R. Minnikhanov at the Council for Entrepreneurship: “We must be close to entrepreneurs”

Ilsur Metshin, the Mayor of Kazan, took part in the work of the Council.

(KZN.RU, July 4). The primary trend today should be a movement towards the entrepreneur. Rustam Minnikhanov the President of the RT, stated this today in welcoming speech at the XII extended meeting of the Council for Entrepreneurship under the President of the RT. The event was held at the site of the KRK “Pyramid”.

Ilsur Metshin, the Mayor of Kazan, heads of republican authorities, more than 200 entrepreneurs, leaders of public business associations, heads of municipal districts, deputies of the State Council of the RT, representatives of key republican media attended the meeting.

The theme of today's meeting was the business activity management system in the municipal districts of the RT. Rustam Minnikhanov noted that a similar meeting with entrepreneurs is being held for the 12 time. “I consider this mode a positive one”, said Rustam Minnikhanov. “We discuss the issues that arise at the level of municipalities, the republic, at the federal level. The main task that I set was to change the attitude towards entrepreneurship. Each of us, the representatives of power structures, officials, must be focused on creating an investment climate. We should not just listen to entrepreneurs, but help, promote, create an investment environment. The task is not simple; it consists of many components. These are questions at the legislative level, a lot of things that need to be corrected. And most importantly, we must change ourselves. We have to be close. Not to be just a supervisory body, but to be near, to be proud of entrepreneurs”, said the President of the RT.

“Our meeting today also is a purely municipal one, we will hear reports from four municipalities”, reminded R. Minnikhanov. “Our main trend today should be a movement towards the entrepreneur. Our platform, the Council for Entrepreneurship, allows us to discuss a lot of relevant issues”.

The head of the region also said that the structure of the Council for Entrepreneurship has changed. Timur Nagumanov, the commissioner under the President of the RT on the protection of the rights of entrepreneurs, became the acting head of the Executive Committee of the Almetyevsk municipal district. “Timur Nagumanov is already working in Almetyevsk”, said Rustam Minnikhanov. “His ideas will be embodied now in the municipal district. And while we have no replacement, I asked him for a certain period to continue to carry on the work that he did for half a year. Timur Nagumanov became secretary of the Council for Entrepreneurship”.

Speaking about surveys of entrepreneurs regarding the investment climate in their municipal districts, R. Minnikhanov announced the beginning of the study of this issue. “These studies are important. Yes, the work may not be very pleasant. Our local leaders react differently to such surveys. But the flaw may not be visible to you, but you have been prompted and this is your support. We must take the complaint as a gift. Sometimes the complaint is a little exceeded, but we must be able to perceive it and be patient”.

The President of the RT noted that such a dialogue with entrepreneurs is difficult. “Sometimes, we try to show how good some of our heads of districts are and how entrepreneurs love them. But an entrepreneur will never love authorities! It is us, the authorities, who should love them. These are the people who want to work and earn money, we must support it”. Addressing the officials, Rustam Minnikhanov urged them not to wait for gratitude, but to accept the complaints of entrepreneurs as a gift.

Such topics as “Overcoming administrative barriers”, “Development of investment attractiveness of municipal territories”, “Building communication between business and government”, “Solving the problem of personnel shortage in municipalities” were considered as part of the work done by project groups.

Speaking about overcoming administrative barriers, R. Minnikhanov drew attention to the activities of multifunctional centers (MFC). According to him, citizens can build their attitude towards the authorities by the well-established work in the MFC. The activity of the MFC should be operational, and the structure should be full-fledged and efficient, solving important tasks, said R. Minnikhanov. “The MFC today is a serious tool for our work”, he said. “They help reduce bureaucracy. Therefore, the specialists working there must be responsible and highly professional. It is a communication link with citizens, and it should be organized seriously”.

During the meeting, speakers raised questions of retaining young people in the settlements, training personnel in the specialties needed in the market, the investment attractiveness of municipal territories and the creation of new jobs. Also, cases of four pilot municipalities were presented at the Council for Entrepreneurship under the President of the RT. They developed roadmaps for the development of business activity: Nizhnekamsky, Zelenodolsky, Bugulminsky, and Pestrechinsky districts. Heads of municipalities spoke about the decisions that they designed together with entrepreneurs, reports the press service of the President of the RT.

Photo report

The XII extended meeting of the Council for Entrepreneurship under the President of the RT