The transcript of the beginning of the meeting:

Vladimir Putin: Mr Kobylkin, what is your assessment of the situation in the region? How are you settling down to your position? How are you getting to know your sector?

Dmitry Kobylkin: Yesterday we held elections in our region to elect deputies to the Legislative Assembly and several heads of municipalities. The turnout was 52%, which is quite good.

Vladimir Putin: Good.

Dmitry Kobylkin: The majority, or 75%, voted for United Russia. A Just Russia finished second, followed by the Communist Party with a slight showing, and LDPR.

Vladimir Putin: Structurally, there has been little change, hasn't there?

Dmitry Kobylkin: Yes, in fact nothing changed. We had the same election results in 2005.

Vladimir Putin: And still who do you believe moved up and strengthened their positions?

Dmitry Kobylkin: A Just Russia.

Vladimir Putin: What about the socio-economic situation?

Dmitry Kobylkin: It is not bad, Mr Putin. Our domestic regional product is growing. The industrial production index is also fairly good: it rose by an average of 15% compared with 2009. There are, of course, many problems with kindergartens.

Vladimir Putin: As across the country.

Dmitry Kobylkin: Yes, as across the country. We have a high birth rate, especially among the indigenous people - it is in fact the highest.

Vladimir Putin: That is important, too.

Dmitry Kobylkin: We are also pleased. We are now focusing our efforts on the Arctic rural communities and demolishing dilapidated and unsafe housing. Nearly 50% of all housing on Yamal is today dilapidated.

Vladimir Putin: How much have your received from the Housing and Utilities Fund so far?

Dmitry Kobylkin: About two billion roubles altogether. To tell the truth, Mr Putin, Yamal has enough money today. We are planning to make 2011 a deficit-free year. We have expanded our revenue base. Gazprom is lending a helping hand with practically all social facilities and not only for the indigenous people, but also in tearing down dilapidated housing and relocating people, those who have reached the certain age.

Vladimir Putin: What is your industrial index for the first six months of the year?

Dmitry Kobylkin: In the first six months, our domestic regional product was at 340 billion roubles.

Vladimir Putin: And the growth rate?

Dmitry Kobylkin: We expect a 15% growth for the year.

Vladimir Putin: That is quite substantial.

Dmitry Kobylkin: Our indices are not bad. We make sure that food is available. There has been some improvement, but an insignificant one on the whole. Since all the goods on Yamal are brought in from the mainland, we want to have an agreement between the Chamber of Commerce and Industry and main suppliers to fix prices for some foods to stop further price growth.

Vladimir Putin: Until the year's end, is it?

Dmitry Kobylkin: Until the year's end.

Vladimir Putin: Good.