Rustam Minnikhanov’s signature: the top 10 development vectors of Tatarstan

1. Tatarstan online

''Rustam Minnikhanov has created a powerful team of like-minded professionals, debugged constructive interaction of all branches of state and municipal authorities,'' shares with Realnoe Vremya the chairman of State Council Farid Mukhametshin. ''He has introduced the system of Electronic government and made it an integral part of the everyday work of public servants.''

''Today, in the electronic documents turnover there are more than 45.000 users, 5 federal departments and 6 subjects of the Russian Federation,'' gives the calculations Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Informatization and Communications of Tatarstan Roman Shaikhutdinov. ''On account of Rustam Nurgalievich there is also the system of interagency electronic interaction, which eliminated the need for the citizens to visit different instances to get different papers. It is also the system of electronic queue, which allowed to improve the quality of public services. It is a number of information systems based on GLONASS, a major project for informatization of schools and the installation of wi-fi hotspots. Tatarstan occupies the first place among the subjects of the Russian Federation on execution of e-services.'' These tools have made lives of people convenient, they have become the basis for the project of the Russian electronic government and, of course, the feature of the Republic.

2. The winning of the right, organization and holding of the Universiade in Kazan

Nine years ago on the last day of spring in Brussels, Kazan won the right to host the Universiade 2013. On the background of the success of the Universiade, the fact that the capital of Tatarstan lost its first election to Chinese Shenzhen pales. ''Mr. Minnikhanov with the mayor of the city circled the world, explained to the members of the FISU Executive Committee what the Republic is and what possibilities we have. It was also necessary to convince the federal government, and they succeeded because Vladimir Putin supported us,'' commented to Realnoe Vremya Chairman of the State Committee of Tatarstan on economy, investments and business, former Minister of Youth Affairs, Sports and Tourism Rafis Burganov.

From that moment it became clear that the Games would take place in Kazan, a new phase began in the city's history. Huge budgets were allocated for the construction of sports facilities. Total investment in the preparation of the Universiade amounted to 228 billion rubles, including 80 billion rubles of private investments. Specifically for Games, 30 sports venues were built and existing ones were renovated. A huge Universiade Village was built for the guests of the Universiade. Now this is partly the campus of Kazan Federal University. In other words, a large sporting event, where Russian team took first place by a wide margin from closest rival, brought glory to the country, the Republic and formed the new face of Kazan.

''It was the first Universiade in modern history which was carried out at such scale,'' said Rafis Burganov. ''We remained good friends with the members of the FISU Executive Committee and with a number of athletes and leaders. They often remember the Games as something that is in line with the Olympics, the world Championships. They continue to come to Kazan, which they liked, and they bring competitions here. Of course, largely thanks to the Universiade, Kazan has become a European city, which today is no longer confused with others. It has become not only the sports capital of Russia, but also one of the world's sports capitals.''

3. The launch of a major Republican project — Ammonia complex

One of the largest Tatarstan projects, the complex for production of fertilizers Ammonia, started to operate two years ago in Mendeleyevsk. This is the first of its kind plant for the production of ammonia, methanol and urea. At the beginning of last year, the plant reached its design capacity. It is about 717.000 tonnes of urea, more than 230.000 tonnes of methanol, up to 380.000 tonnes of ammonium nitrate per year. From ammonia for agriculture it is planned to produce fertilizers: urea and ammonium nitrate. 30% of them will be sold in Russia (in particular, nearby fertilizer plant Mendeleevskazot), the rest 70% — to the CIS countries, Europe and Asia.

''Certainly for me, the role of Rustam Nurgalievich in the project Ammonia is very important. It took nine years to implement the project, and he's always been at the forefront of this complex process,'' said Director General of Gazprom Mezhregiongaz Kazan CJSC, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Ammonia JSC Rinat Khanbikov to Realnoe Vremya. ''The uniqueness of the project Ammonia is the fact that no object had been built in Russia for 30 years in this industry, and there are only two plants now in the world that use the technology applied in Ammonia, and one of them is ours. The success of Ammonia is also his success. All the important and key issues were held with his active participation.''

Moreover, the issue of the construction in Tatarstan of the second stage of the plant Ammonia has already been solved.

4. The production of Euro-5 fuel, the construction of the HRCC and the introduction of ELOU AVT-6

The President of the Republic supports manufacturers in their quest to invest in the future and he personally monitors their progress, giving impetus to further development. Together with Rustam Minnikhanov, the only manufacturer of gasoline in Tatarstan, the oil refinery TAIF-NK, at the end of 2015 moved on to the production of fuel of Euro-5 standard. The government imposes such requirements to all producers from the beginning of 2016. ''High environmental value of these products were noted by President of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov who took part in solemn launching of Euro 5 gasoline in industrial production,'' told Director General of TAIF-NK OJSC Rushan Shamgunov to Realnoe Vremya.

Tatarstan TAIF-NK has some fundamental differences from other Russian refineries. The majority of oil refineries in the country are focused exclusively on the production of motor fuels. TAIF-NK works in two directions: it provides raw materials for the petrochemical industry and it produces fuel. The company is one of several processors of the most heavy and sour crude oil in Tatarstan and Russia. For this, in autumn 2012 with the participation of President of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov it was held a solemn ceremony dedicated to the official beginning of construction of the heavy residue conversion complex based on the unique technology Veba Combi Cracking.

Today, the heavy residue conversion complex is under commissioning. After the commissioning, the conversion rate will increase from the current 74.5% to 98%, from the dark residue (tar and mazut) with a volume of almost 4 million tonnes per year the output will be light petroleum products (diesel fuel, naphtha, butane and propane fractions, nafta) that meet European quality and environmental standards.

Another Tatarstan manufacturer of petroleum products TANECO plans to increase oil refining volumes by 62.8% to 14 million tonnes by next year. This will happen after the full introduction of the new process unit ELOU AVT-6. A year earlier, TANECO ran the delayed coking unit in the mode of comprehensive testing equipment. The unit will process 2 million tonnes of heavy oil residues per year. From them they will produce petroleum coke and additional distillates (heavy and light gas oils). The latters will go for processing at the combined hydrocracking plant of TANECO with the release of motor fuels.

5. A new impulse of Tatarstan petrochemical industry

The progress of rich on industrial production Tatarstan is in constant development of new technologies, intensification of production and implementation of megaprojects. Starting from 2010, the largest petrochemical complex not only in Tatarstan but also in Russia, Nizhnekamskneftekhim PJSC, has implemented a range of projects. It is the launch of industrial Park Kamskie Polyany, which has become the largest Russian industrial site for the processing of polymers, the implementation of the plant for the production of ABS plastics — modern synthetic polymers of a high degree of impact resistance and elasticity – at capacity of 60.000 tonnes per year.

One should give tribute to the launched in 2014 fourth stage of production of styrene plastics, which made in the annual volume of NKNH additional 50.000 tonnes of polymers and their new modifications. The catalyst factory is a joint project of manufacturers and scientists of the Kazan Federal University, launched within the framework of the program of import substitution, allows to ensure the independence of the company from suppliers of the catalyst, necessary for plants of isoprene monomer and synthetic rubber. Annually, the company will receive more than 2 tonnes of catalyst. At the butyl rubber plant, the company now has four units of separation and drying of the rubber Velding. Last year, it was launched a modernized production of alpha-olefins. The Kama innovative territorial cluster Innokam is also developing, the largest investment project of which was the mega-project of NKNK — the olefin complex with a capacity of 1.2 million tonnes of ethylene per year.

''There is a considerable share of presidential support in the achievements of the company and that no matter what, we continue almost annually putting into operation new facilities,'' said Director General of Nizhnekamskneftehim JSC Azat Bikmurzin.

6. Chemistry of success

''The president has focused on the development of the petrochemical region. He, as they say, has always his finger on the pulse. Today we have many ongoing and already producing results projects,'' says Director General of Kazanorgsintez OJSC Farid Minigulov.

Kazanorgsintez, which is not losing its positions in a volatile market, allows to look convincing in the field of chemical and petrochemical industry of Tatarstan. Despite the decline in prices for petrochemical products, the company maintains the leading position of supplier of polymers. Today Kazanorgsintez produces more than 38% of Russian polyethylene and is its largest exporter.

With the participation of Rustam Minnikhanov, the plant of ethylene Kazanorgsintez commissioned a new highly selective two-chamber furnace of pyrolysis of ethane Technip, and on the production of low-pressure polyethylene it was commissioned a new plant of the compounding by Сореrion.

7. A new round of KAMAZ development

The industrial profile of the Republic is determined not only by the petrochemical complex, but also by large machine-building enterprises. One of them is KAMAZ, that has recently signed a contract with Mercedes to build a plant in the suburbs of Moscow. Last year the automaker began construction of a plant of the frames of truck cabs of K5 generation in cooperation with Daimler. As Director General of the auto giant Sergey Kogogin said, this is the first major project since the construction of KAMAZ. The new plant will consist of four workshops. Total area of the enterprise — 65.7 thousand square meters, the capacity – 57.000 cabs per year.

A year ago, in 2015, KAMAZ had an opening of the shop for the production of KAMAZ trucks and bus chassis with gas engines. Later, the auto giant launched its first tests of the UAV, developed jointly with VIST Group JSC and Cognitive Technologies.

8. The recognition of Tatarstan as investment attractive region

''The main success of Tatarstan is in the ability to keep moving forward amid economic difficulties and, most importantly, to maintain the investment attractiveness of the region,'' said member of the Federation Council from Tatarstan Oleg Morozov to Realnoe Vremya. At the beginning of the year, the national rating Agency confirmed the high level of investment attractiveness of Tatarstan. In the Republic, the index of investment in fixed capital by the end of 2014 and 2015 amounted to 100% and in the first half of 2016 there was a slight growth by 1.5% over the same period of the previous year. One of the success factors — infrastructure, where an investor will come. In Tatarstan today there are two special economic zones have been formed. There are TOSER (the territory of priority development) in Naberezhnye Chelny and Alabuga continues to develop, where, among other preferences, the profit tax rate has been reduced by 6.5% to 13.5%.

''Our President is personally involved in the negotiation process, it greatly affects the decision of investors, as they see that the leader is concerned, responsible, committed, gives the word,'' said in a recent interview the head of Tatarstan Investment Development Agency Taliya Minullina.

''Moreover, with the advent of Rustam Minnikhanov for the office of the president in the Republic there began to appear innovative business infrastructure. It is IT-Park in Kazan and IT-Park in Naberezhnye Chelny. Separately I want to highlight a Eurasian project by scope — the construction of a new city Innopolis,'' noted Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Informatization and Communications Roman Shaikhutdinov to Realnoe Vremya.

9. Development of SMEs in the Republic

In Tatarstan, where industrial giants are concentrated, the share of small and medium-sized businesses is about 25% in the Republic GRP. For the development and support of SMEs, 3 years ago with an open meeting of Rustam Minnikhanov with businessmen there started the project ''Business and power: a candid conversation''. The project, created on the initiative of the President, has become the new format of communication between businessmen and the top officials of Tatarstan.

''Mr. Minnikhanov holds quarterly meetings with businesses, discussing difficult issues and makes decisions promptly. Representatives of small and medium-sized businesses participate in these meetings, which often face problems in cooperation with the authorities in the course of solving specific problems. For the solution of systemic problems of the business environment of the Republic of Tatarstan on behalf of Tatarstan President it was established the Council on entrepreneurship under the President of Tatarstan,'' said Commissioner for protection of entrepreneurs' rights Timur Nagumanov to Realnoe Vremya.

As a result, for 3 years of the project they held 35 business meetings with top officials of the government. The project covered over 30.000 entrepreneurs from all parts of the Republic, they made more than a thousand urgent matters to the heads of ministries and departments.

10. The change of Tatarstan's image

''The development of the economy, strengthening of productions give people a sense of security, confidence in the future, and the quality of life is determined largely through leisure. Thanks to Rustam Minnikhanov, after the Declaration of 2015 as the Year of parks and gardens in the Republic there appeared ''140 new objects, 75 of which are new construction projects and 65 — objects of major repairs. For this purpose, there were allocated 1 billion rubles from the Republican budget and 600 million rubles from our patrons and investors. These are very serious figures. Except Moscow and St. Petersburg, no region in the country has been engaged in the development of public spaces at such large scale,'' said at the final briefing in RT Cabinet assistant to the President on issues of parks and gardens Natalia Fishman.

The development of parks and gardens has transformed the image of the Republic. Updated park spaces, new systems of public catering began to attract people to walk together with family and friends. There appeared walking and biking routes. The total length of new cycling and walking paths is now more than 35.000 meters.

A year later, Rustam Minnikhanov confirmed the decision to continue the program of development of parks and gardens by introducing the Year of the water protection zones.

The improvement of public spaces, beautification of rivers and lakes was preceded by another creative process — the revival of the historic appearance of the capital of Tatarstan. In 2011, the destruction of Kazan cultural heritage stirred up the public. After when the city lost another historic significance — the house of Potekhin and the rooms of Banatsev — it was made a sharp turn. The turn towards recovery and reconstruction. A guide Olesya Baltusova invited Rustam Minnikhanov to walk along the crumbling historic center of Kazan. They had a walk, and soon the President invited Baltusova to work. Then the historical monuments unexpectedly went to auction. The Executive Committee of Kazan searched and found investors for the monuments of national importance.