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Medvedev, governors of regions to discuss prospects for developing multifunctional centers

Prospects for developing a network of multifunctional centers (MFC) for the provision of public services will be discussed Wednesday

MOSCOW, December 04, 3:52 /ITAR-TASS/. Prospects for developing a network of multifunctional centers (MFC) for the provision of public services will be discussed Wednesday by participants in a video hook-up conference chaired by Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, the Cabinet press service reported.

Via the video conference, the governors will tell the Premier about the pace of arrangemetns for "one-window" offices.

As of now, 848 MFCs operate in Russia, as well as 911 remote offices in small populated areas, and 488 offices of contractor organizations. By January 1, 2014, there must be more than 1,200 such centrrs and over 2,700 remote offices and those of contractor organizations.

Leaders by the number of the already opened MFCs, according to government data, are Moscow (69 centers), Rostov Region (67), Krasnodar Territory (49), as well as St Petersburg, Volgograd, and Penza (more than 30 centers in each region). On the whole, one-third of Russia's population is under the coverage of the MFCs.

The authorities plan to go on increasing the amount of rendered publci serices at the MFCs. In prospect, such centers will cater for the citizens "comprehensively, within the scope of real-life experiences"-- the birth or adoption of a child, the opening of one's own business, or retirement on pension", a government official explained. Six billion roubles are earmarked in the Federal budget for the devrlopment of the MFCs in the coming two years.

The multifunctional center provided public or municipal services according to the one-window principle, including those rendered electronically. In the process of work, the center itself, without applicant's participation, interacts with state-run or municipal agencies in providing the citizen with the necessary references, information, and draws up documents. By 2015, it is planned to increase up to 90 precent the share of citizens having access to getting public services according to the one-window principle in the district of his or her residence, including those provided at the MFCs.

Sergei Prikhodko, Vice-Premier and Chief of the Governmen Staff, Nikolai Nikiforov, Minister of Communications and the Media, and Anton Siluanov, Minister of Finance, will take part in the Premier-chaired video conference.

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