Awarding the order of Peter the Great, celebration of the 150 anniversary of Samara Oblast, the visit of the French President Jacques Chirac, joint venture “GM-AVTOVAZ”, 10 years as the head of Samara Oblast, launching the Social Democratic Party of Russia are among the year 2001 landmarks for the Samara Oblast Governor Konstantin Titov.
In December 2001 in the State Concert Hall “Rossia” the Samara Oblast Governor K. Titov was awarded the order of Peter the Great, the highest public award conferred upon Samara Oblast for the high social and economic performance.
The year 2001 brought to life many appreciable events for the Samara Oblast governor. For the first time in its history Samara Oblast took the 3d position by the socioeconomic growth rates leaving only Moscow and Tumen Oblast behind. In 2001 Konstantin Titov celebrated 10th anniversary as the head of Samara Oblast.
Ten years without a right to make a mistake… Ten years, full of moments of concern, were committed to putting reforms into place. The fact that Samara Oblast ranks among the leading regions in the Privolzhsky federal district by major economic indicators and is called the economic capital proves that the Samara Oblast has embarked on the right policy.
In 2001 Konstantin Titov undertook a set of steps to further develop agricultural sector, restructure education and healthcare, render social targeted support, strengthen external economic relations and reinforce party formation.
Over a billion rubles were allocated from the regional budget to foster the agricultural sector development. The economists believe that the growth rates, structure and mechanisms of the agricultural sector have seen significant changes, which may spark another cycle of its rapid development. The gross agricultural product in all categories of farms increased by 5,5 %. Mention should be made of the fact that the increase is due not from the private farm households but rather from agricultural entities (13,5% increase) and farm enterprises (43% rise).
The Governor was actively involved in addressing the issues of soil fertility, cattle-farming restructuring. This stems from the policy targeted at setting up brand-new technology of fostering competitive agricultural produce. Leading technologies, state-of-the-art equipment and improved methods of cattle-breeding should be applied to provide for agricultural sector enhancement. Farms located in the villages of Novokurovka of Khvorostyabsky raion and Khryavshevka of Stavropolsky raion becamethe first standards of principally new collective dairy and cash farms. Evidently, implementing such policy requires considerable funds but will allow to bring about “green revolution” in the agricultural sector of Samara Oblast in the coming years. The first achievements of farms located in Novokurovka and Khryavshevka proved that Samara Oblast is moving in the right direction – for instance, the milk yield in the village of Novokurovka increased the average regional indicators three times.
Throughout 2001 the Samara Oblast Governor ranked among the most influential lobbyists of Russia. The independent experts appraised the policy pursued by Titov as successful as he advocated the region’s interests. His meetings with the executives of “Sibmashholding” and “Rostselmash” resulting in concluding the agricultural equipment procurement agreement on favourable terms, leasing the foreign equipment and setting up first tractor stations.
“There are no other options provided we intend to maintain the Russian agricultural sector under the conditions of gaining membership in the World trade Organization”, Titov pointed out. – “If we aspire to march forward, we should further implement education restructuring reforms”. In It was in 2001 that a resolution on establishing three educational districts within the territory of Samara Oblast was made. The current Russian legislation, which does not stipulate such innovations was a stumbling block. “If the relevant provisions have not been put forward in the federal legislation, we are going to make amendments into it”, Titov said during one of the meetings - “our children, living both in cities and rural areas, are entitled to get education which is in demand”.
The Housing program and construction of education and health care facilities are among the Governor’s top priorities. Funds allocated from the oblast budget to housing increased by 40 % against the last year’s figure. 20 000 square meters of housing space were constructed by the Housing Construction Fund in the rural areas. 7 objects of education were constructed. In September 2001 the Labour and Social Protection Minister A. Pochinok paid a visit to the oblast of Samara and approved of the social policy which is being pursued by the Samara Oblast Administration headed by Konstantin Titov.
Pochinok paid a visit to the Veterans’ House, the unique settlement for disabled in wheel chairs, the Oncology centre, Krasnoyarsk raion, where the social centre was opened.
The active measures in the social sphere were taken in the year 2001 with a range of strategic documents and target programs being endorsed and the large-scale projects being implemented. For example, the accessible environment for disabled in wheelchairs was created. The following programs were endorsed: “2001-2005 conception for health care development in Samara Oblast”, “Orphans Protection Program”, “Prevention of Children’s Disability”, 2001-2005 Samara Oblast Program “Building Up the Cultural Potential of Sustainable Development”, culture law.
The first year of the millenium was memorable in regard to strengthening foreign and interregional ties. Konstantin Titov was actively engaged in developing the international relations, which led to the favourable investment climate and an increase in investments. The major investment achievement of 2001 is that the acknowledged foreign companies “General Motors”, “Henkel”, “ADS Plastics” entered the Samara region. A steep 70% rise in direct foreign investments was a distinguishing feature of 2001. The largest Russian –U.S. joint venture of 2001 “GM-AVTOVAZ” was launched in Samara Oblast.. On July 27 the Samara Oblast Governor Konstantin Titov signed a general agreement and an agreement on setting up a JV. The first car model «Shevi-Niva” is scheduled to be assembled on September 23 2002.
The foreign policy pursued by the Samara Oblast Governor Konstantin Titov towards US was especially fruitful. Emphasis should be placed on the fact that the U.S. ranks 1st by the volume of investments into Samara Oblast, leaving behind the country taking the 2 position by 5 times. The U.S. Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Russia Collins touched upon the mutually beneficial cooperation during his visit to Samara Oblast. Departing for the U.S. he held a meeting with the Samara Oblast governor Titov and opened the American Corner in the Regional Research Library. In May 2001 the Samara Oblast Governor held a meeting with the director of the U.S. Export Import Bank Paul Tumminia, which resulted in signing of Memorandum of understanding between the Samara Oblast Administration and Ex-Em-Bank. The above U.S. bank is inclined to maintain direct ties with Samara Oblast.
The above facts speak highly of the undisputed reputation the Samara oblast governor enjoys throughout the world. Evidently, a visit of the Samara Oblast Governor Konstantin Titov to the United States in September 2001 soon after the Septermber 11 terrorists attacks became the most significant international event. The delegation headed for the U.S. after the Aeroflot flights were resumed. The American counterparts appraised it a sign of friendship and solidarity demonstrated by the Samara Oblast Governor. The Samara Oblast delegation was hosted by the major U.S. cities to hold a series of crucial meetings and negotiations with the representatives of governmental and business organizations. Apart from Washington, the delegation visited The Centre for international development and technopark of Research Triangle Institute located in North Carolina. In Michigan they were hosted by the state governor. In the state of California the delegation held negotiations with Catepillar and General Electric representatives.
The visit of the French President Jacques Chirac was marked as international sensation. Samara Oblast was the only Russian region to be visited by the Jacques Chirac during his visit to the Russian Federation. It should be noted that the famous enterprise TSSKB-Progress has long established relations with its French counterpart. Moreover, the French President paid a visit to a successfully operating French-Russian joint venture. The President of France participated at the ceremonial opening session of the Alliance Frances regional office and held a press conference where he highlighted the importance of joint initiatives and invited the Samara Oblast governor to pay a visit to France.
The Samara Oblast delegation paid a return visit to France in December 2001 and had a round of meetings in the Foreign Ministry, Research Ministry and the French Senate. In the course of the visit a memorandum of cooperation between the Samara Oblast Administration and tHe Regional Council of Midi Pirinei province was concluded. Besides, the delegation headed by Konstantin Titov held a meeting with Airbus Industy executives, where prospective areas of collaboration were outlined. It should be noted the Samara Oblast Governor placed the strengthening of interregional relations as one of the top priorities in 2001. The Samara delegation paid visits to the republic of Mordovia, the city of Kaliningrad, in the course of which the cooperation agreements were signed. Samaar Oblast hosted the head of the Chechen Republic A Kadyrov and the President of Udmurtia A Volkov.
Konstantin Titov achieved appreciable results in party formation. On November 24 2001 the uniting convention of two parties - the Russian Party of the Social Democracy, chaired by Konstantin Titov and the Russian United Social Democratic Party headed by Mikhail Gorbachev – was held in Moscow. AS a result of a merger the Russian Party of Social Democracy was launched. 875 delegates to the convention cast their votes to elect Konstantin Titov as the chairman and Mikhail Gorbachev as a leader of a newly born party.
The organizations and movements which share the same beliefs joined the party under the slogan “Freedom, justice, solidarity”, which has been topical for about 100 years. It was pointed out at the convention that the middle class population, who lives within their means, will serve the party’s social basis. They are in need of political support and advocacy of their rights at the state level.. Social Democrats are the successive followers of the market economy and diversity of the forms of ownership. They lean toward the synthesis of labour and capital, where employees have a share in the companies they are working for. Social Democrats believe that in the 21st century Russia should be moving forward the combination of capitalist and social principles in the polical and economic set-up.
Konstantin Titov presented the planks of the party’s platform at the convention of the Social Democratic Party of Russia “ We will be charged with the task of improving the party’s program attracting the distinguished decision-makers, politicians, regional party leaders, Titov highlighted. – Simultaneously, the world experience of social democracy should be adopted, especially the experience of European nations which gained tangible results in practical implementation of their initiatives”. The main thing highlighted in the program is that the state must render the targeted support to the most vulnerable strata of the population. It should be emphasized that the SO Administration headed by Titov has been loyal to the principle: “Jobs for strong, care for weak” for 10 years.
