I.Metshin: “Along with a large number of activities in Kazan, our manufacturers have developed as well”

Today, the Mayor of Kazan Ilsur Metshin visited Stolyarny Arsenal LLC - a furniture manufacturing company. Among other things, the company produced interior elements for a number of cultural centers reconstructed in the city – Lenin cultural center, Said-Galiev cultural center and others. The head of the city got acquainted with the work of the enterprise in the situation of the coronavirus pandemic and discussed measures that will help the development of such small and medium-sized enterprises.

The company was established eleven years ago, and during this time its employees have participated in the reconstruction of a number of major urban venues. So, the company's masters were engaged in restoring unique oak doors at the Said-Galiev cultural center, which is a newly identified cultural heritage venue of the Stalinist era. The specialists had a task not only to repair the building, but to restore the interior elements. The company also manufactured items for the Lenin cultural center in Yudino, Galiev mosque and others.

Ilsur Metshin got acquainted with the working process at the enterprise – visited the painting, grinding shops, as well as the cutting shop. “Tatarstan masters have always been famous for their work and we see evidence of this”, - I.Metshin said.

The Mayor of Kazan noted that the quality of furniture doesn’t concede to the European manufacturers. “Together with a large number of activities held in Kazan, such as the Universiade, the World FINA Championship, and FIFA World Cup, our manufacturers have developed as well. They started with small orders, and now they are making real works of art”, - the Mayor noted.

I.Metshin asked whether the company experienced difficulties with deliveries during the coronavirus pandemic. According to Mikhail Kozlov, Director of Stolyarny Arsenal LLC, those companies that were able to create a stock of raw materials managed to cope. Though, it is difficult to predict the situation in the future, since manufacturers and suppliers from all over the world suspended their work, he said.

“Small and medium-sized business is the basis of any economy of a city, republic, or country. We have worked systematically to improve the business climate in Kazan. We simplified regulations and approvals, and our result is that today the contribution of small and medium-sized business to the city budget is almost 40%”, - I.Metshin said. Now we need to think about reducing the consequences of the pandemic on the city's economy and support small and medium-sized business”, -  the Mayor said.