Kremlin envoy to present N Caucasus development programme in June.

MOSCOW, March 4 (Itar-Tass) -- Vice Prime Minister and presidential
representative to the North Caucasus Federal District Alexander Khloponin
said he would present a development programme for the North Caucasus in
June.
He believes that priority should be given to the development of the
energy and agro-industrial sectors, recreation and tourist services, with
special attention given to education and city development.
Addressing North Caucasus members of the Federation Council, the upper
house of parliament, on Wednesday, Khloponin said the region had a big
potential for the development of the tourist and recreational services.
He is confident that "there is no need to build many resorts and
airports close to each other".
Khloponin also believes that there is a good potential for the
development of the agro-industrial sector in the region that can produce
agricultural products needed both in the area and outside it.
He said a working group would be set up to study options for a
comprehensive development of the agro-industrial sector in the North
Caucasus.
The envoy noted the need to develop the energy cluster in the region.
"It's hard to understand the tariff policy and the causes of non-payments
and theft of electricity for which no one pays," he said.
In his opinion, one of the solutions could be the creation of a
"special tariff zone and a single company in the federal district that
will develop, among other things, alternative generation, for example
solar energy".
He is confident that the North Caucasus should become "a
self-sufficient region in terms of energy".
-0-zak/