Linar Yakupov: "Technoparks are Established for Business"
Tatarstan Investment Development Agency (TIDA) Chief Executive Linar Yakupov was a speaker at «Future of the City», a forum hosted by the magazine «Delovoi Kvartal».
Linar Yakupov participated in the first panel discussion about the creation of technoparks and what kind of technoparks are needed to develop Kazan. Other participants in the panel discussion were the Management of Technopark Khimgrad, General Director of Technopark Idea Ayrat Gizzatullin, Skolkovo Investment Fund Director Eduard Kanolosh, Special Economic Zone Alabuga Head of Investor Development Timu Khaziev, and IT-Park Director Anton Grachev.
The discussion began with a viewing of a video clip about the first technopark in the work, where Henry Ford opened his first factory. According to the moderator Lenar Fayzutdinov, Managing Partner of the marketing agency Darwin Theory, Tatarstan is only behind the Moscow Region and St. Petersburg Region in terms of the number of technoparks.
«According to the World Bank, the number of technoparks per capita is higher in Tatarstan than in Great Britain», the moderator noted.
The panel discussion focused for some time on how to measure the effectiveness of a technopark. «When speaking of the effectiveness of technoparks, it is important to look from both the government and business perspective», - said Linar Yakupov. - «For the government, the creation of technoparks provides the conditions necessary for the development of business and investment projects. Government investment into this infrastructure allows for the sites to become points of economic growth».
Continuing, TIDA Chief Executive argued that the provision of basic infrastructure – roads, electricity, gas, water – is an important component in work with investors, but at the same time there are some instances where ready-to-use buildings are also required. Linar Yakupov mentioned Industrial Park M7 as an example of a successful technopark developed by the private sector, and noted that the Special Economic Zone Alabuga is creating an industrial park for small and medium enterprises. Eduard Kanalosh spoke about Skolkovo and its development plans.
The panel also deliberated on the draft of a federal law on technoparks and the Investment Board of the Republic of Tatarstan. Linar Yakupov explained that the Tatarstan Investment Board has decided that the republic should prepare a draft law on investment infrastructure in Tatarstan. This draft law has been prepared by TIDA and is currently being reviewed by Tatarstan’s ministries and government bodies.
Another topic debated was whether technoparks should be developed for the government or for business. «All technoparks are made for business, and the government’s role is to invest in infrastructure in order to relieve this work and costs from companies», - argued Linar Yakupov. - «In some cases, the government can support in the early stages with government orders to help young residents stand on their feet, gather experience, and enter the market, where they can then succeed according to free market principles. Support of course is needed, but at the same time technoparks must break even».
A portion of the panel discussion was dedicated to discussion of the development of Kazan Smart City and Innopolis, during which Linar Yakupov presented the project and its four main economic clusters, the planned stages of development, and the first investors and residents.
«We have divided the development of Kazan Smart City into several phases, and the first is focused on the Central Business Precinct. We are currently working with foreign investors in this area», - Linar Yakupov explained. – «Last week the first investors of Kazan Smart City met with President of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov. Construction will begin this year, and the first facilities will be ready by September 2015. At that point, I hope that we will be able to hold this forum in Kazan Smart City».
Tatarstan Investment Development Agency Press Service