OREANDA-NEWS. On 03 March 2009 was announced, that head of Karelia Sergey Katanandov has entrusted Government of the republic with completion of formation of the regional employment supporting fund, within a week, and to create the guarantee fund by the end of March in Karelia to support small and medium business. This assignment has was given on February 21, at the Saturday meeting of the Head of the republic with Assistants to the Prime Minister of Karelian Government and Ministers of the economic bloc.

"Let it be excessive expenses or expenses due to the budget deficit, but asets to support employment and business should be allocated at maximal immediacy," - Sergey Katanandov has emphasized.

To form the guarantee fund the republic's budget is allocating 30 million roubles, and another 80 million roubles comes from the federal budget. 110 million roubles more should be invested by the bank which will win the fund use competition. Businessmen will receive means of the fund on a competitive basis under condition of 50% co-financing of projects. That, creation of the fund will allow to involve over 400 million roubles in the economy of Karelia.

Besides, the meeting's agends included implementation of investment projects in territory of the republic. Last year in the economy of Karelia it has been invested 22,7 billion roubles, and thia year the investments plan makes 27 billion roubles. Thus, it will be created from 1850 to 2500 new workplaces.

The main problem at present is slippage of the long-term crediting system, which is why a few large investment constructions are suspended in the republic. Nevertheless, work on key projects for the region proceeds according to the schedule. First of all, it is the project of Segezha Pulp and Paper Plant modernization (total amount of investments makes 25,8 billion roubles, the project deadline is 2013), opening the White Sea port (11,5 billion roubles, deadline is 2011), development of a network of small hydroelectric power stations (4,5 billion roubles, deadline is 2015), and construction of furniture factory in Kostomuksha (2 billion roubles, deadline is 2012).

Accords are also reached with a number of monopolist holdings. This year Gazprom will allocate 150 million roubles to continue gasification in Karelia. 16 million roubles more for the same purposes will be transferred by the Ministry of Agriculture of Russia, and another 67 million roubles will be sent by the republic's budget.

Negotiations with the federal center on reception of funds for road construction also comes to the end. It is expected, that Moscow will allocate 160 million roubles to Karelia for construction of roads and 238 million roubles on their repairing, including, 106 million roubles intended for Petrozavodsk. The final decision on this assets will be made by the federal center, predictably, on February 27.

Head of Karelia has ordered to negotiate with all investors by the end of April and define precisely further plans for implementation of all projects available. As Sergey Katanandov has emphasized, the republic has rendered serious support to all investors and has offered significant timber or land resources, therefore now the region has the right to demand performance of all plans strictly from the partners.