Ilsur Metshin: “In his address, the President of the country set specific tasks for us”

(KZN.RU, February 20). The question of the demographic situation, infrastructure development, and preparation for the WorldSkills Championship will be main areas for Kazan in the near future, said Ilsur Metshin, the Mayor of Kazan, commenting on the address of Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, to the Federal Assembly.

“The address of the President of the country is always an event for us. It reflects the main message of the country's leader and outlines the tasks for the coming year”, said Ilsur Metshin in an interview with the special correspondent of the TNV Branch in Moscow. The address to the Federal Assembly present the plans to implement various projects and programs that are of great importance for the development of all regions and cities of the country, he added. Thus, federal programs for the construction of schools and kindergartens allow Kazan to increase the availability of school and pre-school education. “Now we are building 3 new schools in those micro-districts where children used to study in two shifts, and thank you very much for it”, noted the Mayor.

In the address of this year, one of the most important topics was the demographic situation in the country. “I can relate to it both as a mayor and as a father of many children. Indeed, these challenges are facing the country and the cities”, said the head of the city. He reminded that since the 2000s, Kazan has set demographic records. But at the end of last year, there has been a slight drop in the birth rate. “The issue of demography includes the creation of infrastructure, construction of schools and kindergartens, taxation, benefits, one-off payments. The President has set the tasks clearly. We see what we need to work on. And what is important, resources are allocated for this”, marked I. Metshin.

Another important topic for Kazan is the WorldSkills Kazan 2019, which will be held in the capital of Tatarstan this year. It is important not only to hold the championship at the highest level, but also to get the most out of this event in popularizing the working professions throughout the country, said I. Metshin. “Despite the fact that we have experience in holding international events, each event has its own features. WorldSkills does not compare with the Universiade or the World Cup. We will prepare for this and carry out the assigned tasks”, said I. Metshin.

Vladimir Putin spoke today in Gostiny Dvor with an annual address to the Federal Assembly. Members are the Council of the Federation, deputies of the State Duma, members of the Government, leaders of the Constitutional, Supreme and Arbitration Courts, the governor's corps, chairmen of legislative assemblies of the subjects of the Federation, heads of traditional religions, public figures, including heads of public chambers of regions, heads of major media were among the invited. Rustam Minnikhanov, the President of the RT, and Ilsur Metshin, the Mayor of Kazan, attended the event.