Rustam Minnikhanov: “Land, infrastructure and investments are the key issues for Kazan”

On March 3 at a summary session of Kazan State Duma Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov said that first of all Kazan leadership should focus on economic development of the city to resolve the current tasks.

Kazan Mayor Ilsur Metshin made a keynote report on social and economic development of Kazan in 2013. He said that 2013 was the most important year in the history of Kazan, which hosted World Summer Universiade. Ilsur Metshin reported that 228 billion roubles, including extra-budgetary investments, were invested in Tatarstan due to the Games. At the same time, he noted that in the last five years the annual amount of taxes increased by 77 % per cent, up to 92 billion annually, at all budget levels. The growth makes 49 per cent after allowing for inflation, Ilsur Metshin added.

The implementation of transport plan of the Universiade was the important area of activity of Kazan leadership. By and large, 44 pedestrian crossings and 12 junctions were built and commissioned.

As a result, the transport situation in Kazan was recognized to be the best among nine largest cities of the country.

It was further reported that 41 new kindergartens were open in Kazan in the last three years. It is planned to build 28 pre-school facilities in 2014. However, the capital repair of old kindergartens is still a topical issue for the city.

Speaking about the economic development of Kazan, Ilsur Metshin noted that the city needs new drivers of development after the Universiade. According to the forecast, the rate of growth of the gross regional product in 2013 will make 3.5 per cent, while the index of industrial production – 105.7 per cent.

The actual salary taking into account consumer price index increased by 8.7 per cent. The share of small business in the city economy makes 34 per cent.

Ilsur Metshin noted a serious slow-down in housing construction. The total amount of housing construction made 810,000 square meters last year, which corresponds to the target figures. However, the volume of multi-apartment construction was reduced by 1.7 times, while the volume of social mortgage housing dropped by three times.

According to the Mayor, the problem is caused because of lack of land plots and engineering infrastructure. The city authorities have to perform a large amount of work to deal with it, he said.

In 2013, 21,533 newborn babies were registered at Kazan Registry Offices, which is 4.6 per cent more than the previous maximum figure. The population has increase by 21,472 people in the past five years. (8,059 people in 2013).

Commenting on the Mayor’s report, Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov said that the Universiad was the school for everybody who took part in its preparation and holding. “We have changed and changed the city under the auspices of the federal center and republic. However, it was the city leaders who born the primary responsibility and you managed with dignity,” he noted.

Rustam Minnikhaov also stressed that all facilities and venues built for the Games must be effectively used in future.

Tatarstan President said that Kazan is facing a lot of challenging tasks that require funding and promised to allocate 1 billion roubles from the regional budget to solve the city’s problems.

Tatarstan President noted that Kazan reached good economical results, noting relatively high percentage of small and medium business in the city economy.

“Land, infrastructure and investments are the key issues for Kazan,” Rustam Minnikhanov concluded.

Summing up, Tatarstan President thanked the City Executive Committee and Kazan State Duma for their work and presented a number of awards.