For us, developing economic contacts is not just a matter of cooperation between commercial organizations; it's also crucial for fostering friendship between countries. Therefore, the Government of the Russian Federation will support this work in every possible way. While economic cooperation is of great importance, the foundation is ultimately trust and mutual respect between countries. In this regard, Russia and Namibia have always held very close positions," concluded Yuri Trutnev.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

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Source: Government of the Russian Federation – Government of the Russian Federation –

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Tatyana Golikova spoke at the final meeting of the Ministry of Labor at the National Center "Russia."

Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova spoke at the final meeting of the board of the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection at the National Center "Russia."

"For several years now, our country has been operating under difficult conditions of severe sanctions and restrictions. But despite all these challenges, the social sector, represented here today at the National Center 'Russia,' by the Ministry of Labor, the Social Fund, Rostrud, the medical and social expertise agency, federal agencies, and regional ministries, is fulfilling its assigned tasks with dignity, ensuring the state's social obligations are met," said Tatyana Golikova.

The Deputy Prime Minister noted that Russia is increasingly focusing on large families: both their size and the number of children in them are growing. Last year, the number of large families increased by 10.6% to over 2.9 million, while the number of children in large families increased by 590,000 to 9.5 million.

According to her, extensive efforts have prevented a significant decline in the birth rate. Eighteen regions, including those that previously showed negative trends, have seen increases. These include the city of Sevastopol, Mordovia, the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, the Leningrad, Vologda, Kaliningrad, Nizhny Novgorod, and Ryazan regions, the Jewish Autonomous Oblast, Adygea, Karachay-Cherkessia, and the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug.

She added that demographic issues are inextricably linked to family incomes. "Wage growth, employment-focused measures, and targeted support measures have contributed to a reduction in poverty. By the end of 2025, the poverty rate was 6.7%, a decrease of 0.4 percentage points compared to 2024," said Tatyana Golikova.

Particular attention is being paid to systemic measures within the framework of national projects and strategies. Last year, the country launched the implementation of new national projects—"Family" and "Personnel"—as well as two key strategic documents: the Action Strategy for the Implementation of Family and Demographic Policy and Support for Large Families and the Action Strategy for Senior Citizens. These initiatives are designed to create a comprehensive system of support for Russian families at different stages of the life cycle and strengthen the country's demographic potential.

Minister of Labor and Social Protection Anton Kotyakov spoke about the initial results of the national projects and the mechanisms for implementing the state's priority tasks. He also shared plans for 2026.

"It has already become a tradition to meet here at the National Center 'Russia' to review our work over the year and discuss the challenges ahead. The past year was marked by a number of significant events: at the President's initiative, the new national projects 'Family' and 'Personnel' were launched, as the Prime Minister mentioned in his welcoming remarks today. The national project 'Family' brings together all the popular support measures for families with children—maternity capital, family mortgages, childbirth payments, a unified allowance, and a new family tax payment, which we will be working on this year. For the first time, support for large families has been identified as a separate project. The development of regional demographic programs has become a separate focus," said Anton Kotyakov.

He also added that the national "Personnel" project provided the foundation for long-term labor market management. It combined both management tools and direct support measures for job seekers and employers. Last year, its performance exceeded 98%.

As Anton Kotyakov noted, unemployment has reached a historically low level of 2.2%. He noted that, according to Rosstat, average wages increased by 13.5%, while real wages, that is, wages adjusted for inflation, increased by 4.4%.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

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Source: Government of the Russian Federation – Government of the Russian Federation –

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Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Patrushev held a working meeting with Samara Region Governor Vyacheslav Fedorishchev. The main topics discussed were the development of the agro-industrial complex and ensuring environmental well-being in the region.

Last year, 2.2 billion rubles were allocated from the federal budget to support the agro-industrial complex and the development of rural areas in the Samara region, and almost 2.5 billion have been allocated for the current year.

The agricultural production index for 2025 was estimated to be nearly 106%, which is higher than the national average.

In recent years, the Samara Region's agro-industrial complex has demonstrated steady growth across all key areas. Specifically, historical oilseed production records were set in 2025 – 1.5 million tons. Currently, the region's farmers are actively preparing for the spring fieldwork. This year, the planned sowing area is at last year's level – approximately 2.3 million hectares. Dmitry Patrushev emphasized that to ensure the high-quality execution of the upcoming sowing campaign, farmers must be provided with all the necessary materials and equipment.

An important area of work is the comprehensive development of rural areas. Under the relevant state program, 1.2 billion rubles have been allocated from the federal budget to the Samara Region for municipal improvements in 2025. A comparable amount is earmarked for 2026.

Dmitry Patrushev and Vyacheslav Fedorishchev also discussed the region's participation in the national project "Environmental Well-Being." In 2025, the Samara Region became one of the leaders among Russian regions in terms of reforestation. Its area significantly exceeded the area of dead trees. This result was made possible by increased funding for reforestation work and the purchase of forestry equipment.

In the Samara Region, work is also underway to create facilities for the processing, recycling, and disposal of municipal solid waste. Furthermore, the federal project "Water of Russia" is being implemented. Approximately 1 billion rubles are planned to be allocated from the federal budget for all activities under this national environmental project by 2030.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.