Putin defines development priorities for NCFD

Today, at a meeting in Pyatigorsk on development of the regions of the newly formed North-Caucasian Federal District (NCFD), Russian Premier Vladimir Putin defined priorities for the District and instructed a number of Ministries of the Russian Federation, the President's plenipotentiary in the NCFD Alexander Khloponin and regional authorities.

"The main criterion of our common efforts in Northern Caucasus should be in qualitative changes in social welfare of people and in their moods. Our citizens should feel that they are demanded by the society and are able to get employed, start own business, ensure prosperity for their families and make changes for the better with their own hands," the head of the Russian cabinet said.

Mr Putin ordered the federal ministries and natural monopolies to draft investment programmes for development of infrastructure of the NCFD and its subjects, as the ITAR-TASS reports.

The Premier has emphasized the need to set up special economic zones in the territory of the district and regional industrial parks in every subject of Northern Caucasus. According to his story, the overall success will depend on organization of this work, the Reuters writes.