THE "REGIONAL INITIATIVE" PROGRAMME STARTS IN TOMSK








TOMSK, March 10, 2001. /RIA Novosti correspondent Natalia  Reshetnikova/ -- In April, this year, the Tomsk Region (Siberia) will be the fourth one in Russia where the Regional Initiative Programme will start, said Alexander Cherevko, the head of the Tomsk regional office under the government of the Russian Federation, after his negotiations in the US Embassy with American diplomats headed by Assistance Coordinator in the economic sector of the US Embassy Pamela Spratlen. 


	At the meeting, reports the RIA Novosti correspondent, the sides coordinated a draft agreement between the regional  administration and the American side about the implementation of this programme. 


	The agreement will be signed during the visit to Tomsk by US Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Russia Mr.  Collins. According to the data from the regional administration, this visit will take place also in April. 


	The Regional Initiatives is a programme for the development of partnership between Russia and the USA. It is aimed at  encouraging private investment and support of reform in the Russian regions. This programme for developing investment  projects is of a long-term character and is aimed at spreading experience, in this case obtained in Tomsk, to other regions.  -O- (kos/kri)  


	


	10/03/01    18:25