The politicians discussed the issues of implementing major investment projects in the Penza Oblast by videoconference on Monday, August 2, 2021.
At the beginning of the business talks, the President of the Russian Federation drew attention to investment projects, the implementation of which should be completed in the Penza Oblast in the next three years.
"I mean the construction of a meat production complex and a dairy one. Then you have to create a livestock complex in the Penzensky district and a plant for the production of raw materials and ingredients for the food industry in the Bessonovsky district, as well as construct a flour mill in the Mokshansky district and a complex for the building materials production in Zarechny," Vladimir Putin listed.
"In general, what do you think about this field of work, what are the prospects here given the problems related to the fight against COVID-19 that we have all recently faced?" the head of state asked.
Describing the investment activity, Oleg Melnichenko, first of all, singled out such large companies as Rusmolko, Damate, Vostok Agro, Konoplex and Cherkizovo.
"We signed additional agreements on the implementation of these investment agreements during the St. Petersburg Economic Forum. This will give us about 22 billion rubles of investments in these projects in the Penza Oblast in the next three years, so we will be able to create about 1,200 jobs for these investment projects," the acting head of the Penza Oblast informed.
"In addition, due to the fact that agriculture still has a significant share in the gross regional product (15 percent) the implementation of these projects will allow us to increase the agricultural contribution to the gross regional product by about 1.2–1.5 percent, which we consider a very good result," he stressed.
As for investment projects in the field of industrial production, according to Oleg Melnichenko, the issue was discussed with Denis Manturov, the RF Minister of Industry and Trade, during his visit to the Penza Oblast.
"We have agreed to develop a cluster of machine-tool construction at Stankomashstroy. So we are creating three more investment sites. In fact, those areas were used for industrial production in the Soviet era, but then, unfortunately, the enterprises were closed, but utility systems and the purpose of the land are still designed for the zone of industrial production development. The site of the former Frunze plant alone is about 38 hectares, which has already been transferred to the Penza Oblast, and we can use it for investment projects. It will allow us to deploy several more industrial productions there," Oleg Melnichenko said.
"This, of course, will affect the growth rate of industrial production," he added.
Oleg Melnichenko also mentioned an industrial site that was used for the elimination of chemical weapons. Konoplex is ready to use it. It is planned that by 2022 a new production will be organised there.
Moreover, at an online meeting with the head of the Russian Federation, it was announced to launch of a turkey meat processing plant for 303 tons per day.
"It is a very important industrial enterprise that will allow us to produce goods that need a full cycle of deep processing: sausages, frankfurters and ready-to-cook food. Though Damate produces 155 thousand tons of meat in the Penza Oblast, we can reach even better results," Oleg Melnichenko said.
"I believe that this is a very promising field for the region, since it gives more jobs, and the Penza Oblast is actively involved in this investment project: we are building housing for workers of enterprises and creating an appropriate infrastructure for economic facilities," he added.
"So you think that, despite the COVID-related problems, all these projects are still quite feasible?" Vladimir Putin asked.
The acting governor affirmed it and clarified that, despite COVID, the implementation of these projects did not stop but was carried out.
"You know, I'd like to ask you to pay special attention to this, because investors will always, but especially now, need not only some federal assistance, but first of all your and your team's help. I see that you take this very seriously, and I hope that you will really achieve all those goals," the President of the Russian Federation summed up.
Photo credit to: http://kremlin.ru
