Yevgeny Shevchuk met with the residents of Nezavertaylovka and Frunze villages, Pervomaysk settlement and answered their questions.The meeting participants showed interest in the socio-economic situation and the influence foreign events exert on it.
According to the President's press service, the Slobodzia district's residents showed interest, first of all, in the interim procedure of remuneration of labour funding in the public sector and the reduced working hours established by the Government.
Yevgeny Shevchuk noted that these measures were caused by the negative influence external processes exert on the Republic's economy. There has been a considerable reduction in budget revenues: our economic agents are experiencing a number of difficulties related to the purchase of raw materials, export of goods, in particular, via Ukraine's territory, sales slow-down.
"Pridnestrovie's economic entities are decreasing back production. In order to retain jobs for the citizens, the government is supporting a number of enterprises by granting them benefits," said the President. Under the present circumstances the government has not devalued the national currency, for instance, which could result in the inflation rate, underscored Yevgeny Shevchuk. "The rehabilitation process goes easier when the national currency is stable," said the head of state.
Yevgeny Shevchuk pointed out that "the rules have been changing in Ukraine and Moldova, which have signed the Association Agreement with the EU." "To this end, we are expected to face new risks since 1 January, 2015. We are looking for the best ways to stabilize the economic situation and develop. We have signed interagency agreements between Pridnestrovie and Russia and are taking efforts to build new contacts and supply our agricultural products to Russia," he said.
Another issue addressed during the meeting was the transportation allowance. The president explained: "The government cannot provide a broad specter of social benefits which are not backed with money. The bulk of passenger operations are fulfilled by private carriers. The amount of budget payments to private carriers for transportation of persons entitled to benefits has increased twofold. At the same time there is no uniform system registering such persons.
Yevgeny Shevchuk also drew attention to the fact that despite all economic difficulties, the government had begun to develop its own system of transportation service. For example, 12 new trolleybuses run in Tiraspol and Bendery. One trolleybus costs approximately $ 200,000.
The President also recalled that in the past two years the tax revenues had increased by $ 100 million. These funds have been used to reduce budget deficits. At the same time the tax collection volume is not sufficient to cover republican and local budget expenses, underscored Yevgeny Shevchuk. For example, the Slobodzeya district spent approximately 80 million rubles in the first half of 2014, while its own revenue made up only 42 million rubles.
According to the President, due to the budgetary constraints, Pridnestrovie's leadership is guided by the previously defined priorities - healthcare and education sectors, which receive both governmental and outward investments.
"Today’sinvestments greatly exceed the amounts invested into healthcare and education sectors in the past 20 years. New high-tech medical centres are being built in Tiraspol, Bendery, Rybnitsa. They will provide medical services to all Pridnestrovie's residents. Besides, 11 ambulances have been brought into service," reported Yevgeny Shevchuk.
Almost 30% of the pre-school educational institutions have been repaired. In particular, five kindergartens have been reconstructed, and a new pre-school educational institution is being built by ANO Eurasian Integration in the Slobodzeya district.
"At the same time the Pridnestrovian Humanitarian Fund has purchased 1,000 tons of cement and about 100 tons of paint for repairing socio-cultural facilities this year. Never before have we bought such amount of construction materials. I hope you, among others, will make efficient use of these materials,” said the President.
Another issue addressed was the necessity of a stricter procedure of foreigners' naturalization and registration.
"In recent times more citizens of the adjacent and other countries have come to the Republic. When registering foreign citizens in Pridnestrovie's territory, we take decision, considering, first of all, the security of our citizens. Taking into account the events in Ukraine, we have strengthened control over persons who get registered or settled in Pridnestrovie. This is the common practice aimed at maintaining public safety. According to the latest crime statistics, worst crimes are mostly committed by foreign citizens," remarked the President.
The citizens asked the head of state about possible gas supply problems. "The gas flows via Ukraine, Pridnestrovie and Moldova to the Balkan states. Unfortunately, we have already faced the situation when the gas supply was cut off for Ukraine, which in turn caused stoppage of our enterprises. We are entirely dependent on the gas supply," replied the President. "Over the past 15 years there has been a considerable reconstruction of central heating systems in schools and kindergartens: gas equipment has been delivered. That's why the government seeks to re-equip these institutions or arrange conditions for alternative methods of heating.
