NEWS

Audit of forming tariffs for housing and communal services is to be conducted in every municipal region of Tatarstan. This was announced today by acting prime minister of republic Ravil Muratov at the meeting in RT Cabinet. Results of first revisions have been summed up at the meeting. Ravil Muratov put much emphasis on creating competitive environment in the sphere of management for housing fund. At the same time, acting prime minister supposes that in case of increasing the number of managing companies costs will go up.

November, 13. Russia, Japan and China signed trilateral agreement on constructing plant for producing fertilizers in Mendeleevsk in presence of RF President Dmitry Medvedev and RT President Rustam Minnikhanov in Yokohama. Total cost of the project makes 1 bln. dollars.The contract signed between Tatarstan company “Ammony” and consortium of companies Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd (MHI) (Japan), Sojitz Corporation Ltd (Japan), China National Chemical Engineering Group Corp (China) includes all stages of construction process (design, deliveries, construction).According to information at official site of Sojitz company, such a full course is rather unusual for project on the territory of Russia.

November 12, Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov is on a visit to Yokohama, Japan together with the Russian delegation in the framework of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev’s participation in the APEC summit.Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, or APEC, was established in 1989 to further enhance economic growth and prosperity for the region and to strengthen the Asia-Pacific community.APEC is the only inter governmental grouping in the world operating on the basis of non-binding commitments, open dialogue and equal respect for the views of all participants. Unlike the WTO or other multilateral trade bodies, APEC has no treaty obligations required of its participants. Decisions made within APEC are reached by consensus and commitments are undertaken on a voluntary basis.

By the end of 2010 502 000 m² of housing should be commissioned in Tatarstan for realization of yearly plan. Such data have been given today at the meeting in RT Cabinet held by RT first vice-premier Ravil Muratov.First deputy minister of construction, architecture and housing Rauzil Khaziev informed that the whole volume of housing to be constructed in 2010 is the share of social mortgage program. More than 270 000 m² are to be commissioned in Kazan. By words of Rauzil Khaziev housing construction in Kazan is being implemented according to fixed schedule. Financing is being realized by submitted applications and presented documents.

A meeting on realizing the project of 4th heat source in Kazan has been held today with participation of RT President Rustam Minnikhanov. Heads of republican ministries and departments, Kazan mayor’s office and officials of the companies that are taking part in project implementation attended the meeting. Among them were M+W Group, Bertsch, Siemens Energy, PB Berlin Projekte GMBH, Hitachi Power Europe GmbH и FORTUM. The project was presented by M+W Group, general contractor of future heat station. It implies two gas turbines of Siemens production with capacity of 47 MW and two boiler-utilizers.

On November 10, President of Finland Tarja Halonen accompanied by President of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov visited IT Park in Kazan. Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Information and Communications of Tatarstan Nikolay Nikiforov acquainted Her Excellency with achievements of the republic in the field of IT technologies.In the IT Park, the President of Finland visited the Centre for Information Technologies of the Republic of Tatarstan. Nikolay Nikiforov described the GLONASS+112 project being implemented in the republic and acquainted the head of Finland with the work of the Regional Centre for Space Services and the Call Centre.

Extended session of academic council of Kazan federal university dedicated to awarding the distinctions to the degree of “Honourable Doctor of the Kazan University” to President of Finland Tarja Halonen was held in assembly hall of the main building of Kazan federal university. RT President Rustam Minnikhanov took part in the event.Rector of Kazan (Volga) Federal University Ilshat Gafurov reminded that on October, 7, 2010 academic council of the university decided to award the title of “Honourable Doctor of the Kazan University” to President of Finland Tarja Halonen for great contribution into distribution and learning the Russian language, mutual enrichment of our cultures and creation of conditions for fruitful development of cooperation in scientific-educational sphere. The Kazan University itself has strong connections with Helsinki University - the oldest university of Finland, and university that is located in Turku – the oldest city in the country.

Businesses from Finland should be more aggressive in coming to Tatarstan. This opinion was stated today by President of the Republic Rustam Minnikhanov at the meeting with President of Finland Tarja Halonen. The meeting took place in the Kazan Kremlin within the framework of the state visit of Tarja Halonen to Russia.The President of Tatarstan thanked Her Excellency for her visit to Kazan, having paid attention to the fact that Tatarstan and Finland has much in common. “In your country, for over 100 years lives the Tatar community, which has kept its originality and culture”, the head of Tatarstan told Her Excellency “Your country is a place from which we learnt and is learning how to develop innovations, and now we are adopting your best practices in the sphere of education”.

President of Finland Tarja Halonen made a tour of the Kazan Kremlin. She was accompanied by President of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov. They visited the Kul-Sharif Mosque and the Annunciation Cathedral.Imam-hatyb of the mosque Ramil khazrat Yunusov demonstrated to Her Excellency a Finnish-language Koran which had been gifted to the mosque by Finnish Tatars.Tarja Halonen noted that Tatars appeared in Finland in the 19th century. “Tatars live well with us; however, they seeking their wives in Kazan”, - said H.E. President, smiling. Presidents of Finland and Tatarstan also visited a museum of Islamic culture which is situated on the ground floor of the mosque.