Actual issues for business were discussed in Kazan at the VI Council on Entrepreneurship

(KZN.RU, October 11). The VI extended meeting of the Council on Entrepreneurship under the President of the RT was held today in Kazan in the KRK “Pyramida”. Programs to improve the business climate in the territories of the municipal regions of the republic were presented, the results of a study of the business climate and activity of entrepreneurs in the regions of Tatarstan were announced, and other business issues were discussed at the event.

The live broadcast of the meeting was organized on the websites of the leading republican media, as well as on the website of the Government of the RT. About 460 people were in the KRK “Pyramida”, including 260 representatives of small and medium-sized businesses.

The meeting was held by Rustam Minnikhanov, the President of the RT. It was attended by Alexey Pesoshin, the prime minister of the RT, Farid Mukhametshin, the chairman of the State Council of the RT, Asgat Safarov, the head of the Presidential Administration of the RT, Ilsur Metshin, the Mayor of Kazan, Timur Nagumanov, the authorized representative of the President of the RT for protecting entrepreneurs' rights, and others. The moderator of the meeting was Timur Akhmerov.

Opening the event, Rustam Minnikhanov reminded that it’s been three months since the previous meeting of the Council (it was held on July 11 of this year).

“Every time we discuss issues that are problematic for business, we attract specialists”, said Rustam Minnikhanov. “Solutions are being developed, and I believe that such a lively, concrete, and joint work with you, entrepreneurs, gives results. Today, we have created about 30 project groups, in which about 1 thousand entrepreneurs take part. We understand that not all problems are under our control, but we find solutions for many questions. Also, the work goes on those issues, decisions on which should be made by other bodies, including federal regulatory acts. There is a lobby in the State Duma of the Russian Federation, there are opportunities through the Government and Parliament to bring those or other issues to the federal level”.

According to Rustam Minnikhanov, today the issues of small and medium business development are very serious issues. But this is not only a question of the country's leadership, the President, the Prime Minister, the parliament, and ministers. First and foremost, these are questions for municipalities.

“Unfortunately, this work at the municipal level is not always properly organized”, said Rustam Minnikhanov. “This is our fault since the leadership of the republic was aimed at major projects. This is a special economic zone, industrial parks. And the municipal level existed for a certain time on its own”.

Today the work goes on industrial sites and municipalities, and the heads of municipalities understand this topic correctly and are actively moving, but not everywhere yet. That is why the republic has developed a system for assessing municipalities in terms of the business climate in the regions, the formation of business activity. The authorized representative of the President of the RT for protecting entrepreneurs' rights monitors the situation.

“Small and medium business will not develop itself, it is necessary to instill these skills and desire to work”, said Rustam Minnikhanov. “There must be some form of support. Don’t be afraid! A person who goes into business should understand that there are things that depend on you and not depend on you at all. This way must be passed. And if our power and legislative structures and officials make this a priority, then there will be a big breakthrough”.

Rustam Minnikhanov noted that the potential of the republic is huge. “We must equally understand the tasks that are facing small and medium businesses today”, he said. “An entrepreneur is a person who wants to earn money. He earns for himself, pays taxes, and gives work to others. He forms the middle class. Municipalities need a stable and self-sufficient middle class for the stability of the country, region.”

Aidar Metshin, the head of the Nizhnekamsk municipal district, and Airat Khairullin, the head of the Almetievsky municipal district, made a presentation of the program to improve the business climate in their districts.

Timur Nagumanov, the representative of the President of the RT for protecting entrepreneurs' rights, presented the results of the rating of the business climate and business activity of small and medium businesses in the municipal districts of Tatarstan. The rating methodology was developed by the agency “Magram Market Research”.

The first lines of the rating were taken by Vysokogorsky, Tyulyachinsky, Kukmorsky municipal districts of the republic. Kamsko-Ustinsky, Mamadyshsky, Leninogorsky, Aksubaevsky, Zelenodolsky municipal districts are below the rating figures.

Many questions were raised within the framework of the VI extended meeting of the Council on Entrepreneurship under the President of the RT.

In conclusion, Rustam Minnikhanov thanked all those who were engaged in the project groups of the council for the work done. “Many issues cannot be immediately solved but we also have to find these solutions, we will continue to work in the directions”, he said.

Rustam Minnikhanov also appealed to law enforcement and controlling bodies. Where there is a legal vacuum, it is necessary to protect the interests of small and medium businesses. “First we have to warn, to give the entrepreneur the opportunity to rectify the existing mistakes”, said Rustam Minnikhanov.

A good form is where the head of the municipal district meets with entrepreneurs monthly, believes Rustam Minnikhanov. “We must solve problems. There is an order of Vladimir Putin, the President of the country, to create conditions for business development. The interests of small and medium businesses should be respected. Yes, the order should be everywhere but there is also such a form as a warning”, the press service of the President of the RT cites R. Minnikhanov.