OREANDA-NEWS. Metalloinvest has signed a social partnership programme for 2014 as part of the Agreement for Socio-Economic Co-operation with the administration of the Belgorod region. The document was signed by Andrey Varichev, CEO of Management Company METALLOINVEST, and Evgeny Savchenko, Govenor of the Belgorod region.

The programme determines the priorities for social development of the region and the towns where Metalloinvest operates, Stary Oskol and Gubkin. The Company will contribute approximately RUR 260 million to the programme, 20% more than in 2013. In addition to this, the Company will continue supporting the Belogorye volleyball club.

During the course of last year, Metalloinvest supported a number of initiatives in the towns where it operates: supporting the educational establishments through 'Our Future' project, developing children's creativity through 'Lighting Up the World' project, and setting up the 'Healthy Child' integrated healthcare system for pre-school children in Gubkin. The Company continued financing construction of the main building of the National University of Science and Technology 'MISIS' in Stary Oskol and started reconstruction of Sputnik entertainment centre in Gubkin. Metalloinvest also supported the towns' vocational education and healthcare establishments. The 'School of Communal Good' programme, which aims to encourage young people to take an active approach towards the towns where they live, and inspire them to design social programmes and volunteer, also continued. The Company provided funding and organisational support to the cultural activities in the Belgorod region as well, including the unique 'Family Circle' exhibition at the Belgorod Art Museum, comprised of the artworks from the world-famous Pushkin Museum in Moscow.

Evgeny Savchenko said: “The social partnership between the Belgorod region and Metalloinvest has been in place for over three years now. During this time, our joint efforts allowed us to solve a number of issues related to the development not only of Gubkin and Stary Oskol, but also of the region as a whole. This confirms that we selected the right approach to facing our joint challenges. Metalloinvest is a company that conducts business in a socially responsible way, and understands its contribution to social development. History shows that it is only by combining forces that we can guarantee success and reach our goals. All Belgorod region citizens understand the importance of this partnership, as they feel its positive effects in their everyday lives.”

The key priorities of the partners' 2014 social investments will be the same as before: supporting education and healthcare, particularly children's healthcare establishments, culture, and improvement of social infrastructure. Metalloinvest's corporate programmes, targeted at sustainable development of the towns where the Company operates, will also continue.

Priority investments will include:

Support of vocational training courses and educational establishments in the towns where the Company operates, including as part of the 'Our Future' programme

Development of social infrastructure and supporting social projects, including those directed at encouraging creativity in children

Backing the town's museums in order to contribute to its cultural development, including establishing the “Zhelezno!” exhibition and educational space at the National University of Science and Technology 'MISIS'

Implementation of targeted programmes including 'School of Communal Good', 'Entrepreneurial Education', 'Healthy Child' and 'Summer Linguistics Camp'

Carrying out charity programmes in Gubkin and Stary Oskol

Among the infrastructure projects which will receive significant funding are the Sputnik entertainment centre and the Secondary School #15 in Gubkin, and the main building of the National University of Science and Technology 'MISIS' and the airport in Stary Oskol.

Andrey Varichev commented: “High-quality education and healthcare, a rich cultural life and opportunities for fulfilling spare time activities - all those contribute to making a city attractive and act as the foundation for its successful evolution. Two key divisions of Metalloinvest are based here, in the Belgorod region. The future of the Company is inextricably linked to the future of this area, so participation in its life is our key priority.”