Ilsur Metshin: “My task as Mayor is to make the city attractive for talents”

Ilsur Metshin, the Mayor of Kazan, spoke at the IT Park to the participants of the Master of Public Administration program. One of the most prominent educational programs in the country is held by the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration. Within a few days, over 70 people from different regions of Russia will study the experience of Kazan in various areas of urban economy.

At the master class, Ilsur Metshin spoke about how the capital of Tatarstan made an urban leap from a socialist city to the center of international events and a comfortable space for living. He also spoke on the transport reform and the formation of the route network, about the development of the outdoor advertising market, about the large-scale landscaping in Kazan, the construction of social facilities, and also touched upon many other areas of urban economy.

Thus, the outdoor advertising market influenced the appearance of the city. In 2006, there were more than 2,500 billboards in Kazan, revenues to the city budget amounted to 14.5 million rubles a year. Later, the first auctions were held in Russia for the right to install and operate advertising structures. In 2021, the city's budget revenues from advertising reached 335 million rubles. “In addition to money, it is the beauty and cleanliness of our city, it is a civilized appearance. Every municipality can use this experience,”- the Mayor is sure.

Additionally, the Mayor focused on holding major sporting events. Among them are the 2013 World Summer Universiade, the 2015 FINA World Championships and the 2018 World Cup. And now Kazan is preparing for Games of Future, which will take place in 2024.

Kazan Mayor also answered the questions of the participants of the program. For example, Evgeny Demensky, Director General of MEDTECH LLC from Rostov-on-Don, interested about industrial tourism is in the capital of Tatarstan. Ilsur Metshin noted that last week he visited one of the leading industrial enterprises of the republic Kazanorgsintez and was surprised by the changes that took place there, in particular, the attitude towards employees and the creation of comfortable conditions for workers.

Viktor Khaykov, President of the National Association of Oil and Gas Services from Moscow, asked whether the capital of the republic of Tatarstan faced an outflow of specialists to larger cities. Ilsur Metshin noted that the city authorities are monitoring the carrier of talented young people, such as the best students, winners of School Academic Olympiads who go to study in other cities. “We know talented guys, and universities have been leading them since high school. I personally award the winners of the Science Olympiads and best students at meetings at the Kazan City Hall. We work with enterprises so that they pay special attention to young people and talented employees. We try to build our work in such a way that people come back. My task as Mayor is to make the city attractive for talented youth who want to change the world for the better,”- I. Metshin noted.

The participants also interested in team building, interaction with young people, as well as cooperation with foreign investors. Ilsur Metshin answered two dozen questions, the lecture lasted 2.5 hours.