WORLD BANK TO DRAW UP DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY FOR ST PETERSBURG

ST. PETERSBURG, June 8 (Itar-Tass) - The World Bank will draw up its vision of strategy for the city's development in the next 20-30 years and will submit it to the government of St. Petersburg under an agreement between the Governor of St. Petersburg Valentina Matviyenko and the World Bank's Managing Director Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. Matviyenko and Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala met on the sidelines of the 12th International St. Petersburg Economic Forum on Saturday. Matviyenko told reporters after the meeting that St. Petersburg's negotiations with the World Bank would continue for the next two months. After that the bank will present its professional view on St. Petersburg's long-term development. "This study is going to be useful for the St. Petersburg government. The viewpoint of this internationally respected financial institute is vitally important for us. We will be able to base ourselves on this document to develop long-term urban plans," the governor went on to say. Matviyenko said that St. Petersburg had established almost exclusive relations with the World Bank. "It is the only Russian region that has concluded an agreement on intellectual cooperation with the bank," Matviyenko emphasized. The World Bank gives the St. Petersburg authorities consultations on all significant infrastructure projects, including the Orlovsky tunnel, an overhead express and the construction of a new airport in Pulkovo. Cooperation will also develop in the field of municipal services.