Kudrin's visit

Last Saturday Vice-president of the RF Government - Finance Minister Aleksei Kudrin visited Kazan on business. He discussed with the Tatarstan leaders a number of the most important issues.

The federal target program of Tatarstan's socio-economic development may be approved in a month. It is estimated at about 160 bln rubles and intended for six years. At the same time the RF Government on March 14 accepted the program of preservation and development of Kazan's historical center, said A.Kudrin at the press-conference on results of his meeting with Tatarstan President M.Shaimiev.

The program covers all spheres of activity, including development of industry and construction of big objects of the All-Russian importance such as the bridge across the Kama.

A formal occasion for Kudrin's visit was the presentation of the Department of Federal Treasury. Its opening in Tatarstan is not a casual event. It is a final step in creation of a uniform centralized system of federal treasury, which A.Kudrin compared to the blood vessels of the state authority.

The visitor has changed his program a little to visit KAPO and KMPO. The Russian Government is preparing two programs concerning domestic aircraft construction: on development of the industry as a whole, and on support of aircraft leasing.

To develop aircraft industry "we should participate in it in the form of state guarantees and financing from the federal budget of the interest rates under the credits to be attracted by leasing companies for aircraft purchase", the federal minister said. Issues connected with the forecast of the home market of these planes are now under consideration.