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A Small Region with Big Plans: How the Jewish Autonomous Region Is Changing
A Small Region with Big Plans: How the Jewish Autonomous Region Is Changing
Arctic.ru: Discover how Russia implements its development goals in the Arctic and the Far East
2026-10-05T10:00
2026-10-05T10:00
2026-10-05T11:22
expert opinion
jewish autonomous region
infrastructure
social affairs
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The Jewish Autonomous Region is the smallest region in the Russian Far East, with a new and ambitious team in both the executive and legislative branches of government. The region’s focus on delivering results has already been noted by President Vladimir Putin. Last year, the region posted strong growth in industrial output, while investment in fixed capital increased by 35 percent.Senator representing the government of the Jewish Autonomous Region Natalia Khorova told Arctic.ru in an interview about other achievements of the region and what its authorities see as their priority goal.– Ms Khorova, you worked at the Ministry of Healthcare for many years and have an in-depth understanding of the healthcare system. You are now a senator representing the Jewish Autonomous Region. What has changed in healthcare during this time?– Indeed, 21 years of working at the Ministry of Healthcare have left their mark. So, the first thing I did was to analyze the situation in the healthcare system of the Jewish Autonomous Region. Staffing was one of the key issues. In 2026 alone, the number of doctors in the region increased by 11, and the number of mid-level healthcare professionals rose by 51. For our region, these are fairly significant figures.We are working in several areas at once. We are bringing in specialists, creating proper conditions to encourage them to stay in the region and, most importantly, we are training our own personnel through targeted enrolment programs. It is important for us that applicants from the Jewish Autonomous Region have the opportunity to study at the country’s leading medical universities, such as Amur State Medical Academy in Blagoveshchensk, Far Eastern State Medical University in Khabarovsk, Pacific State Medical University in Vladivostok, and Pavlov First St. Petersburg State Medical University. As for mid-level healthcare professionals, the Birobidzhan Medical College is our main training center.We also have a system of support measures for specialists in specialized fields who are recruited from outside the region. These include one-off payments to those who decide to move to the region and work here, as well as housing for doctors.– Medical equipment and facilities are another important issue. What has changed over the past year and what changes can the region expect in the future?– A helicopter pad was commissioned in November 2025, and around 100 people, including 18 children, have since then received emergency medical help. At first glance, that may not seem like a lot, but it’s about lives saved and families. The plan is to have five such pads in the region by 2030, one in each municipality.I would also highlight the progress made under the modernization program. In 2025 alone, eight of the 12 departments at the regional hospital were renovated, and a modern medical rehabilitation department was opened. New antenatal clinics have opened in Nikolayevka and Leninskoye, while all rural health centers and outpatient clinics have been brought up to modern standards.Our region is also paying considerable attention to the development of rehabilitation services. An interregional prosthetics center is being built in Priamursky, and we plan to open a medical rehabilitation department at the Kuldur health resort.The most important development, which everyone is anticipating, is the construction of a new outpatient clinic with the capacity for 300 visits per shift. Work is proceeding according to schedule, and we hope that within the next year and a half, patients will be able to walk through the doors of a modern and well-equipped facility.– Which federal healthcare projects is the Jewish Autonomous Region involved in?– The Healthcare Ministry’s pilot project on mobile pharmacies is particularly important for us at the moment. It will help us establish a network of mobile pharmacies serving remote settlements.Another important development is the opportunity for residents of the Jewish Autonomous Region to obtain care from leading federal medical centers without having to leave the region. We work closely with the Academician Dedov National Medical Research Center for Endocrinology, the National Medical Research Center for Radiology of the Russian Ministry of Healthcare, the St. Petersburg Research ENT Institute, and the Ministry of Healthcare’s National Medical Research Center for Children’s Health, as well as Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University. This has opened up new opportunities for telemedicine consultations. For example, as part of the Oncopatrol project in Birobidzhan, we selected enterprises where employees face particularly high cancer risks and surveyed more than 800 people. Those with suspected health problems were examined, registered for follow-up care and given recommendations, while some were referred to the National Medical Research Center for Radiology in Moscow.With the support of the Academician Dedov National Medical Research Center for Endocrinology, endocrinology services are being developed in the Jewish Autonomous Region. An endocrinology center equipped with qualified specialists and the latest medical technology operates at the Valdgeim Hospital. The hospital also runs a Diabetes School, where patients are taught how to manage their condition properly and monitor their vital signs themselves. Since the beginning of 2026 alone, more than 500 people have completed the course at the school.– Other than medical professionals, how are you coping with staff shortages in other sectors?– The quality of training determines what kind of specialists we will have tomorrow and how willing young people are to build their lives in the region. The modernization program covers not only healthcare but also culture and education. Many schools and childcare facilities have been renovated, and teaching materials and equipment have been purchased.A new remuneration system has been introduced for educators: their basic salaries have been tripled, and incentive payments have been introduced. This experience was recommended by the Ministry of Education for use in other regions.We have joined the federal Professionalitet program, which will allow us to train workforce to meet the needs of the regional economy. We have opened 11 new areas of study and specializations for training mid-level professionals. We have also increased enrolment in programs for the mining and processing industry and for training railway track maintenance specialists, which is particularly relevant given the volume of freight traffic on the Trans-Siberian Railway.– The region has been actively developing ties with neighboring China. What has changed over the past year?– The Jewish Autonomous Region is unique both in terms of its natural and climatic conditions and its geographical location. The Trans-Siberian Railway runs through the region, enabling enormous volumes of cargo to be transported. A railway bridge has been built linking the village of Nizhneleninskoye with Tongjiang, through which supplies of iron ore, agricultural products, and coal are transported. The region is now working with the Chinese side to actively develop the area around the bridge and to attract investment so that it becomes not simply a point for trade and cargo transit, but a genuine world-class transport and logistics hub. We are considering numerous proposals from both our Chinese partners and Russian investors. We expect this to create new jobs and processing facilities that will give the regional economy a boost and increase budget revenues.– Can we already talk about developing tourism on the border with China?– Absolutely. There are currently discussions about building a road bridge across the Amur River in the settlement of Pashkovo, which would enable the transportation not of cargo but primarily of Russian and Chinese citizens, thereby promoting international tourism. We have unique natural attractions and plenty to show, but developing them will require considerable effort. The projects are currently being discussed with potential investors.– Which areas currently offer the greatest potential for the Jewish Autonomous Region?– First and foremost, the development of mining, agriculture, energy, transport infrastructure, and tourism. Priority is given to the manufacturing industries. The Kimkan-Sutarsky Mining and Processing Plant is operating and expanding, with the capacity to produce more than 10 million tonnes of iron ore a year. The region is rich in mineral resources such as brucite and graphite.We are the only region in the country where brucite is mined (it is used in the manufacturing industry, metallurgy, and agriculture; deposits of monomineral brucite are rare, with only a few known in the United States and China. – Ed.). At present, it is mined in small quantities at the Kuldur deposit, but its current capacity is 500,000 tonnes a year, while its potential is 7 million tonnes. Pilot development of the Savkinskoye deposit has begun, and we plan to launch commercial production in 2027. There is potential for us to become a global leader in brucite production.The Soyuznoye deposit has estimated graphite reserves of 13 million tonnes. A processing plant with a capacity of 40,000 tonnes of concentrate per year will be commissioned in late October, with production expected to increase to 150,000 tonnes by 2030.Our goal is not simply to increase production of coal, brucite, and graphite, but also to ensure deep processing, manufacture higher-value-added products, and create new jobs and enterprises. This is a growth point for the region.– What is the main challenge facing the leadership of the Jewish Autonomous Region?– We realize that we need to increase our own revenue in order to transform the region from one that runs a budget deficit into a donor region. With well-targeted investment and the right choice of priorities, this goal can be achieved.As I said before, we boast abundant natural resources. Our goal today is to make the most effective use of this potential to develop the regional economy. It is important that these resources do not remain simply raw materials that get extracted and shipped elsewhere. They should be the foundation for creating new industries, new jobs, and a stronger tax base.
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2026
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/img/07ea/0a/01/1784845_222:0:2351:1597_1920x0_80_0_0_7e1b56049447a5f3a5ab67f72e787962.jpgexpert opinion, jewish autonomous region, infrastructure, social affairs
The Jewish Autonomous Region is the smallest region in the Russian Far East, with a new and ambitious team in both the executive and legislative branches of government. The region’s focus on delivering results has already been noted by President Vladimir Putin. Last year, the region posted strong growth in industrial output, while investment in fixed capital increased by 35 percent.
Senator representing the government of the Jewish Autonomous Region Natalia Khorova told Arctic.ru in an interview about other achievements of the region and what its authorities see as their priority goal.
– Ms Khorova, you worked at the Ministry of Healthcare for many years and have an in-depth understanding of the healthcare system. You are now a senator representing the Jewish Autonomous Region. What has changed in healthcare during this time?
– Indeed, 21 years of working at the Ministry of Healthcare have left their mark. So, the first thing I did was to analyze the situation in the healthcare system of the Jewish Autonomous Region. Staffing was one of the key issues. In 2026 alone, the number of doctors in the region increased by 11, and the number of mid-level healthcare professionals rose by 51. For our region, these are fairly significant figures.
We are working in several areas at once. We are bringing in specialists, creating proper conditions to encourage them to stay in the region and, most importantly, we are training our own personnel through targeted enrolment programs. It is important for us that applicants from the Jewish Autonomous Region have the opportunity to study at the country’s leading medical universities, such as Amur State Medical Academy in Blagoveshchensk, Far Eastern State Medical University in Khabarovsk, Pacific State Medical University in Vladivostok, and Pavlov First St. Petersburg State Medical University. As for mid-level healthcare professionals, the Birobidzhan Medical College is our main training center.
We also have a system of support measures for specialists in specialized fields who are recruited from outside the region. These include one-off payments to those who decide to move to the region and work here, as well as housing for doctors.
Of course, the staffing problem cannot be solved in a single year. But today we are seeing positive dynamics and working to ensure that specialists who come to the Jewish Autonomous Region stay and continue working here.
– Medical equipment and facilities are another important issue. What has changed over the past year and what changes can the region expect in the future?
– A helicopter pad was commissioned in November 2025, and around 100 people, including 18 children, have since then received emergency medical help. At first glance, that may not seem like a lot, but it’s about lives saved and families. The plan is to have five such pads in the region by 2030, one in each municipality.
I would also highlight the progress made under the modernization program. In 2025 alone, eight of the 12 departments at the regional hospital were renovated, and a modern medical rehabilitation department was opened. New antenatal clinics have opened in Nikolayevka and Leninskoye, while all rural health centers and outpatient clinics have been brought up to modern standards.
Our region is also paying considerable attention to the development of rehabilitation services. An interregional prosthetics center is being built in Priamursky, and we plan to open a medical rehabilitation department at the Kuldur health resort.
The most important development, which everyone is anticipating, is the construction of a new outpatient clinic with the capacity for 300 visits per shift. Work is proceeding according to schedule, and we hope that within the next year and a half, patients will be able to walk through the doors of a modern and well-equipped facility.
– Which federal healthcare projects is the Jewish Autonomous Region involved in?
– The Healthcare Ministry’s pilot project on mobile pharmacies is particularly important for us at the moment. It will help us establish a network of mobile pharmacies serving remote settlements.
Another important development is the opportunity for residents of the Jewish Autonomous Region to obtain care from leading federal medical centers without having to leave the region. We work closely with the Academician Dedov National Medical Research Center for Endocrinology, the National Medical Research Center for Radiology of the Russian Ministry of Healthcare, the St. Petersburg Research ENT Institute, and the Ministry of Healthcare’s National Medical Research Center for Children’s Health, as well as Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University. This has opened up new opportunities for telemedicine consultations. For example, as part of the Oncopatrol project in Birobidzhan, we selected enterprises where employees face particularly high cancer risks and surveyed more than 800 people. Those with suspected health problems were examined, registered for follow-up care and given recommendations, while some were referred to the National Medical Research Center for Radiology in Moscow.
With the support of the Academician Dedov National Medical Research Center for Endocrinology, endocrinology services are being developed in the Jewish Autonomous Region. An endocrinology center equipped with qualified specialists and the latest medical technology operates at the Valdgeim Hospital. The hospital also runs a Diabetes School, where patients are taught how to manage their condition properly and monitor their vital signs themselves. Since the beginning of 2026 alone, more than 500 people have completed the course at the school.
– Other than medical professionals, how are you coping with staff shortages in other sectors?
– The quality of training determines what kind of specialists we will have tomorrow and how willing young people are to build their lives in the region. The modernization program covers not only healthcare but also culture and education. Many schools and childcare facilities have been renovated, and teaching materials and equipment have been purchased.
A new remuneration system has been introduced for educators: their basic salaries have been tripled, and incentive payments have been introduced. This experience was recommended by the Ministry of Education for use in other regions.
We have joined the federal Professionalitet program, which will allow us to train workforce to meet the needs of the regional economy. We have opened 11 new areas of study and specializations for training mid-level professionals. We have also increased enrolment in programs for the mining and processing industry and for training railway track maintenance specialists, which is particularly relevant given the volume of freight traffic on the Trans-Siberian Railway.
– The region has been actively developing ties with neighboring China. What has changed over the past year?
– The Jewish Autonomous Region is unique both in terms of its natural and climatic conditions and its geographical location. The Trans-Siberian Railway runs through the region, enabling enormous volumes of cargo to be transported. A railway bridge has been built linking the village of Nizhneleninskoye with Tongjiang, through which supplies of iron ore, agricultural products, and coal are transported. The region is now working with the Chinese side to actively develop the area around the bridge and to attract investment so that it becomes not simply a point for trade and cargo transit, but a genuine world-class transport and logistics hub. We are considering numerous proposals from both our Chinese partners and Russian investors. We expect this to create new jobs and processing facilities that will give the regional economy a boost and increase budget revenues.
– Can we already talk about developing tourism on the border with China?
– Absolutely. There are currently discussions about building a road bridge across the Amur River in the settlement of Pashkovo, which would enable the transportation not of cargo but primarily of Russian and Chinese citizens, thereby promoting international tourism. We have unique natural attractions and plenty to show, but developing them will require considerable effort. The projects are currently being discussed with potential investors.
– Which areas currently offer the greatest potential for the Jewish Autonomous Region?
– First and foremost, the development of mining, agriculture, energy, transport infrastructure, and tourism. Priority is given to the manufacturing industries. The Kimkan-Sutarsky Mining and Processing Plant is operating and expanding, with the capacity to produce more than 10 million tonnes of iron ore a year. The region is rich in mineral resources such as brucite and graphite.
We are the only region in the country where brucite is mined (it is used in the manufacturing industry, metallurgy, and agriculture; deposits of monomineral brucite are rare, with only a few known in the United States and China. – Ed.). At present, it is mined in small quantities at the Kuldur deposit, but its current capacity is 500,000 tonnes a year, while its potential is 7 million tonnes. Pilot development of the Savkinskoye deposit has begun, and we plan to launch commercial production in 2027. There is potential for us to become a global leader in brucite production.
The Soyuznoye deposit has estimated graphite reserves of 13 million tonnes. A processing plant with a capacity of 40,000 tonnes of concentrate per year will be commissioned in late October, with production expected to increase to 150,000 tonnes by 2030.
Our goal is not simply to increase production of coal, brucite, and graphite, but also to ensure deep processing, manufacture higher-value-added products, and create new jobs and enterprises. This is a growth point for the region.
– What is the main challenge facing the leadership of the Jewish Autonomous Region?
– We realize that we need to increase our own revenue in order to transform the region from one that runs a budget deficit into a donor region. With well-targeted investment and the right choice of priorities, this goal can be achieved.
As I said before, we boast abundant natural resources. Our goal today is to make the most effective use of this potential to develop the regional economy. It is important that these resources do not remain simply raw materials that get extracted and shipped elsewhere. They should be the foundation for creating new industries, new jobs, and a stronger tax base.
