NEWS

After the first match of UEFA Europa League 1/16 final, Kazan football club Rubin coach Kurban Berdiyev said he was satisfied with the results.

The Russian Federation’s Social Security Fund Tatarstan branch’s budget deficit in 2010 is expected 3.5 billion roubles. The data was today pronounced at the fund’s end-of-year meeting, attended by Prime Minister of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov. The head of the Social Security Fund’s Tatarstan branch Rashit Galimov said despite a 6.7 percent increase in the number of insurants, in 2009 (108,8 thousand employers at the end of year), a decline in the number of insured employees of over 4 percent, by 74.3 thousand people, had been seen, totalling 1.7 million people. As the result, the branch’s revenues as compared with 2008 reduced 226 million roubles, totalling 6,419 billion roubles, or 94.6 percent of the target. According to Galimov, the decline in revenues is caused by the economic crisis, entailing a decline in production, some companies shifting to part-time operation, unpaid salaries and a growth in unemployment.

The solemn ceremony of rewarding TURKSOY Award in the field of journalism was held in Ankara, Turkey. The purpose of this award is to encourage journalists for covering work of TURKSOY aimed at preservation and popularization of the Turkic world cultural heritage.

JSC Tatneft’s standing commission on occupational safety has held a meeting. The deputy general director for production, chief engineer Nahil Ibragimov said over the recent years there had been a considerable decrease in safety requirements breaches. Measures were implemented to improve conditions and enhance occupational safety at sites and workplaces in the company’s business units and service divisions. The renewal of the pool of drilling plants and well repair plants was continued. The repair and drilling teams were equipped with video surveillance systems.

The India-Russia joint company Kamaz Vectra Motors Limited will on February 25 officially launch a Kamaz truck assembly line in Bangalore, India. The Kamaz's first assembly plant in India is located 70 kilometres from Bangalore, in the city of Hosur. The joint venture is based on the Kamaz’s partner Vectra group’s facilities. In March 2009, the partners signed a memorandum of cooperation and setting up a Kamaz Vectra Motors Limited, with a calculated capacity of 5 thousand cars a year.

Tatarstan sportsmen representing the republic at the Winter Pralympics-2010 in Vancouver left for Moscow from Kazan on February 17. They are participants of three Paralympics Irina Polyakova and 17-year-old newcomer Rushan Minnegulov.

Tatarstan sells 9 percent of milk in Russia. In terms of gross milk yield, Tatarstan has retained its national leadership. The share of milk produced in Tatarstan in the total milk output has versus 2008 increased over 1 percent. the task for this year is to increase milk output in Tatarstan to 2 million tonnes.

The total investment in the Taneco oil refining and petrochemical unit in Nizhnekamsk is estimated at 280.1 billion roubles (in target prices, considering inflation, with oil price $65 a barrel). The data was presented to the State Council of Tatarstan’s presidium visiting session in Nizhnekamsk.

The payback period should be 5.8 years. Since the launch of construction, nearly 130 billion roubles has been invested (VAT inclusive), including $2 billion within an international syndicated loan. Tatneft fully finances the project with its own and borrowed funds. In October 2009, a new agreement for obtaining a $1.5-billion syndicated loan was concluded.

Festival of Danish Cinema will be held in Kazan on February 18-21 for the first time. The first films of the Danish cinematography masters Lars von Trier, Thomas Vinterberg, Christoffer Boe and Island born Dagur Kari will be demonstrated as part of the festival programme.

Tatarstan President Mintimer Shaimiev handed out state awards of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Tatarstan at the Ceremonial Hall of the Kazan Kremlin on February 17.