The participants of the meeting considered a set of measures, prepared by the Federal Agency for Fisheries, to develop coastal infrastructure for the collection, storage and processing of fish products. Also, the meeting highlighted personnel training issues for the fisheries complex.
"Within the next five years the volume of water bioresources produced will increase by half amounting to 4.7 million tons, with the Russian fish product share in the home market reaching 80%," noted Deputy Prime Minister Zubkov in his opening remarks.
"These tasks require modern infrastructure, capable of ensuring the acceptance, storage and processing of fish products, their shipment and sale to consumers at affordable prices," Mr Zubkov continued.
"Despite the economic crisis, we possess sufficient financial resources for this," Mr Zubkov stressed, specifying that along with the decision to use leasing schemes to equip infrastructure facilities, over 1 billion roubles has been allocated for subsidising interest rates on the loans issued to upgrade and build vessels, as well as ensure their logistical support and purchase equipment for coastal processing factories.
"Today we are going to consider the package of measures and see how these funds are used on-site. This meeting is a kind of a tryout to prepare for presenting this issue at a Government meeting in May," the First Deputy Prime Minister stated.
According to Mr Zubkov, improving the personnel training system for the fisheries complex is another priority. "Now that the financial and economic crisis has broken out and the unemployment rate is growing, tackling this issue is especially relevant," Mr Zubkov underscored.