"In 2010 the government will launch pilot projects to develop single-industry towns and villages," First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov stated during his working visit to the village of Svetlogorye, adding that "a total of 10 billion roubles has been allocated from the national budget for this."

During his visit, First Deputy Prime Minister Shuvalov inspected the Lermontov ore mining and processing works. Touring the company's production facilities, he remembered that in summer 2009, when employees at the village's chief employer faced critical wage arrears, the Primorye Territory authorities, including Governor Sergei Darkin, stepped in on Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's directive. "The governor guaranteed a loan to settle these debts, allowing the company to begin full cycle production and mine tungsten, and to start up operations at the ore-processing plant," noted the first deputy prime minister.

Mr Shuvalov emphasised that "one cannot allow a single-industry town to depend on a single large company, which is why programmes to support small and medium-sized businesses will be launched in Svetlogorye." According to the first deputy prime minister, timber processing is one of the promising sectors.

Mr Shuvalov also toured Svetlogorye's secondary school, visited an orphanage, and went to see a school teacher. The first deputy prime minister asked Svetlogorye residents whether they want to move away to the big city. They replied that they would not like to change where they live, their main desire is to have stable jobs and wages.

There are 1,300 residents in Svetlogorye. The majority of the village's able-bodied population is employed at the Lermontov ore mining and processing works.