Transcript of the beginning of the meeting:

Vladimir Putin: Let’s start our discussion with large projects. You are building a hydropower plant worth more than 2 billion roubles, 2.6 billion, aren’t you? Can you report on its implementation? You are also building two highways, including one in Kolyma with three bridges, each costing approximately 500 million roubles. Can you tell me about these projects’ performance?

Nikolai Dudov: Yes, I can, Mr Putin. We are working hard to implement these and other projects in the region. I assure you that they are progressing rapidly despite certain difficulties, which can happen to everyone.

I would like to thank you for our meeting last year when we discussed the Ust-Srednekanskaya plant. The instructions you issued to your deputy and the Economic Development Minister helped us find a solution that speeded up construction. The investor of the main project operator, RusHydro, provided the necessary funds in addition to allocations from the federal budget under the programme for the development of the Far East and the Trans-Baikal Region. The project is 90% ready, but we are not slackening pace; moreover, construction is gathering momentum.

This year allocations from the federal government under the above programme have been transferred in full and we have also received investment from our shareholder. We plan to invest nearly 4.5 billion roubles in the project this year in order to build the dam on the Kolyma River. The event is scheduled for the first ten days in September. I would like to invite you to attend it, if you can. It will be a large achievement showing that we may be able to commission the startup phase of the Ust-Srednekanskaya plant in 2012 and to continue working to complete the project.

The other projects we are implementing – road infrastructure – are also important. Allocations for the construction of the regional road from Palatka to Neksikan via Kulu are stipulated under the targeted programme.

Vladimir Putin: They amount to nearly 500 million roubles.

Nikolai Dudov: Exactly, although this is less than is needed for the project. But this is enough to carry on the construction. This regional road will connect us to the mining projects of great importance to us.

Vladimir Putin: This is the necessary infrastructure for expanding production.

Nikolai Dudov: That’s right. This is why I think that we will need all the allocations stipulated for the project, and we will also channel the necessary funds from the regional budget. We can do this now thanks to the region’s economic development, which provides revenues to the regional budget. We are fulfilling all the requirements for receiving federal allocations, and we are working hard to implement these projects.

You have mentioned bridges. Yes, we are building a bridge across the Kolyma…

Vladimir Putin: Three bridges.

Nikolai Dudov: Yes, three bridges, and the one across the Kolyma is the largest and the most expensive of them. It should be built within three years, and we started to invest federal allocations in this project already last year.

The other two bridges are also being built, with federal allocations approved. I don’t think there will be any problems regarding the scope of work we plan to do.

Vladimir Putin: I see that your unemployment figures are slightly higher than the average for Russia.

Nikolai Dudov: There were periods in 2010 when registered unemployment in the region did not exceed 2%.

Vladimir Putin: It is now 2.5%.

Nikolai Dudov: It was 2.45% at the end of 2010, but this is much lower than in 2009. At this point, in February and early March, although this could be the least favourable period [in terms of employment]… But I don’t think there will be problems because the gold sluicing season starts in April. Companies say they have 11,500 vacancies. Filling them is another matter, though. We have to invite specialists from other regions because we are short of skilled workforce.

Vladimir Putin: Have you reviewed the healthcare development programme?

Nikolai Dudov: Yes, although criticism expressed at the videoconference did not apply to us because we had done everything we were expected to do by that time.

I have returned from a business trip today and was told that our specialists have been working on the issue for the past three days. I think that all requests will be considered and taken into account in Moscow. We hope our programme will be approved and adopted.

I would like to thank you once again for stipulating considerable allocations to the extreme northeast regions under the programme. Allocations from the federal budget are set at 1.7 billion roubles, and we plan to provide at least 1.2 billion. Taken together, this means 3 billion roubles over two years, which is a huge amount given that we annually spend nearly 4 billion on healthcare.

Vladimir Putin: But these are current expenses, whereas we are allocating money specially for modernisation. People should feel the difference, especially in the Extreme North and comparable places. The climate is harsh in Magadan, and the people should see a change for the better in the healthcare system.

Nikolai Dudov: We will use these funds efficiently, so that the people see the benefits of contributions from the federal and regional budgets alike.

Vladimir Putin: I hope they will.