Mintimer Shaimiev took part in the meeting of the Kazan City Duma

The meeting of the City Duma took place in Kazan on February 18. RT President Mintimer Shaimiev attended the meeting. The main point on the agenda was the report by the Mayor of Kazan on his work last year.  

Ilsur Metshin unexpectedly started his report with criticism of higher education establishments of the city emphasizing weak preparation of graduates and disability to compete with European educational institutions. "Kazan will not be a European city without being able to offer proper education," he said. The mayor also paid attention at insufficient information work of universities, "which are practically unknown outside the country", adding that that could result in the lack of staff in the city soon.
Talking about personal income of citizens, Ilsur Metshin pointed out that out of ten Russian cities with million population the capital of Tatarstan is on the ninth place. The head of the city believes that the reason is that grey labour market is huge in Kazan. He has also summoned deputies to work with voters calling them to cooperate with society.
Mintimer Shaimiev mentioned that in spite of the fact that more than 30 thousand businessmen are registered in Kazan there is insufficient activity in giving loans to small and medium-sized businesses. Last year only 53 citizens of Kazan got loans under the program for support of entrepreneurial activity although interest rate is quite low - 9 percent per annum. The head of the republic urged the city authorities to activate explanatory work as "expansion of small business can become one of the major factors for the development of the city."