R. Minnikhanov “Creating the conditions for life on the sites means keeping the youth there”

(KZN.RU, July 4). The panel discussion of the Moscow Urban Forum 2019 today was attended by Rustam Minnikhanov, the President of the RT. The forum is taking place at the site of the Zaryadie concert hall (Moscow). Ilsur Metshin, the Mayor of Kazan, also takes part in the forum.

Moscow Urban Forum 2019 “Life quality. Projects that change cities” is dedicated to discussing issues and presentations of initiatives of city administrations, businesses, citizens. It is aimed at ensuring balanced and sustainable development of cities, improving the life quality through the implementation of large-scale projects.

The panel discussion “Environment for Development. Comfortable city as a driver of the economy” was devoted to the debate on such issues as the possibilities of new projects and initiatives for Russian cities, the general tasks of improving the life quality and development of the urban economy, the unused resources of cities and how to help them realize these resources.

The speakers of the discussion were Maksim Oreshkin, the minister of Economic Development of the RF, Vladimir Yakushev, the minister of Construction and Housing and Communal Services of the RF, Rustam Minnikhanov, the President of the RT, Marat Khusnullin, the deputy mayor of Moscow in the Moscow Government on urban planning policy and construction, and foreign experts.

During the speech, Rustam Minnikhanov, answering the moderator's questions, said that for successful development of cities it is necessary to be able to respond to modern challenges, reports the press service of the President of the RT. “The biggest and most serious challenge for us was in 2005 when we celebrated the 1000th anniversary of Kazan. It all started with our capital. It was the first step when the city began to form differently. It is a program for the elimination of dilapidated housing, the creation of transport infrastructure. The next step is when we got the right to host the World Summer Universiade in Kazan in 2013. All this gave a serious start to the change of the capital of Tatarstan; there were sports and transport facilities, hospitality objects”.

After the Universiade 2013, the region leadership wondered what would happen next.

“We began to study the experience of other cities, how their appearance changes, and first of all, how Moscow is changing”, said Rustam Minnikhanov. “This way, the program on creation of public spaces appeared, on system solutions for our cities and regional centers. Today we must ensure that citizens do not leave small towns. We must understand that Kazan should be comfortable and hospitable”.

Rustam Minnikhanov reminded that within the framework of the program for the development of public spaces, 328 objects were created in the republic in five years, and now this work is going systematically.

“But the first steps were difficult, because there were no specialists. Now we are holding different forums; we invite many foreign partners and advise. It involves many young people in the process who think in new ways. Today we have a series of small enterprises that make infrastructure for public spaces; new competencies are emerging”, said Rustam Minnikhanov.

He marked that it is essential not only to build parks, public spaces. They must be maintained; there should be exciting events that will attract citizens. “The whole process is fascinating”, said Rustam Minnikhanov. “Life quality is assessed in public spaces. Creating living conditions on the site means keeping the young people there. We need comfortable living conditions, the availability of educational institutions, and high-paying work for this”.

As an example, the President of the RT cited the new city of Innopolis, where all the conditions for life, work and rest are created. “We are forming an IT center for our country in Innopolis”, he said. “But we have many other plans. Wherever we go, everywhere we learn something new”.