During his trip to the Nizhny Novgorod Region, the President held a working meeting with Governor Gleb Nikitin.
Gleb Nikitin began his report on the region’s performance over the past month by discussing support for participants in the special military operation and their families, including humanitarian assistance and deliveries to the line of contact. To date, the region has dispatched around 790 humanitarian aid convoys and delivered 5,200 tonnes of cargo. It also supplies unmanned aerial vehicles, including locally manufactured drones. Efforts are underway to help servicemen return to civilian life, with adaptation programmes, employment assistance, and retraining opportunities available to them.
Turning to the economy, the Governor noted certain difficulties stemming from the impact of the ruble exchange rate on product costs and profitability. At the same time, the industrial production index stood at 100.2 percent in January-June 2025. The IT sector continues to develop steadily, with software development increase by 22 percent.
Vladimir Putin noted strong growth across a number of sectors: fabricated metal products – 28.3 percent, chemicals – 12.9 percent, food production – 5.7 percent, and trade and IT – 4.2 percent, as well as the growth in paid services. Gleb Nikitin added that agriculture is also performing well and noted that the region currently ranks second in Russia in terms of the growth rate of industrial robot deployment.
The meeting participants also discussed demographic trends. In particular, the Governor noted that the total fertility rate has increased, road traffic fatalities have declined, and alcohol consumption continues to fall.
Gleb Nikitin reported that the federal Government had supported the establishment of an oncology centre in the region. The site has already been prepared, and a construction contract has been signed. The emphasis is on comprehensive healthcare projects designed to significantly improve the quality of medical care. For example, the Regional Children’s Clinical Hospital and the cardiology centre are being brought together as part of the Health Quarter project, which will create a major medical centre. The Family Quarter project will bring four healthcare facilities together into a single complex. It will include the first state-run IVF centre, women’s and men’s health centres, as well as an adolescent health centre with a focus on reproductive health. A church is also planned for the site. The Governor stressed the importance of involving traditional religions, particularly in providing psychological support and in efforts to prevent abortions.
In education, the Governor highlighted the establishment of a federal vocational education technology park, which will serve the entire country and bring together vocational training specialists from different regions.
Gleb Nikitin described the comprehensive modernisation of electric public transport, carried out in cooperation with the Republic of Belarus, as a flagship project. In particular, the region has received 170 trams and completely renewed its rolling stock. The project also implies replacement of 150 kilometres of tram tracks. Work is underway to develop a promising range of wheeled public transport vehicles with the required performance characteristics.
Gleb Nikitin concluded his report by discussing sports, highlighting the new hockey arena in Nizhny Novgorod, built at the President’s request, as well as the reopening of the Dinamo Stadium in the city centre following reconstruction.
Vladimir Putin concluded the meeting by noting that the region is developing at a good pace.