RIA NOVOSTI. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin gave the green light to the activity of the Agency for Strategic Initiatives (ASI), RIA Novosti wires. The agency’s presentation was conducted in a new modern press center that was opened in the Government House of Russia less than a year ago and equipped with advanced facilities. “The agency’s primary objective is to provide support to companies that already did something," Putin said. According to him, in the first place at issue are innovative areas both in business and social spheres.
ASI can be an intermediary between businesses and financial institutions, Putin thinks. “The agency might be an intermediary between businesses and financial institutions, our large banks and development institutions," the prime minister said. According to him, the agency will deepen ties with administrations of regional and municipal authorities, facilitate to eliminate administrative barriers for mid-sized enterprises.
The agency will be run by the supervisory board and the standing executive body (board of administrators). The Putin-chaired supervisory board consists of the agency’s general director, the Minister of Economic Development, regional governors, representatives of public organizations, businessmen and leading Russian managers. The supervisory board’s main functions are to set priority areas for the agency’s activities, review its projects and initiatives.
The agency’s standing executive and regulatory body is the board of administrators consisting of the general director, three line directors and also the executive director. The general director and line directors will be elected following competitive selection that is to begin today. “The first stage will last for 20 days till June 13, 25 successful candidates for the position of the agency’s general director will be elected," Putin said. He pointed out that one of them will later be appointed the ASI general director and the rest will form his expert council. Candidates will be selected by the competitive committee from businessmen and representatives of the regions that offer the best investment climate.
The idea of establishing the agency was proposed by the Russian prime minister on May 6 when he addressed an inter-regional conference held by mainstream political party United Russia in Volgograd as the party’s leader. Later Putin outlined the agency’s main goal: to be a “social elevator”, an additional mechanism so that " young and promising people can bring their ideas and proposals to fruition, to break through bureaucratic corridors and barriers”.
