Nikolai Begchin, head of the Program and Target Planning Department at the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation, highlighted a persistent gap in extra-budgetary financing for national projects during 2022. He noted that the original plan depended heavily on private investment to prop up the financing of these projects, but actual results fell short. By the end of 2022, out of the planned 1.8 trillion rubles, only 794 billion rubles were executed, representing 43 percent of the target. This shortfall raised questions about the reliability of the assumed private contribution and whether the budgeting framework had adequately prepared for fluctuations in non-budgetary funding.
Begchin emphasized that a similar pattern had appeared from 2019 through 2021, affecting all national projects across the portfolio. He suggested that the root cause lay in the underdevelopment of extrabudgetary funding channels and the insufficient mobilization of private capital to support long-term public initiatives. His assessment points to structural issues in the planning process, where the envisioned private sector participation did not materialize at the required levels, undermining the robustness of multi-year project financing.
In response to these findings, Begchin called for action to strengthen the planning framework. He proposed the development and formal approval of a clear procedure for forecasting extrabudgetary resources, to be established by a governmental decree. The aim is to reduce ambiguity, improve accountability, and ensure that all sources of non-budgetary funding are systematically incorporated into the planning cycle. This move would also help align project timelines with financing availability, mitigating the risk of delays caused by funding gaps and ensuring that crucial public programs stay on track.
The discussion around extrabudgetary financing takes on greater significance in the context of broader policy objectives that require coordinated investment across sectors. A more disciplined approach to budgeting non-government funds is seen as essential to sustaining momentum on long-running national initiatives, especially those tied to modernization and strategic state priorities. By formalizing the planning process, authorities aim to create a more transparent, predictable environment for private investors, public-private partnerships, and other non-budgetary participants who contribute to national projects.
On another note, leadership has stressed the importance of vigilance against shadow planning and opaque spending practices. The policy shift calls for stricter oversight of resource use, including procurement and defense orders linked to national programs. The overarching goal is to ensure that funds allocated for national priorities are used efficiently, with clear traceability and accountability at every stage of implementation. This stance underlines a broader commitment to fiscal responsibility and the integrity of the development agenda, reinforcing the need for disciplined execution of long-term projects without compromising public trust.