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In May 2022, the President supported the Astrakhan Region Governor’s initiative to implement a programme for integrated socioeconomic development of the Volga regions.

Opening the meeting, Igor Levitin noted that the programme had potential as an interregional project of socioeconomic development – the Volga basin regions are essential for ensuring sustainable development, territorial integrity, and the security of the country.

At the meeting, representatives of the Federation Council, State Duma, the Ministry of Industry and Trade and other federal agencies, Russian regions, business and expert community discussed the proposals on implementing the programme received by the working group’s secretariat.

Over a period of two months, the secretariat has processed more than 150 proposals from members of the working group in 13 areas, including improving the Volga River and the environment in general, updating the fleet, encouraging investment and increasing tourist appeal, and renovating the transport infrastructure.

The Government established a coordinating body, chaired by First Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Belousov, to discuss interdepartmental issues on the integrated development of the Volga basin regions as a single geostrategic territory, The Great Volga Route.

According to the working group’s secretary Minister of Industry and Natural Resources of the Astrakhan Region Ilya Volynsky, a primary economic analysis of activities and targeted indicators of the programme’s effectiveness is currently being carried out.

The proposals developed as a result of the discussion will be submitted to the federal ministries and departments.