Discussion of the situation in the region
 |
On March, 17 Head of Karelia Sergey Katanandov worked in Suojärvi region. Head of the republic is making regular working trips to regions. In Suojärvi the Head of Karelia was accompanied by the acting Assistant to the Prime Minister of the Government of the republic, Chief of the Administration of the Head of the Republic of Karelia Lyudmila Kosyuk, the Chief Federal Inspector in the Republic of Karelia Alexander Hynninen, key ministers of the Government.
In Suojärvi Sergey Katanandov has discussed economic situation with the regional economic core group, met with employees of Suojärvi cardboard factory, visited a local swimming pool, school and regional hospital, has held traditional meetings with residents and youth of the region.
According to the head of administration of Suojärvi region Ivan Prudnikov, the year 2009 was difficult for economy of the region: production of cardboard by Suojärvi cardboard factory of Kondopoga, Ltd., reduced having made only 78.5% to the level of the previous year, investments into economy have decreased, expenses for raw material, power resources, transportation of production have grown. It has affected the volume of funds which the region poesses for its needs. As well as in other regions, the enterprises had to cut down expenses, the need for personnel has decreased. Basically, it has concerned enterprises of timber industry complex.
Due to measures on stabilization of economy enterprises of the region in Suojärvi have managed to avoid a production collapse. The procedure of reduction of the number of employees at the enterprises was controlled, it has allowed to avoid unauthorized layoffs and has provided observance of social guarantees. Within the scope of the regional program of employment support there have been organized public works, subsidies are granted for organization of own business, professional conversion training is carroed out.
Meeting with workers of Suojärvi cardboard factory
 |
Head of the republic has lead one of meetings with employees of cardboard factory, one of the largest enterprises of Suojärvi region, which until recently was owned by Kondopoga, Ltd. Now the enterprise will have another owner, and the workers are concerned whether they will lose their job and whether the factory will keep working. The situation here is controlled by Sergey Katanandov personally, therefore he has invited to take part in the conversation both previous, and new owners of factory Automation, Ltd., from St.-Petersburg which have promised: workplaces will not be reduced, on the contrary the enterprise is planning to hire more workers.
However, there are other vacancies in the region today. Highly skilled workers with no bad habits, doctors, teachers, militia and boundary service officers are in demand. This year it is expected to create 40 constant workplaces in the sphere of small business, quarries operating in the region have declared their need for labour force. Operatives will be claimed at the peat deposit to be developed by Plafen, Ltd. In the short-range plans there is switching of large boiler-houses of the town to local kinds of fuel.
Commemorative picture
 |
Head of the Republic was shown a recently repaired gym in Suojärvi high school. Sergey Katanandov watched training of basketball players and could not resist joining the competition.
Meeting with young people
 |
There, in school, Sergey Katanandov met with the youth of the region. To talk to the Head of Karelia there came schoolchildren, students of professional school, young businessmen, teachers, militiamen, representatives of settlements of the region. Conversation was very interesting, young people feel sincere concern for their land and look forward with optimism. Sergey Katanandov was asked about specific matters: how to help young people to start their own business, whether reforms in power structures of will concern young experts, etc.
At the meeting with the young people
 |
As for the sports and healthy lifestyle, it became a special subject of the conversation. Head of the republic has supported the young - there together with the Chairman of the State Committee on Physical Training and Sports Maxim Antipov and head of the regional administration theyr have discussed an opportunity to find premises and open new sports objects. There has appeared to be nothing impossible, the only thing necessary and is the young people's and local authorities' initiative.
In the swimming pool of Suojärvi
 |
Health is the sphere which the republic is ready to assist in regions. Sergey Katanandov has visited local swimming pool where children of Suojärvi like to bathe so much, and the regional hospital where local people seek medical advice.
In the local ambulance station
 |
Head of Karelia has inspected the building of the polyclinic, visited the medical laboratory for which necessary equipment was purchased recently, talked to the head physician of the hospital. Program of state guarantees of rendering free-of-charge medical aid to the population of the region last year has been performed in full, it means that everything planned for the year was made, now it is necessary to think of further plans which was discussed in the regional hospital.
In the afternoon in Head of the republic has presented ten veterans with memorable medals commemorating the 65th anniversary of the Victory, having thanked them for the feat of arms they have accomplished for all the living generations.
Residents of the region have got many questions to ask
 |
A meeting with residents of the region
 |
Meeting with the population where all the adult population of Suojärvi region seemed to have gathered lasted more than four hours. Despite of the intense working day, Head of Karelia has not left any question without the answer. Sergey Katanandov has warned the audience against faultfinding: authorities in the region and in the town do not stand idle, they have their achievements, though the authorities have to talk more often to the people, not to take everything on their own shoulders, the public and business should divide the responsibility for everything that goes on in the region.
Reception of citizens
 |
When the meeting with the Head of the republic was coming to the end, in the evening in the local school building there took place a reception of citizens on private matters conducted by ministers of the Karelian government. No dpoubt that most of the visitors came to officials responsible for housing and communal services. Every question was given a detailed answer.
Reception of citizens
 |
– Figures are best to discribe the situation in the region, – Sergey Katanandov has summed up the trip for Karelian journalists. – Today on its social and economic indices the region is on the ninth place in the republic, and once it was the 12th and even the 16th. The situation is being improved, though some problems remain.
– Nevertheless, Head of Karelia has noted, enterprises work and their directors are looking forward to the future. This the region has good prospects. We shall support the people of Suojärvi in everything that concerns powers of the republic: development of public health services and education, social protection of the elderly generation. In economy it is necessary to preserve the Suojärvi factory and breathe new life into forest enterprises. However, there are many other problems: out-of-date equipment and buildings, bad roads. In many respects their destiny depends on development of economy of the region. Of course, we'll keep assisting, though much depends on the people and their initiative. Human factor today plays the more and more important role. People are our main riches and if we work amicably, help the authority and hold it accountable, then many problems will be solved faster.
|
