Mintimer Shaimiev: "Our main task and duty is to make everything possible to prevent financial-economic crisis turning into social one"

On January 8, 2009 President of the Republic of Tatarstan Mintimer Shaimiev lead first meeting of the Republic's commission on assuring economic growth of the Republic of Tatarstan during world financial crisis, which was founded by the decree of the Republic of Tatarstan President of December 26, 2008.

The meeting was attended by the Republic of Tatarstan Prime-minister Rustam Minnikhanov, the Chairman of the State Council of the Republic Farit Mukhametshin, heads of the Republic's ministries and departments, heads of the the metropolitan municipalities and large enterprises of the Republic.

In the introductory speech, Mintimer Shaimiev stressed that the principal task of the commission is to provide coordination for activities of the state government of the Republic of Tatarstan, territorial departments of federal executive government agencies, local self-government authorities and contacts with representatives of scientific and non-governmental organizations, and business community in implementation of anti-crisis measures in finance, economy, industry and social spheres. Mintimer Shaimiev reminded that beginning November 2008, under the aegis of the Cabinet of Ministers, the Republic set up Economic council, which conducts weekly monitoring of the state of the economy of the Republic and makes necessary reactions.

In the course of the meeting, President of the Republic underlined the fact that social issues are part of the agenda because " Our main task and duty is to make everything possible to prevent financial-economic crisis turning into social one".

The commission studied two issues: "On 2008 tax payments into budgets of all levels and on measures to meet Republic of Tatarstan consolidated budget for 2009" and "On situation at job market in the Republic of Tatarstan". Reports on the issues were prepared by Republic of Tatarstan minister of Finance Radik Gaizatullin and minister on labor, employment and social security Аirat Shafigullin.

The adopted budget of the republic has a large social segment - 2009 salary payments to social sector workers, excluding all other social payments, are to amount 41,2 billion rubles, which is 37% of consolidated budget expenditures. In times of crisis we should stress optimization of budget expenditures and make all state spending in all spheres most prudent. Number of measures in this regard were discussed and agreed on during the meeting.

During consideration of the second issue on the agenda, it was noted that preserving existing and creation of new jobs receives special importance. Minister for labor and employment informed participants of the meeting on the plan of measures on employment of the population of the republic in times of crisis. It was mentioned that some measures included in the plan, which is currently in the final stage of preparation, are already being implemented in the republic.

Attention was also given to the role of mass media on reflecting true state of the economy in times of crisis. "Tatmedia", Republic of Tatarstan agency of mass communication, is to provide professional quality of news publications regarding processes in the economy and the social sphere.January 8, the Republican commission on securing economic growth of the Republic of Tatarstan in condition of the world financial crisis was held in Kazan Kremlin. The meeting was conducted by the President of the Republic of Tatarstan M.Sh.Shaimiev.