Rustam Minnikhanov: «Investors believe us»

In an interview to Russia 24 during the Gaidar Forum in Moscow, the head of the region told about the work of Tatarstan Investment Development Agency in investment promotion. Here are the excerpts from the interview.

- Mr. Minnikhanov, your region, Tatarstan, is considered to be a leading region on attracting investment and generally one of the developed regions of our country. What proportion of Tatarstan’s economy hold investments and generally, in what industry come investors?

- If we talk about numbers, more than 530 billion rubles invested in fixed assets. Of course, there were many investment related to the World Student Games. This is sports facilities and transport infrastructure. And of course, oil refining, petrochemicals, engineering industry and agriculture.

A lot of us now pay attention to the development of small and medium-sized businesses, its support and creating infrastructure. But I think that a huge potential and republic’s growth point – is a further development of petroleum refining, petrochemical sand engineering, because it will give the most rapid effect. KAMAZ, Ford Sollers and our other businesses – aviation and helicopter trend shave been formed.

New serious directions within our republic and also the whole country – is IT-segment. We aim to create IT-city, IT-center of our country. This city is called Innopolis and has everything you need; there are already being built University and Technopark. We are interested in investments within our businesses and, of course, in the investment of our foreign partners. Foreign investors are actively working with KAMAZ, which has a lot of big projects in its site, such as Cummins, Zaenrad Fabric and Case New Holland. A special economic zone «Alabuga» today already announced investments of more than $ 100 billion. And this figure in the next three years is planned to be doubled, and will continue to grow. We also intend to double the area of special economic zone.

The second special zone – is IT-segment. It will be located at two sites – Innopolis and Kazan Smart City, which are close to the airport, M7 highway and ski resort. Kazan Smart City and Innopolis – is the satellite towns of the capital.

- Now you said that we need to develop other regions, apart from Moscow, St. Petersburg... About this today talked a lot on the forum. And it seems to me, Tatarstan has something to share. Here for example, I read that Tatarstan Investment Commission has special powers, its chairman is in a rank of minister. That it somehow helps to attract investment?

- Yes, it is about creating in our region of Tatarstan Investment Development Agency. Our country is not very well known... And people come here, for example, the Universiade athletes come from all over the world. Those investors who come here no one's left. They're all here! The Turkish special projects in the area amounts $ 1.5 billion. And this shows that investors believe us! Tatarstan Investment Development Agency promotes our projects, present republic’s investment opportunities, study the experience of other countries, invites experts. And this is the right decision. I believe that we are on the right way.

At the forum I heard that our colleagues from the Ulyanovsk region create such structures in municipalities. We also plan to develop infrastructure in the municipalities – in the industrial park will be built54 different sites. Because business should develop not only in large industrial centers, it must develop everywhere.

- And how do you generally assess the investment climate in Russian regions? Because in today's session, for example, Deputy Minister of Economic Development said that our legislation does not encourage investors, but only allows them to do their business in Russia.

- I can say briefly: Russia is a new country. Look at the changes made in our country for a short time. And we want very much. It's still not only the laws, it is our mentality and skills. Many things we don’t know. We go, look, study and exchange. And today, I think investors do not know much about the potential that we have in our country – the natural resources and infrastructure. Russian domestic market still may not be ready for large projects. We need investments from the side. And we are working in this direction.

Secondly, investment will come, but we also need the infrastructure, water, gas... and most important we need qualified people who will work in these enterprises. This is complex work: the federal and regional government and municipalities should work together to solve this problem. The President’s task is to have 25 million highly skilled workers in 2018 or 2020. How is it going? This is the work of all the authorities of our country. And we need to work in this direction.

Someone talk about big international events, they say, why do we need it? Look at the Kazan, changed after holding the Universiade. It's a huge support from the federal government and the president. A new hotels, the rapid modernization of the airport were made because of it support. And what business need? He should arrive, live at the hotels and be safe. About Sochi now people argue. «Whether we need it?» Why not? This will be the center of world importance. Probably, there are some difficulties, it's all will be forgotten. The Olympics will be held and we will be proud. I think that such events are needed. Right now Krasnoyarsk will host the Winter Universiade games. And it is also an occasion which will show the world the country’s potential.

Tatarstan Investment Development Agency Press Service