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Kiriyenko Keeps Eye On Economy In Volga Federal District (Russia Journal)

20 Dec 2000. When Vladimir Putin appointed former banker and Prime Minister Sergey Kiriyenko as his plenipotentiary representative six months ago, he sent him to the vast and newly created Volga federal district, comprising more than 30 regions and autonomous republics, to cast a watchful eye on everything and bring back some order. To be sure, Kiriyenko`s task, originally, had more to do with asserting the chain of command in the federal district where he was appointed than with supporting business. As his deputy for economic affairs, German Petrov, put it: "The president`s plenipotentiary representative as such is not really supposed to deal with the economy; his task is not to interfere." However, Petrov added, "it is clear that Sergey (Kiriyenko) can generate many new economic ideas." In fact, in a district that, according to Petrov, has 80 percent of Russia`s car manufacturing industry and 60 percent of its airplane industry, it would be hardly thinkable for someone with so much power not to have any influence on the economic development. And if there were any doubts as to whether Kiriyenko himself considers the economy as a priority, his Nov. 28 speech to the First Russian Bankers Congress, which had gathered in Nizhny-Novgorod`s ornate early-19th century building, cast them aside. In a sharp contrast with Nizhny Gov. Ivan Sklyarov, whose speech mostly consisted of generalities, Kiriyenko`s statements were precise and full of national and local economic figures. This was a man who, it seemed, clearly had the economy of the federal district in mind.