Rustam Minnikhanov: We started implementing the programme “Parks and squares” first, but water conservation zones are of great value, too

On July 7, Interim President of the Republic of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov, Mayor of Kazan Ilsur Metshin, heads of other towns of the republic, representatives of legislative and executive authorities, businessmen, leading Russian and international experts in urban planning, economics and sociology took part in the second series of urban conferences "The Cities and Territories Tomorrow: Tools for Positive Change" opened in Kazan (Korston hotel).

The conferences have already been held in Khabarovsk and Samara, and will be held in Novosibirsk and St. Petersburg later on. Moscow international urban forum will summarize the conferences in autumn.

The conference is organized by the Center of urban studies “Skolkovo”, Federal center for project finance under the auspices of Moscow Chamber of Commerce and Industry. OAO “Bank of Moscow” has been the strategic partner of the conference for two years.

Andrei Sharonov, rector of the Moscow School of Management SKOLKOVO was the moderator of a plenary session “Water in a modern city” held during the conference.

Participants of the session discussed rational use of Volga and Kazanka riverfront, creation of a new embankment and development of common standards to improve the embankment areas.

Rustam Minnikhanov noted that water area occupies 8 per cent of the republic’s total territory, and river banks are often used inefficiently.

The following roundtables will be held during the conference: “Public infrastructure: development in conditions of budget deficit”, “Innopolis: First city in the 21st-century Russia”, and the session “Public participation in urban management”.