OREANDA-NEWS. Metalloinvest has signed a socio-economic partnership programme for 2013-2014 with the government of the Orenburg region and Novotroitsk's administration within the framework of the trilateral partnership agreement in force since 2011. The document was signed by Andrey Varichev, CEO of Management Company METALLOINVEST; Yury Berg, the Governor of the Orenburg region; and Galina Chizhova, the head of Novotroitsk administration.

As part of the partnership programme, Metalloinvest plans to allocate over RUB 246 million to social investments in 2013-2014. The priority areas of activities in this period will include the town infrastructure, healthcare, sports, as well as Metalloinvest's programmes aimed at facilitation of the region's sustainable development.

In particular, Metalloinvest will allocate over RUB 30 million for the reconstruction of the Town Hospital #1. The Company's management also supports the Governor's initiative to build the Ice Palace, a facility for winter sports. The Orenburg region's government has already identified contractors and set up the implementation schedule for the RUB 540 million project, to which Metalloinvest will contribute RUB 270 million within next two years.

Metalloinvest will commence the implementation of the “Town Initiatives Support” programme, which has been developed as a continuation of the “Against Drugs” project. The project demonstrated substantial results in the last three years, and the parties involved in it have identified the need to expand it. The “Town Initiatives Support” is aimed at developing Novotroitsk's social infrastructure and will allow to increase the efficiency of drug prevention activities in the town.

In collaboration with the Orenburg region, Metalloinvest will continue the implementation of the entrepreneurship development programme, which plays an important role in Novotroitsk's sustainable development and has shown positive results. As part of the programme, new entrepreneurial initiatives have been launched and new working places have been created.

Metalloinvest will continue to support main education institutions specialising in metallurgy, as well as schools and kindergartens.

The partnership programme provides for further development of the following existing programmes: the “School of Communal Good” (engaging young people into town development), the “Start in Life” (socialisation and vocational training of orphans who faced challenging life situations), and the “Our Future” (support to educational establishments). Besides the projects will include the “Entrepreneurial Education” (introduction of entrepreneurial education in schools) and “Sustainable Town Development”.

Andrey Varichev commented: “Metalloinvest has always paid significant attention to the development of towns and regions where the Company has operations. The Сompany's enterprises have run social support programmes for decades. In 2011, the Company systemised this work and introduced practice of trilateral socio-economic partnership agreement with the administrations of the Kursk, Belgorod and Orenburg regions and towns of Zheleznogorsk, Gubkin, Stary Oskol and Novotroitsk. Every year, within the agreements' framework, in collaboration with the regional and town administrations, we identify tasks which require joint efforts. All most all of our plants are city-forming enterprises. For this reason, the programmes we undertake are not only for our employees and their families, but they also aim to improve quality of life in the towns where we operate.”

The partners highlighted that the joined efforts aimed at the development of the regions allow to achieve visible results. In particular, with Metalloinvest's financing, a new modern cinema was opened in Novotroitsk, while education establishments, schools and kindergartens also receive support. The construction of sporting facilities and promotion of children and mass is also under way. Healthcare is one of the key focus areas. The Company allocates funds for purchase of medical equipment, renovation of medical institutions and recruitment of professional personnel. It is worth noting that alongside the Company's corporate programmes, Alisher Usmanov, the founder of Metalloinvest, substantially supports healthcare in Novotroitsk. Mr Usmanov provided RUB 90 million for medical and office equipment, furniture, modern emergency cars, and for the renovation of medical centres. Approximately RUB 6.5 million was donated for the construction of residential facilities for medical workers.

Yury Berg commented: “The signing of the socio-economic partnership agreement between the government of the region and Metalloinvest is the next step in our cooperation, which has already become a tradition and goes many years back. It is important for the region that the town-forming enterprise continues to participate in the town's life and implements an active social and corporate policy. In addition, Metalloinvest acts as a partner in other region's priority social projects. I know that Mr Usmanov has a clear position on this subject.”