Rustam Minnikhanov and Alexei Kudrin supported the strategy Kazan-2030

(KZN.RU, October 17). Preliminary results of on the implementation of the Strategy of social and economic development of Tatarstan until 2030 were discussed today at a strategy session in the House of RT Government. Rustam Minnikhanov, the President of Tatarstan, Aleksei Kudrin, the chairman of the Board of the Fund “Center for Strategic Research”, Ildar Khalikov, the Prime Minister of Tatarstan, Farid Mukhametshin, the chairman of the Tatarstan State Council, Yaroslav Kuzminov, the rector of the Higher School of Economics, heads of the republican ministries and departments took part in the session. Ilsur Metshin, the Mayor of Kazan, presented a development plan for the capital.

Rustam Minnikhanov opened the session and noted that 3500 people took an active part in development of the Strategy “Tatarstan-2030” for two years, including representatives of various government, educational and non-governmental organizations, analytical centers, businesses. The strategy was finally formed and adopted into law in 2015. According to the President, the republic's leadership has set the task of municipalities to develop a strategy on the basis of the large Republican document.

Ilsur Metshin, introducing the draft of Kazan improvement, reminded that the previous city strategy was adopted in 2003 and has been calculated up to 2015. Significant changes have occurred over the years in the capital of Tatarstan: the subway was built, the Universiade was held, the historic center was reconstructed, the airport, sport and cultural infrastructure were upgraded and much more.

The current strategy until 2030, said the Mayor, “is tuned to achieve the objectives of the republic, developed with and on the basis of targets and flagship projects and Tatarstan agreed with it in form and content”.

According to Ilsur Metshin, the development strategy was carried out, based on the experience of successful cities, local experts, in addition, city residents have been involved in the process. The Mayor noted that more than 80 communication platforms were carried out during the work on the document, in which about one thousand people participated. 845 inhabitants of the city took part in the poll on the website of the City Hall on the priorities of urban development. “Many of the expressed ideas are reflected in the goals and objectives of the strategy”, said the Mayor.

“As in the republic strategy, the material is structured in section of 3 priorities and 7 lines of competition”, said Ilsur Metshin to the audience. The major strategic goal is to be the driver of change, the locomotive of movements of the republic to the smart economy and to become a leading Russian center of science and education, innovation and financial performance.

The Mayor announced the strengths and threats in each of the priorities, related to human capital, economics and management, and space. “We have formulated 18 goals in the strategy and separate those in the 7 areas of competition, 42 tasks prompted for their achievements”, added the Mayor. He also named the 4 main image projects: “Kazan – a health area”, “Kazan – a cauldron of creative ideas”, “Kazan – a diverse center of agglomeration”, “Kazan – a driver of the future”.

“I am convinced that the Kazan-2030 strategy is the navigator, which will keep the correct course in any weather”, marked Ilsur Metshin.

Alexei Kudrin, the chairman of the Board of the Center for Strategic Research, called it a landmark that the proportion of product innovation is to reach 30% according to the document. “This is a serious, adequately task. Tatarstan and Russia will not become competitive without it”, said the guest of Kazan.

Alexei Kudrin called the increase in the share of small and medium-sized enterprises in the gross territorial product by 50% an ambitious task.

The chairman of the Center for Strategic Research Foundation also drew attention to the project “Kazan - a diverse center of agglomeration”. “Major technological breakthroughs occur where production facilities, professional staff concentrated, and where a significant opportunity to attract investment, labor mobility is”, said Alexei Kudrin. “Agglomeration will be one of the key points of the country development”.

Alexei Kudrin called the task of making Kazan compete to Moscow and St. Petersburg, and in the next step seeing the capital of Tatarstan in the community of world cities the proper one.

He also outlined the fundamental importance of the creative industries. “This is what makes modern products the most advanced”, emphasized the chairman of the Center for Strategic Research.

“I want to support this program. I think this is a good contribution to the implementation of the whole Tatarstan development program”, said Alexei Kudrin. “I hope that the strategy will be successfully implemented”.

Yaroslav Kuzminov, the rector of the National Research University “Higher School of Economics” (HSE), which also became a member of the session, called the strategy “a document of high quality”. He outlined the less-developed education and culture among the weaknesses. “In order to compete with the world's cities, it is necessary to create an infrastructure, for example, for creative projects: workshops, experimental stages, and so on”, said Yaroslav Kuzmin.

In addition, he expressed the opinion that “it is necessary to ensure a shift of transport priorities not in the direction of public transport, but pedestrians”. “The city that would be attractive for living and for tourists consists of a continuous pedestrian space”, said the speaker.

The high quality of the urban environment with one of the most affordable housing price levels may attract young skilled personnel, including Moscow and St. Petersburg, according to the expert.

“It was a bright report. Now we have to implement it brightly”, concluded Rustam Minnikhanov, the President of Tatarstan.