URP, APF members to discuss Ural area development strategy.

YEKATERINBURG, June 29 (Itar-Tass) - A strategy for the socio-economic
development of the Ural area witnin a period ending in 2020 and a
programme for 2011-2012 are to be discussed at a United Russia party
(URP) interregional conference opening here on Wednesday.
The conference is a seventh one already. It has drawn the largest
numebr of delegates and guests -- about 1,000 people. Representatives of
the All-Russia Popular Front (APF), which was in May on the initiative of
URP leader Vladimir Putin, will take part in a URP conference for the
first time.
"This is the largest-scale conference of all held so far," Andrei
Vorobyov, head of the URP Central Executive Committee, told journalists.
He said representatives of many organizations that joined the APF had
expressed a desire to take part in discussions at the forum, and
conference organizers sought to grant all the requests. "This is a party
conference. However, APF representatives will be able not only to watch
and hear but also to participate in discussions," Vorobyov said.
On the first day of the conference, participants will work in the
following five panels: "Innovative Production Plants", "Agri-Industrial
Sector", "Infrastructure and Construction", "Social Welfare Sector", and
"Culture, Sports, and Tourism".
Projects for the development of each of the six constituent regions of
the Ural Federal District are to be presented at panel discussions.
According to tradition, a Media Forum for regional and municipal media
will be also arranged within the framework of the conference. URP leading
officials and federal experts will address those media people.
The most significant and promising projects are to be brought up for
examination at a plenary session which is to be held on Thursday, June 30,
with URP leader and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin attending.
"As far as projects proper are concerned, the Ural area is the focus
of the metallurgical industry, and emphasis will be laid on that,"
Vorobyov said. At the same time, he pointed out, "There are impressive
projects for development in the fields of tourism, ecology, social
welfare, and a rise in the quality of life".
Since March 2010, similar conferences have been held in the Siberian,
Volgan, North Caucasian, Far Eastern, Central, and Southern Federal
Districts. An aggregate of more than 100 regional investment and social
programmes won URP support at those conferences.