Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said Sunday he hopes the head of the newly established North Caucasus Federal District will show some tangible results of his work in 2010.
"We would like to see the first results this year," Medvedev told journalists, adding that economic and social indices of the new district should at least reach Russia's average figures and that the investment climate should be improved.
The Russian president announced the establishment of the North Caucasus district on January 19 and named Krasnoyarsk governor and former business executive Alexander Khloponin as deputy prime minister and presidential envoy to the volatile North Caucasus. Analysts describe Khloponin as a "crisis manager" for the region.
Khloponin has headed the Krasnoyarsk Territory, a vast Siberian province, nearly four times the size of France, since 2002. His gubernatorial term was marked with a fast economic growth in the region and a visible improvement in living standards.
Parliament is still to approve the creation of the new administrative unit Khloponin will oversee.
So far, most North Caucasus tsars appointed by Moscow have focused on beefing up security measures in the region.
On Saturday, Putin ordered Khloponin to develop a complex strategy to increase social and economic stability in the region. He said special economic zones and industrial parks should be established in the North Caucasus to attract investment to the region.
KRASNAYA POLYANA (Sochi), January 24 (RIA Novosti)
