Ilsur Metshin: "We are ready to provide real support for business"

Small and medium enterprises play a significant role in the city's economy, providing 37% of the gross territorial product and more than 18% of all tax revenues to the city budget. At the same time, every third Kazan resident works in small or medium business.

In an unstable economy urban small businesses need support more than ever. Kazan Executive Committee proposed an unprecedented program that involves concessional loans, special conditions for renting of municipal premises and the reduction of administrative barriers. As a priority, support will be provided to enterprises engaged in the tourism industry, the manufacture of souvenir production and service sectors, as well as socially important directions related to the development of mass physical culture and sports, culture and the creation of private pre-school educational institutions. These are points of growth, which will ensure the creation of new jobs, the prosperity of our city and improve the quality of life of Kazan residents.

We offer support for business - it's not spontaneous ideas, but measures, formed on the basis of the wishes of the entrepreneurs themselves. We actively communicate with them during the development of anti-crisis program, we continue to debate and now try to hear each and, thus, provide the most effective support.

Of course, we are not talking about handing out free money and space to each of the 60 thousand Kazan entrepreneurs. But we are ready to provide transparent and clear rules of the game, the real support that everyone will benefit to find a new perspective of business.

In time of crisis we are actively talking about import substitution in a variety of industries, I am sure that now is the case that, using the provided benefits, urban small and medium businesses will create competitive products. In this sense, I see special potential in the production of souvenirs, where the range is poor, although the demand for souvenirs from Kazan increases with increasing of numbers of tourists. We should provide guests with the opportunity to choose high-quality and interesting gifts for every budget, taking into account national peculiarities and the fact that the hand-made products are always appreciated more. Perhaps, every tourist is trying to bring the original memorable favors that will not only keep good memories, but are an inspiration for new journeys. Therefore it is important that tourists took with them such gifts, which will serve as a good reminder of our city, leaving Kazan.

I am confident that our proposed support measures will give a new impetus to hostels - they are already 55 in Kazan. In the wake of major international events and the growing numbers of tourists, the owners of hostels were able to find their niche and improve the quality of services to achieve good occupancy rates. I hope that the new program will support hostels to reveal their full potential.

In general, we are continuously working to create the most comfortable conditions for business - it is in line with our desire to make Kazan prosperous city, a place, where thousands of people strive to live and work. The active position of citizens themselves - workers and entrepreneurs - will allow us to move towards the goals by leaps and bounds.