In the Kazan City Hall has completed reporting session of Kazan City Duma

In the period of economic crisis Kazan authorities were able to keep the situation under control, to achieve stable functioning of the municipal economy, to preserve the basic parameters of the it and fulfill its obligations in the social sphere. This announcement was made today by the Mayor of Kazan Ilsur Metshin during his report at the meeting of 48th session of Kazan City Duma.

In the meeting agenda of reporting session held in the Kazan City Hall were 16 questions, including reports on the activities of the Mayor of Kazan, Kazan City Duma, the Executive Committee of Kazan in 2009.

Today's report is especial as this is the last summarising of work of a municipal Duma and the Mayor's Office of Kazan in present structure. In 2010 the citizens will elect new deputies. Therefore, as noted Ilsur Metshin, "it is necessary to report to the public for all that we have managed and have not managed, were in time and had not in time to make for term of our powers."

Mayor in a speech to the deputies announced the results of development of Kazan in the socio-economic sphere, in finance, education, health, culture, sports, information technology.

Speaking about the socio-economic development of the city Mayor of Kazan said that 2009 and 2008 were for the entire country, for our republic and its capital, its people, its enterprises among the most severe. "We experienced all the adverse effects of economic crisis - the fall in output growth and trade volumes and reducing of employment and tax revenues to budgets of all levels", - stated Ilsur Metshin.

Nevertheless the presence in the Republic of Tatarstan and its capital of sufficient safety factor, diversified export-oriented municipal economy, timely implementation of a package of anti-crisis measures allowed to keep the situation under control and achieve a sustainable functioning of the municipal economy, to preserve the basic parameters of it and fulfill the commitments in the social area.

Thus in 2009 large and medium-sized enterprises of the city produced goods worth over 120 billion rubles. And the year has been completed with positive index of industrial production - 100,8%. Moreover this positive tendency is confirmed by the results of this year: in January-February 2010 growth of volumes of output was achieved by 10,9%.

According Ilsur Metshin, municipal retail trade turnover in 2009 decreased slightly - by 2,2% and amounted to 225 billion rubles. "But already this year we expect turnover to increase to 260,9 billion rubles. That in comparable prices by 3% above the level of the year", - said the Mayor of the city.

It should be noted also that Kazan is on the leading positions in terms of availability of shopping space per 1,000 residents - 954 sq. m of selling area. For comparison: London - 1050 sq. m, Milan - 980 sq. m, New York - 810 sq. m, Mumbai - 770 sq. m, Saint-Petersburg - 829 sq. m.

Mayor of Kazan also stressed that during the last 5 years Kazan is a stable leader in terms of investment among big cities cities of Russia. In 2009 the total volume of investments attracted to the city's economy is 96 billion rubles. It is 85 thousand rubles counting on one inhabitant. That is the highest level of investment among the millionaire cities of Russia. It is first of all investing in market segments of the economy: trade, public catering, consumer services, building, IT-technology.

Particularly acute in times of crisis faced the problem of employment of Kazan. According Ilsur Metshin, the city managed to keep the average monthly wage of 17,300 rubles. In the city's economy from the federal budget for solving the employment problems were brought more than 600 million rubles, including 202 million for public works, retraining and opening own business.
 
Budget of 2009 Ilsur Metshin called "a survival budget". As was announced in the report of the Mayor, last year city pulic fund sustained a loss of 3,2 billion rubles. But despite of the crisis and a limited budget, Kazan not only didn't loose, but even strengthened its position in the financial market as a reliable borrower. International rating agency «Fitch Ratings» first time has assigned the city a long-term ratings in foreign and national currency. Typically ratings are assigned to regions. Ilsur Metshin called it a major step towards the refinancing of municipal debt, which arose during the preparations for the 1000 anniversary and remains a serious constraint of the city.
 
Once again at the session sounded the information about the Presidential Program of social mortgage. From 2007 to 2009 new apartments got 1,452 families in Kazan, improved the housing - 4232 families. In 2010 in Kazan is expected breakthrough in social mortgage - will be built 400 thousand square meters of housing, or more than 4 thousand apartments, for the sum of 5 billion rubles. Currently at 33 objects of housing program of social mortgage are employed more than 1500 construction workers.
 
Quite successful in the reporting year the problem of "defrauded real estate investors" was solved. By working together with the Executive committee of the city, the Ministry of construction and architecture, law enforcement agencies, all departments 30 houses (about 3 thousand apartments) of more than 75 troubled houses, and it is 8 thousand apartments, could be put into operation. Currently another 15 houses are prepared to be put in operation.
 
Ilsur Metshin reminded the audience that 2010 was declared the Year of the teacher and in its frameworks many actions of various scale and level are held. "We continue to work seriously, as we initiated in 2006, for construction and major repair of schools and kindergartens, - noted the Mayor of the city. - Significantly increased funding for overhaul of educational institutions, were built 4 new schools and 8 kindergartens. After a major renovation opened 3 other schools. This year it is planned to put in operation a new school in a residential complex "21st century" and 5 kindergartens".
 
With the support of the Government of the Republic in 2009 were put into operation 5 health care facilities. In total for 4 years in Kazan has opened 18 new health facilities, given an additional 18.6 thousand sq. metres.
 
Since 2008 in Kazan the unique project for Russia is implemented - the comprehensive modernization of dental care, for which were repaired and refurbished 5 municipal dental clinics.
 
Recognizing the importance of maintaining the health of the working population of Kazan the city is developing a programm to provide high-tech assistance of Kazan citizens. Each year more than 2,5 thousand people pass through the vascular centers in Interregional clinical diagnostic center, Republican clinical hospital and Republican clinical hospital-2.
 
Contribution to the medical, economic, sports, construction component of municipal development has already borne fruit - following the results of 2009 the first time in 18 years fertility in Kazan exceeded mortality. Last year 14 thousand 902 babies were born, and Kazan on this indicator leads in the Volga Federal District.
 
For 5 years the city managed to achieve the international appeal of Kazan - as compared with 2005 in 2009 the number of tourists visiting our city has doubled from 490 thousand to 900 thousand people.
 
Cultural development of the city, working with creative young people - such is the groundwork that will allow Kazan, according to the head of the city, to hold worthy the forthcoming Universiade. "The wealth of creativity of our people, youth, cultural figures should be used at 100 percent in preparation for the Universiade - stressed Ilsur Metshin. - We are holding a number of creative competitions for young people in Kazan. And today we should use them to identify the most talented guys. At the Olympics in Beijing only at the opening ceremony were involved 22 000 people - it was truly enchanting show, which lasted more than 4 hours and cost 100 million dollars! Preparation took 1,5 years. We have 3 years and the challenges we face - to prepare adequately".
 
"We won in a serious struggle for the right to host the 2013 Universiade and this victory imposes on us all a new level of responsibility and new challenges - ending his speech, the Mayor said. - It gives us a chance to change not only in appearance, Kazan must become a city of truly European level with modern culture and mentality, a high-tech city of students, youth, sports and healthy lifestyle. We need to make the city open, pulling like a magnet, all the best, talented and advanced".
 
Prime Minister Rustam Minnikhanov, putting total end, said that Kazan has done a lot. In general compared to other cities and in the economic situation in the crisis Kazan, in the opinion of the Prime Minister, looks most favorably on income and the volume of industrial production. He compared it with Naberezhnye Chelny, where in 2009 the production had fallen twice.
 
One of the primary challenges facing the city Rustam Minnikhanov called the development of transport infrastructure. He also pointed out that more work is needed on housing and overhaul.
 
"It is well, that the demographic situation in Kazan is improving, - said Rustam Minnikhanov - but there is a problem of kindergartens. Let us denote this problem today and we will think how to solve it."
 
"We are proud of our capital - said the Prime Minister of Tatarstan in the conclusion. - This is the third capital of Russia, but in sport - the first. There is no doubt that Kazan will be the same advanced city in our country further."