NEWS

32 265.44 thnd tn of oil (101% to 2007) has been extracted in 2008 in the Republic of Tatarstan. In 2008 in Russia 488.105 mln tn has been extracted (99.3% to 2007). The decreasing of petroleum production was amounted to 3.2 mln tn. Among the largest Russian oil-companies only "Rosneft" and "Tatneft" have had a positive balance of the petroleum production in 2008.

January 12, Chairman of the Government of Russian Federation Vladimir Putin signed the Decree on the establishment of the Organizing Committee for the preparation and conducting XXVII World Summer Universiade-2013 in Kazan and approved its staff.

January 13, the anti-crisis package in the building sector of Tatarstan was announced on the session of the Board of the RT Ministry of Construction, Architecture and Housing. To decreasing after-effects of crisis in the building sector the Ministry supposed several measures.

January 12, Alexander Kogogin, the RT Minister of Industry and Trade held a working meeting on the issue of the establishing in Tatarstan the German-Russian Center for Modern Projecting of Industrial Technologies in the sphere of aircraft building and mechanical engineering in common of Fraunhoffer Society.

The Government of Tatarstan supports all directions of the RT Ministry of Education and Science activity and will stimulate the development of education through the fair amount granting. Rustam Minnikhanov, the RT Prime Minister said about it on the final session of the Board of Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Tatarstan, which was held on January, 12.

The 3rd issue of "Our House – Tatarstan magazine, published by the Assembly of Tatarstan Nations, appeared in print. The edition introduces readers to the news of ethnic Diasporas in the republic, talks about the problems of members of regional ethnic-cultural associations, and tells stories of their lives.

The school of figure skating was opened at "Neftekhimik" club. Children and teenagers aged from 6 to 15 years became the first students of the school.

In December, 2008 the amount of a minimum food set included in the cost of living in Russia increased by 1,1% (on average in Russia) and amounted to the end of the month 2116 rubles per person per month, Rosstat reported.
In December, the cheapest among the Russian regions minimum food set remained in Tatarstan (1750 rub.), the highest - in Chukotka (5630 rub.).

The enlarged meeting of the board of General Archival Administration under the Cabinet of Ministers of Tatarstan was held in Kazan. The Prime Minister of the Republic of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov was satisfied with the work balance of the RT General Archival Administration in 2008.

Republic of Tatarstan ministry of culture reviewed results of 2008 activities. The meeting was attended by Prime-minister of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov and deputy Prime-minister of Tatarstan – RT minister for culture Zilya Valeev. In their opinion, past year was one of the most successful for the cultural sphere, though due to financial situation at international markets, fourth quarter was quite difficult.