Penza, 12 February 2015. PenzaNews. A union of authorities and businesses against economy hardships will help ensure stability and sustainable development of the Penza region, said the governor Vasily Bochkarev during a large-scale meeting session with regional deputies of all levels, members of the regional government and heads of municipal institutions that took place at the sports and entertainment complex “Diesel-Arena” on Thursday, February 12.

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“This is a tough year. We already see issues appearing, first of all in potential decrease of job places,” said the head of the region in his address.

He added that employers should consider re-educating workers and creating new jobs using various methods, including finding new uses for freed building areas, in those cases when layoffs are impossible to avoid.

In the governor’s opinion, the lately much-discussed task of import substitution is now becoming strategically important.

Vasily Bochkarev placed special emphasis on food security.

“I think it’s not right that cabbages cost almost 40 rubles in the stores, while potatoes cost around 30,” he remarked.

The head of the region agreed that people’s demands for authorities to act have good reasoning behind them, especially in the times when wages are practically frozen and prices on the most important goods are growing.

Vasily Bochkarev urged deputies, many of them successful businessmen, to consider expanding their companies with federal, regional and municipal support.

“Each and every head of the area, administration head, the deputies, all must unite and say what they can do this year. We still have time. It is a great shame when people who can work, have gardens, but forgot about them, instead go to a ‘Magnit’ store to buy fruit and vegetables they can grow themselves on their own gardens, feed themselves and sell the surplus,” the head of the region suggested.

He also stressed the fact the Penza region has everything required for agricultural development.

“We have land, gas, electricity, roads, water, people, and, most importantly, consumers with money in their hands,” the governor noted.

Vasily Bochkarev also noted that currency market situation may soon force some of the population out of buying clothes imported from Europe and China.

“We have real business that can diversify, but representative and executive power must create the climate for diversification, support it, provide guarantees, locations, offices and so forth. Today, it’s not people for the authorities or business for the authorities, but authorities for the business. Do everything you can for every businessman to get results,” said the governor of the Penza region.

He expressed his belief the meeting session will be a good start for future actions.

“We are from Penza – and we can feed and cloth ourselves on our own,” Vasily Bochkarev stressed.