I. Metshin: "We need to support the kiosk keepers who have already invested in their object"

(Kazan City KZN.RU, November 24, Ksenia Shvetsova). Actual problems of small and medium business were discussed at the meeting of the Coordinating Council for the Development of Small and Medium Enterprises of Kazan, which took place today in the City Hall under the chairmanship of Mayor Ilsur Metshin. Among the participants were the heads of districts, Kazan City Duma deputies, representatives of the Chamber of Commerce of Tatarstan and other business associations, as well as bankers and businessmen.

"In preparation for today's meeting we gathered proposals from entrepreneurs on the agenda, thank you for showing activity" - the Mayor turned to the assembled members of the Council.

As the deputy head of the Executive Committee for Economic Development Ivan Kuznetsov told, today the city small business generates almost 37% of GDP, provides jobs for 182,000 people, that is 35% of the total economically active population. The amount of tax revenue to the city budget in the past 9 months amounted to 1 billion 328 million rubles. The Executive Committee of the city is in constant active dialogue with entrepreneurs. For example, this year more than 500 businessmen appealed to the authorities of the city. Meetings with the participants of the market were held, the situation was analyzed and appropriate decisions were taken on the actual issues of business on industry. In addition, these applications help to identify problems that hinder business development. The availability of financial resources, lack of personnel and administrative barriers are among them.

At today's meeting issues of concern to the owners of hundreds of objects of small retail network were raised. Performances of such businessmen as the owner of the flower stalls Anastasia Shevchenko, a representative of the Assyrian Diaspora, which specializes in shoe repair, Arsen Savva, chairman of the agricultural cooperatives Elena Yurchenko and other has been devoted to this topic.

In particular, the legal conflict, in which market participants has been involved, was discussed. Their lease on the land with the Executive Committee has a point about the priority right to renew the lease that allows entrepreneurs to invest in new kiosks and plan business development. But this year the amendments to the Land Code came into force, which abolished the notion of pre-emptive right: now the land must be leased to the highest bidder; that is very difficult for planning.

As the head of the city noted, the municipality acted with the initiative of to reconsider the rules already, but authorities do not hurry to deal with this problem at the federal level. Meanwhile, there are examples when individual regions of the country made appropriate amendments at the regional level, what really helped the development of the business. So, this practice took place in St. Petersburg.

To follow the example and support of entrepreneurs not only in words but in deeds - such commission I. Metshin gave to economic bloc of the Executive Committee. "I instruct to study the issue and to get permission of Antimonopoly Service and the Prosecutor's Office to bring this initiative to the State Council - Mayor ordered. - Those who are willing to invest in their projects and enter into long-term leases must have the pre-emptive right. We need to discuss this issue with the Government of the Republic, which will support us, I hope".

Also a difficult situation with the placement of objects of small retail network, which includes 1077 points, formed in Kazan. In the beginning of the year experts have started creating a perpetual allocation scheme in 2016, which will take into account the current trend in the consumer market. It was developed together with the Committee of the consumer market and the district administrations. "This scheme involves a reduction in outlets that fall under the ban on trade in alcohol and tobacco, the increase in the number of shopping centers, retail facilities on the ground floors of apartment houses - I.Kuznetsov said. - Only in the last 5 years the Committee issued 1473 resolutions to transfer to non-residential premises. In forming the scheme we took into account the wishes of our entrepreneurs and the public". It was proposed from business to reconsider this issue in difficult crisis situation. "What were these reduced objects like - the new kiosks corresponding urban standards or rusty stalls?" - asked the Mayor. As it turned out, it was both one and others.

As a result, it was decided to study the issue in detail and discuss the layout of objects of small retail network with representatives of government and business at a subsequent meeting – as I. Metshin stressed, it will be carried out in the regular mode and with the full complement of members of the Coordinating Council for the Development of Small and Medium entrepreneurship.

"We will be back for further discussion of all the issues that require our participation. I am ready to hold it as often as it is required by the current situation. We need to use this area for the formation of initiatives at the national level. Government and the President of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov hear and support us. Therefore we must boldly articulate our initiatives, "- the Mayor summed up the meeting.