Transcript of the beginning of the meeting:

Vladimir Putin: How are you?

Yunus-Bek Yevkurov: Quite good, thank you.

Vladimir Putin: Is everything OK?

Yunus-Bek Yevkurov: It is. I would like to make a brief report. The general situation in the republic is stable and quiet, which is good news. We are currently focusing on socio-economic development. We are actively implementing the Socio-Economic Development of the Republic of Ingushetia Federal Targeted Programme. Thirty new facilities appeared in the republic in 2010 and 2011. Recently, a very good emergency room was opened as part of this programme. There is no other emergency room of such quality anywhere else in the North Caucasus Federal District. It is very well equipped and located on a federal motorway. Another thing worth mentioning is the renovation of the Magas airport. We also plan to renovate 10 km of a federal motorway beginning in 2012. Additionally, there are many industrial and public facilities that promote further socio-economic progress in the republic.

Vladimir Putin: Has there been any progress on modernising healthcare and education?

Yunus-Bek Yevkurov: We have disbursed all funding for education, but there have been some problems with healthcare projects. We are using the money, there is no problem with that. What is the reason? I believe the reason is red tape. And all these tenders…

Vladimir Putin: How many facilities are to be upgraded?

Yunus-Bek Yevkurov: Around 47 facilities, including rural medical centres, hospitals and outpatient clinics. The modernisation programme helps greatly with carrying out major renovations of these buildings and purchasing new modern equipment.

We have implemented our investment policy very well. Private investors have provided over two billion roubles.

It had been just 600. With state guarantees, we expect to reach 25 billion roubles of private investments in 2012. This is the first point. Second, our local entrepreneurs are very enthusiastic about working for the republic, which we’ve not seen before.

Vladimir Putin: Good. I can see tax revenue has grown significantly, by 270%.

Yunus-Bek Yevkurov: This is the best indicator in the country.

Vladimir Putin: It is a record.

Yunus-Bek Yevkurov: We are the top republic in this regard. We collected 600 million roubles in 2008, now that figure is nearly three billion.

Vladimir Putin: Yes, 3.5 billion.

Yunus-Bek Yevkurov: Our goal is to take in up to five billion.

Vladimir Putin: Good.