Roustam Minnikhanov meets with Tatarstan entrepreneurs

The Tatarstan Prime Minister Roustam Minnikhanov on the Day of Russian Entrepreneur met with Tatarstan businessmen at a video conference. Attendees were over 1,000 businessmen from across Tatarstan.

“We have gathered today, to discuss the current state of affairs. Our task is to boost entrepreneurship in the municipalities. We do coordinate these issues in the larger industrial centres, but in the rural areas undertaking activity is insufficient,” said Minnikhanov.

“Small and medium business is a serious force the republic has. The President of Tatarstan has set out small and medium business’s development as a priority. For small and medium business to develop, much has over the recent years been done in this republic. Tatarstan has set up various funds that are operating to provide support for entrepreneurs. We have made a long way, used various techniques of work. Businessmen today need tangible support and real projects,” said the local premier.

The head of the Tatarstan Committee on Small and Medium Business Timur Shagivaleyev offered best wishes to his colleagues on their professional holiday and presented three main programmes, aimed to support businessmen in Tatarstan.

He summarised the results of the Leasing Grant programme on supporting start-up small and medium firms, devised by the committee. The tentative financing is over 200 million roubles, to be provided by the federal and local budgets, 65 percent from the federal budget and 35 percent from the local budget.

According to the programme, a beginning entrepreneur is entitled for a grant as a leasing payment for equipment. 230 applications were submitted within the programme’s first stage, launched on 3 April, 95 of them were voted winners. The winners are to receive grants in the amount of 100, 300 thousand roubles and 1 million roubles depending on the cost of the requisite equipment.

“Today, collection of applications for the second stage of the competition has been announced. Applications are to be collected between 26 May and 25 June this year,” said Shagivaleyev.

The committee’s head presented the Guarantee Fund programme, aimed to cope with tougher loan requirements, imposed by banks due to the ongoing financial crisis. The programme will be expanded, said the official.

A programme of subsidising the cost of technical connection and energy saving has been launched as well. The programme allows businesses to minimise the cost of technical connection. “We have included practically all types of small business in this programme. Entrepreneurs are allowed to pay in instalments. For large projects, the republic’s authorities have set up a number of priority grounds, where the cost of technical connection will vanish, provided that the business plan is fulfilled,” said Shagivaleyev.

The meeting suggested setting up a section at the government’s website for businessmen to post their complaints. The idea was supported by the local government.

In conclusion, 5 Tatar businessmen were presented government grants in the amount of 300 thousand to 1 million roubles. Attendees at the meeting were the first deputy prime minister Ravil Muratov, President of Tatarstan chief of staff Yuri Kamaltynov, State Duma deputy Gulnara Sergeyeva and other officials.