In the Irkutsk region, the first results of the anti crisis program were summed up, authorities focused on social guarantees, preserving jobs and supporting investment projects. 236 agreements with employers have already been signed, helping employ more than three thousand people, and there is no wage debt in the public sector. In addition, the region managed to reduce the quota for foreign labor, expand business support and cut budget spending by optimizing procurement.

Two months have passed since the start of the implementation of the anti-crisis program of the Irkutsk Region. Alexander Anchugin, the acting regional Minister of Economic Development, Labor, Science and Higher Education, spoke about the progress of its implementation at an expanded meeting of the regional Government.
According to him, the main efforts of the executive authorities were directed toward ensuring social guarantees, preserving and creating jobs, supporting investment projects, and increasing the revenue side of the budget.
There is currently no wage arrears for public-sector employees in the region. Within the framework of the program of additional measures to ease tension in the labor market of the Irkutsk Region, 236 agreements were concluded with employers, which will make it possible to employ more than three thousand people. For these purposes, the region was allocated 200 million rubles from the federal treasury. As Alexander Anchugin confirmed, the first tranche — 76 million — has already been received by the region. In addition, the Government of the Angara Region managed to reduce the quota for foreign labor by more than 40%.
Thanks to the optimization of the system of direct contracts in the executive authorities, it was possible to significantly increase the number of purchases conducted through the public procurement system. As a result, it was possible to eliminate intermediaries and producers from other regions, and consequently reduce budget expenditures by lowering prices. As support for regional enterprises in the phase of post-crisis growth, the Government is facilitating the implementation of the most attractive investment projects. Among such enterprises are the East Siberian Biotechnology Combine, the NITOL company, and the East Siberian Reinforced Concrete Structures Plant. Support is also being provided to enterprises in the timber industry complex: work is underway to grant a deferral for the use of land to those logging enterprises that are implementing priority investment projects. Four such projects have already been developed, Alexander Anchugin noted. As part of assistance to small and medium-sized businesses, municipal centers for supporting entrepreneurs are being opened in the region. Also, for this sector, a reduction in the tax rate under the simplified taxation system is it is provided — from 15% to 7.5%.
“Overall, the regional anti-crisis measures program is being implemented successfully,” Alexander Anchugin believes.