October 17, 2006

The Okrug Governor’s press-service informs:

Governor of Ugra Alexander Filipenko and Vice-President of the International Bank of Reconstruction and Development Chigeo Katsu signed the Memorandum on Mutual Understanding and Cooperation.

The parties agreed to hold the joint activities on studying the world market and training experts in the sphere of financial assets management, pension funds, and development of the healthcare system of Ugra and improvement of the Okrug financial climate. The basic attractive for investments branches are the timber industry, gas and chemical industry, transport, communications, project of the Pre-Polar Urals exploration, banking and tourism. Besides, the World Bank intends to share experience on the implementation of the Kyoto Protocol provisions.

Alexander Filipenko said that the Memorandum is a result of the long and fruitful work of the Okrug Government with Russian representative office of the World Bank. The head of the region said that the draft document is just the beginning of the joint work.

Chigeo Katsu said that in the framework of the strategy, oriented to the regions, the World Bank considers the Khanty-Mansiysk Okrug as one of the key partners. In Ugra Governor Alexander Filipenko’s opinion, “the view of the Bank should help in the disposal of resources and in the management of the Okrug commercial structure. We position our region as the area where much had been done but there are opportunities for improvement… I would like to hope that this cooperation will help to achieve necessary results”.

Chigeo Katsu said: “You pay much attention and make a correct accent on the integrated approach to solving the issues of human development. We hope that we will manage to promote to the Okrug development. Today we have a good opportunity to make a step for further cooperation”.