The Strategy of socio-economic development of the city until 2030 has been approved in Kazan

(KZN.RU, December 14, Alsu Safina). Deputies approved the Strategy of socio-economic development of Kazan until 2030 today at the City Hall at the meeting of the City Duma. The document, which presupposes sustained economic growth and the creation of a comfortable, modern urban environment, has been presented to the deputies for consideration by Ilsur Metshin, the Mayor of Kazan.

The Mayor reminded that the first Kazan document for strategic planning until 2015 was adopted in 2003, and significant changes have taken place due to its implementation. “As you know, the tasks have been implemented, and some indicators exceeded”, said Ilsur Metshin. “Kazan is among the leaders of Russian cities in the quality of life rankings today. But the main achievement of the Strategy-2015 and its most important victory is changing of Kazan residents’ consciousness. Today, citizens take an active part in municipal projects, aimed at improving the urban space”.

Ilsur Metshin said that the Strategy-2030 was developed during the year, about a thousand people were involved to discuss options for the city's development in the discussion sites, seminars, meetings of the strategic council: entrepreneurs, scientists and experts from different industries. 845 citizens made their proposals by participating in the online survey on the official website of the city. Representatives of the deputies played a major role in the development of the document as well. The Mayor of Kazan marked that many of the ideas that were expressed at the sites and offered by citizens, were reflected in the goals and objectives of the final document.

The Strategy for socio-economic development of Kazan until 2030 is synchronized with republican document, which was adopted a year ago, said Ilsur Metshin. “The main strategic goal of Kazan is formulated by analogy with the strategy of the republic: the capital aims to become a leading Russian center of science and education, innovation and financial performance, it is a driver of movement of the republic to the smart economy”, said Ilsur Metshin.

“We formulate our vision of Kazan in 2030 year in the following way: the vibrant city of sustainable economic growth and empowerment, leader of Volga-Kama pole growth”, said Ilsur Metshin. “Kazan is the territory of health, loveable city for active, responsible and creative citizens, open government and safe urban environment. City where you want to come and where living is interesting for people of different generations each day.

According to the Mayor, the choice of priorities of socio-economic development of Kazan relied on three groups of criteria: the values of city residents, Tatarstan development priorities and global best practices and urban values. 18 goals were articulated in the document, which were divided into 7 areas of competition. 42 tasks were suggested for their achievement, for each of which is short-term and long-term areas of action identified, indicators established to monitor the implementation of the most important of them.

Ilsur Metshin noted that all aspects of socio-economic development of the city were considered in the context of the three areas in the development of the new strategy: “Human capital”, “Economics and management”, “Space, infrastructure and the environment”.

According to the Mayor, the project “Kazan-2030 - Territory of Health” is one of the main, and it includes the further development of sports infrastructure and the improvement of service management quality in the field of health care, physical culture and sports, organization of public spaces, including recreational areas and areas of physical activity, available for physically challenged citizens. “The aim of the project is to transform Kazan in “the territory of health” by 2030, in accordance with the best standards of life quality and the criteria of the World Health Organization”, said Ilsur Metshin. However, he noted, a healthy climate in the city is characterized by the relationship between people first of all. In this regard, Ilsur Metshin reminded that the “Good Kazan” project was launched in the city.

Also, the Mayor said that it is planned to increase the volume of investments in the economy of the city in half by 2030. The share of small and medium-sized enterprises in the gross territorial product will rise to 50%, the proportion of product innovation - to 30%, and the flow of tourists - to 5 million people. In addition, it is planned to increase the gross territorial product per capita by 75%, to increase the availability of housing to 30.5 square meters per capita and increase incomes by 2 times.

“The most important priority is the formation of comfortable living space and a modern urban environment”, said Ilsur Metshin. He said that the creation of a single green pedestrian frame and changing urban priorities from private car towards comfortable public transport are planned in the strategy. It is planned to increase the share of green areas in the city to 40%. “We have focused on the model of polycentric city in setting goals and objectives for 2030 with the opinion of Kazan citizens. In addition to our well-kept center, we need to create another network of local sub-centers, as well as to continue work on the expelling of industrial enterprises from the historic center”, said Ilsur Metshin.

In the strategy, Kazan relies on the development of innovative urban culture, the formation of the knowledge economy, which creates and capitalizes new ideas, products and technologies. According to Ilsur Metshin, creative industries (Internet and computer technology, film, performing arts, music, visual arts, gallery business, fashion, publishing, advertising, design, architecture, cultural tourism) should be about 12% of Kazan GTP and about 15% of the total number of jobs by 2030.

Speaking about the role that is assigned to the city as the capital of the Kazan agglomeration, Ilsur Metshin said that Kazan and the neighboring municipal districts will form a multifunctional agglomeration structure and a single connected space. “Our strategy involves a single plan, including agglomeration transport system, taking into account the today’s start of release housing outside Kazan, the development of high-speed connections, roads, with the main emphasis on the development of public transport, coordination of administrative decisions”, said I. Metshin.

Ildar Khalikov, the Prime Minister of Tatarstan, who took part in the session of ther Kazan City Duma, noted that many were skeptical of the document, when the previous strategy was adopted over 10 years ago. However, it managed to implement most of the plans even before the designated deadlines. “Kazan has transformed internally and externally. Guests, who come here, mark not only improved roads, facades, interchanges and new facilities, but also smiling and kind Kazan citizens”, said Ildar Khalikov.

According to the Prime Minister, Strategy-2030 has a lot of ambitious plans. “I believe that the implementation of the strategy will allow Kazan and Tatarstan to enter the new quality of life with a steadily growing economy”, said Ildar Khalikov. “Of all voiced theses, I really liked this one: “The city, in which you want to live”. As the Prime Minister said, the government of the Republic will promote the implementation of the adopted document.

Having heard the statement of the Mayor of Kazan, the deputies approved the Strategy of socio-economic development of Kazan until 2030. Until May 1, 2017, the Executive Committee of the city should develop a plan of action to implement the strategy and to adjust the existing municipal programs by monitoring the results of programs and evaluation of their implementation, taking into account the tasks, defined by the strategy. In addition, it is necessary to provide funding for activities under the adopted strategy during the development and execution of the Kazan budget.