NEWS

Meeting of the Supervisory Board and the Board of the Association of Innovative Regions of Russia (AIRR) was held today in St. Petersburg under the direction of the chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Association Sergey Naryshkin.

The event was attended by Chairman of the Board of the Association of Innovative Regions of Russia (AIRR) Rustam Minnikhanov. The meeting was held at the site of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF 2014).

During the meeting, the executive director of AIRR Ivan Bortnik presented the annual report about the results of the AIRR for 2013, including the initiation of discussion on the development of clusters and the mechanisms to improve the federal and regional legislation. Association members also discussed the work plan for 2014.

Republic of Tatarstan enters the first group of regions which have received the highest rating of investment attractiveness.

About this during a panel session at the XVIII Saint-Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF 2014), devoted to the first results of the Investment climate National Ranking in the Russian Federation, told the organizers of the study.

In the creation of the rating participated Agency of Strategic Initiatives (ASI) and The Boston Consulting Group. Were interviewed over 7 thousand entrepreneurs in the regions.

Rating is to assess the effectiveness of the authorities at all levels to improve the business environment and involves the assessment of business expectations by 54 indicators. The most important of them - the regulatory environment (time permitting), infrastructure and resources (quality of roads and land resources), support for entrepreneurship.

Within Kazan Urban Forum, which will be held from 25 to 26 May and from 1 to 2 June in the «SMENA» contemporary culture center will be a series of lectures on urban development and urbanistics from experts.

On the first day – May 25 – lecture will be devoted to the evolution of Kazan embankments’ zones. Among the speakers – Head of the architectural design of the Kazan State Architectural University (KGASU) Nikolay Novikov, Nizhnekamsk chief architect Emil Sirazetdinov.

During the lectures the audience will have the opportunity to discuss with invited experts the importance of urban embankments in modern city life and to suggest their transformation into a place of recreation. Anyone will be able to take part in the Urban Forum.

Further development of Kazan, Kazan agglomeration and its satellite towns – Kazan Smart City and Innopolis – became the subject of discussion at a meeting of the President of the Republic of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov and founder and director of the architectural bureau Gehl Architects Ian Gale during SPIEF 2014.

At the meeting were discussed issues of urban planning, using of the experience of foreign countries in the formation of modern cities and urban infrastructure. Head of the republic in a conversation with Ian Gale said that the «Strategy of socio-economic development of Tatarstan – 2030» includes the further development of Kazan, Kazan agglomeration and its new projects – Kazan Smart City and Innopolis.

Mr. Minnikhanov invited architect to visit Kazan – for a detailed discussion of urban planning. He said that recently expert in urbanism, president of the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy in New York Enrique Penalosa gave a lecture on the development of compact cities.

The signing ceremony took place during a meeting of the President of the Republic of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov and General Electric (GE) leadership in Russia on XVIII Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF 2014).

In the presence of Rustam Minnikhanov memorandum of strategic cooperation between JSC «TAIF» and GE in St. Petersburg was signed by GE president and CEO in Russia/CIS Ron Pollett and the «TAIF» CEO Albert Shigaboutdinov.

Document is about the implementation of projects for the construction and modernization of the energy, oil refining and petrochemical production of the «Taif». Memorandum defines the main directions of joint activity in the years 2014-2017 and provides a joint work under the contract signed for the construction of a new block of 390 MW on a Kazan CHP-3, as well as projects in the field of water technologies and processes.

The Delegation of the region led by the President of the Republic of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov met with companies General Electric, IBM, Renaissance Holding, «Summa Group», Air Liquide, «Metro AG».

In a number of negotiations of the head of the republic with representatives of the global business community participated Tatarstan Investment Development Agency Chief Executive Linar Yakupov.

At a meeting with the senior vice president of global sales at IBM Bruno Di Leo Mr. Minnikhanov discussed cooperation in a number of new projects. In particular, they talked about the company to open a global logistics center. Such a center, noted Bruno Di Leo, will be opened in Laishevsky region during 2014. IBM is also invited to consider the possibility of opening a consulting center in Tatarstan that would meet the needs of industrial companies and enterprises.

Events of Kazan Urban Forum will be a chain of events through which the city will be able to know the views and ideas of people in the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan.

In particular, before the forum will be held a series of lectures in the center of «SMENA» from May 25 and will focus on the development of the main development directions of Kazan.

There will perform invited speakers, among which the chief architect of Kazan Tatiana Prokofieva, lecturers from KGASU and many others. Also will be organized workshops for architects with participation of lecturers from the Spanish Institute of Contemporary Architecture of Catalonia.

The forum, which is held from 22 to 24 May, will be attended by President Vladimir Putin.

With a working visit to participate in the XVIII Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) arrived Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov. The official delegation of the Republic includes Tatarstan Investment Development Agency Chief Executive Linar Yakupov.

The forum's theme – «Building trust in an era of change». The program is built around five main thematic areas: «The summit of global business leaders», «Risk management to promote growth», «Development of the competitive potential of Russia», «Management of breakthrough technologies and adapting to changes», «Leadership Series: Talks defining the future».

Zhang Zhuymin at the meeting with Rustam Minnikhanov said that Tatarstan considers being a good platform for the successful implementation of the company’s project.

President of the Republic of Tatarstan thanked the founder of Haier for the opportunity to visit the factory and to see the production.

«Today we visited the showroom and were very impressed with your development and progress, - shared Mr. Minnikhanov. - And we are very interested in joint projects with you».

President of the Republic of Tatarstan said about the decision to establish a joint working group to uncover new perspective areas of cooperation between the Republic and Haier. Zhang Zhuymin in response said that Haier has planned to build production facilities in Russia and a long time chose the site.

At the meeting with Haier Mr. Minnikhanov told that relations between the Chinese manufacturer and the Republic of Tatarstan should not be limited on the construction of the plant in the KIP «Master».

«Considering the range of your business interests, interaction should be much wider, - underscored Rustam Minnikhanov. - Also we must create and development center».

The President noted that the manufacturing of molds for stamping is interesting for Tatarstan as a region with the development of polymers, automotive and aviation industry.

Rustam Minnikhanov also suggested the Haier company to organize educational programs for Tatarstan specialists who will be working at the company, noting that the production of such modern technology requires special skills and relevant training.