Republic on the eve of third millennium

Tatarstan President Mintimer Shaimiev held a republican meeting on December 7 in the Kazan Kremlin, concerning the current year results and prospects for the next year.

In general, all industries in 2000 showed production rate growth, physical index for 11 months made 109,4 per cent to the last year level. Cash income per capita for 10 months was up over 50 per cent in year-on-year terms and made 1656 rubles, with 21,1 per cent increase in real income and 61 per cent increase in average wages.

The leading role in Tatarstan's economy belongs to the petrochemical enterprises - over 27 mln tons of petroleum were produced, enterprises integrated around Tatneft. Machine- and instrument-making took the second place. A special role was played by KamAZ with its January-November output worth 11,6 bln rubles. For the first time industrial growth was marked in light and food-processing industry.

Power consumption of industrial production this year decreased 15,7 per cent. However, a disturbing factor is power supply debt of the agricultural sector.

In the next year subsidizing of inefficient enterprises should be stopped, the practice of direct crediting of commodity producers is to be abandoned.

Food safety maintenance and support of agriculture are still among the republican priorities. However, there will be no commodity credit. In 2001, it will be replaced by money loans allocated through commercial banks and repayable financial support from the budget. Control and timely repayment of means will be provided by the banks as well.

State Council Chairman Farid Mukhametshin's speech concerned the development of local self-management in the republic. The Tatarstan form of democracy is recognized one of the most practical, different regions of Russia want to adopt our experience.

The Tatarstan President showed concern in the situation with medicinal supply and called the Government to settle both organizational and financial problems in the shortest possible time. In this regard, the Prime Minister informed that the budget had already allocated for these purposes 200 mln rubles from additional sources. At the end of the meeting the President attracted attention to the problems of civil engineering. The current year program for obsolete housing demolition was implemented in Kazan, M.Shaimiev said, in other districts construction rates lag behind.