Putin to name director of Agency for Strategic Initiatives

MOSCOW, July 27 (Itar-Tass) - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on
Wednesday will meet with the winners of the contest for the post of the
director general and area directors of the Agency for Strategic
Initiatives (ASI), the government press service reported. Other
participants in the meeting will form the basis of the Expert Council of
the Agency.
"The primary task of this body of the new structure will be the
formation of a regional network, the selection and follow up on projects
and business ideas, expert evaluation of materials prepared for
consideration at meetings of the ASI Supervisory Council," the
press-service explained.
The contest for the post of the Agency's director general ASI three
directors in the areas "New Business," "Young Professionals" and "Social
Projects" was held in two phases during the period from May 25 to July 21.
A total of 2,3678 people submitted applications for participation in it.
The largest number of candidates was nominated from Moscow, St. Petersburg
and the Sverdlovsk region.
A government source told reporters earlier that among the five leaders
competing for the main seat there are such "heavyweights" as President of
Business Russia Alexander Galushko, his deputy Yelena Nikolayeva and
editor of Expert Magazine Valery Fadeyev. However, the "young and
venturous" will become the directors. "More well-known and heavyweight
people will be put on the Agency's Supervisory Council," said the source.
According to him, in addition to the stated objectives ASI will also
engage in improving the customary image of an average businessman. "At
present an entrepreneur is at best - a positive bandit, and at worst -
negative," he said. "Anyway, he is always a crook who made a fortune by
unrighteousness." According to the source, this image is "infinitely far
from reality." "In fact, businessmen as a rule started their business from
scratch, and contrary to many realities. They are the true heroes of our
time," he believes.
The source specified that a number of sites for placing the ASI
headquarters have already been determined, but added that the final choice
will be made by the director general. Also, he said, plans for the Agency'
s regional network are being actively developed. "We intend to launch
pilots in Yekaterinburg and Novosibirsk," he said. Governor of the
Sverdlovsk region Alexander Misharin will be in charge of ASI regional
work. The task of the Agency is to attain the level of promoting 100-200
projects a year.
According to the government official, big business will sponsor the
promotion of projects of medium-sized businesses. He said that several
companies have already expressed their willingness, but did not disclose
their names.
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin announced the idea of creating the
agency on May 6 in Volgograd at an interregional conference of the United
Russia party. The prime minister said the new structure should provide
additional mechanisms for the "young and promising people" to implement
community service projects and ideas, as well as open for this category of
the population a "social elevator" for senior positions in the government,
social, scientific and business structures.
At the initial stage Putin intends to organise the Agency's work in
three directions. The first track will be the selection of new practical
projects and initiatives. The second is linked with the establishment in
Russia of a working mechanism of qualification assessment of employees.
The third will be social projects in the sphere of culture, education and
health, including "with the attraction of independent non-profit
organisations."