At this moment, the V session of the Kazan City Duma
is being held in the City Hall, where the Mayor of the Tatarstan capital Ilsur
Metshin made a report on the “20 Goals of Kazan for 2020” program announced last
year. As the Mayor noted in the report, achieving the declared high standards during
the pandemic seemed impossible. “But now we can confidently say that we coped
to fulfill and exceed all our plans”, - the Mayor said and thanked Tatarstan President
Rustam Minnikhanov, who attended the session, for his support.
“Last year has become an unprecedented challenge for the
whole world, our country, Tatarstan and Kazan. We all had to quickly address
major challenges -from prevention and treatment to the retention of economic
and human potential, education, urban life support systems”, - I.Metshin said
during his report.
Retail turnover at the end of the year amounted to
93.7% from the level of 2019, and the turnover of public catering decreased by
a quarter. Consumer traffic in malls decreased by 30%. “Nevertheless, despite
the difficulties, the indicators of the urban economy show stability in most
areas. The industrial production index for January-December amounted to 101%”,-
the head of the city outlined.
I.Metshin reminded that the budget of Kazan for 2020
was approved in the amount of 24 billion 964 million rubles. The budget
execution was implemented in a tense economic situation. For the second
quarter, the shortfall in revenue compared to the same period in 2019 amounted
to 930 million rubles.
The top priority in the city was to ensure primary expenditures
on wages, taxes, utility bills and cost optimization. The Kazan authorities managed
to save 380 million rubles.
The revenue situation stabilized by the end of the
fourth quarter, which was executed with an increase of 20%. In general, the
budget execution by revenue in 2020 amounted to 29 billion 51 million rubles.
Moreover, the municipality has obtained financial
assistance from Tatarstan President and the Tatarstan Government for $ 3.4
billion. “Federal and republican programs have provided serious support to the
economy of Kazan. I would like to note that during the pandemic, none of them
was canceled or suspended”, - I.Metshin said.
In the year of the coronavirus pandemic, the city took
measures to support doctors, and business representatives immediately
responded. The municipality allocated official cars and free travel cards for
medical workers, entrepreneurs -taxi operators and mobile dealerships - also
provided cars to doctors. Hoteliers allocated rooms for doctors, trade and
catering enterprises organized free meals, delivery of food packages for those
in need.
I.Metshin emphasized that Kazan carriers were among
the first in the country to carry out disinfection of public transport, and property
management companies-daily sanitary treatment of entrances. “All this, combined
with the self – discipline of Kazan residents, helped prevent the critical rate
of the spread of the virus, saved thousands of lives of citizens”, - he noted.
Special attention was paid to supporting small and
medium-sized businesses during this difficult time. The total amount of funds
allocated to support the business is about 372 million rubles.