I.Metshin: “It is unprofitable for the city to maintain these premises, while for entrepreneurs this is a business opportunity”

For the sixth year in Kazan, a program is being implemented, under which entrepreneurs can rent premises from the municipality on preferential terms. In 2017, one of these premises with an area of 101.3 sq. on Karl Marx Street, 23/6 was rent by Olga Romanova, the director of OOO “Image Trading”, who has already assessed the benefits of “rental holidays” and invested in the renovation of the future office. The Mayor of Kazan Ilsur Metshin visited the office today.

“We are glad that you have participated in the rental program, - Ilsur Metshin addressed Olga Romanova. - Today in Kazan, 53 entrepreneurs took advantage of the “rental holidays”, many of them have already repaired the premises and started their business. It is unprofitable for the city to maintain these premises and pay for utilities, while for entrepreneurs this is an opportunity to conduct business, so the program is an excellent example of mutually beneficial terms”.

Under the terms of the program, entrepreneurs are offered municipal premises with a preferential rental rate for a period of 5 years. At the same time, in the first 2 years, there is a zero-interest rate of rent, in the third year the entrepreneur pays 25% of the rent, in the fourth year – 50%, in the fifth year-75%.

The Image Trading company, which has been engaged in the production of souvenirs and advertising for 10 years, signed a preferential rental agreement in 2017. Later it turned out that the building is a heritage property, this made it difficult to renovate the entrance, in addition, there were problems with the transfer of the gas pipe in the office. Olga Romanova told the Mayor of Kazan Ilsur Metshin about these difficulties at the end of last year at the coordination council for the support of small and medium-sized businesses, which was held via videoconference mode. Then the head of the city promised to solve this issue and the next day he visited the offices on Karl Marx Street. The Department of Architecture and Urban Planning, as well as Tatarstan Committee for the Protection of Cultural Heritage Property, joined the work. In March of this year, repairs began in the office, in addition, new furniture was purchased. Last week, the employees already moved to the office, now about 20 people work there.

“Kazan is getting better, because such active entrepreneurs as you make the capital of Tatarstan successful, - Ilsur Metshin emphasized and asked the director of the company if she plans to purchase the office in the future. “In five years, when the lease ends, we would like to take the office private. We also plan to landscape the surrounding area and install outdoor lighting”, - Olga Romanova said. For reference, in accordance with federal legislation, a tenant who has concluded a preferential rent agreement has a preferential right to purchase the premises without bidding procedures.