Mikhail Babich in Kazan: ''It is important that tension between business and government has decreased''
Aleksandr Braverman announced the folding of the Program 6.5 for entrepreneurs at the meeting in Tatarstan
Who of regional businessmen in Russia live well? The answer was voiced at the сommission meeting in Kazan on improving the investment attractiveness of the regions, gathered representatives of subjects of the Volga Federal district. As always, the leader of the national rating was named Tatarstan. However, praising the region, distinguished guests didn't think about disgruntled entrepreneurs-clients of the failed banks. The meeting was held behind half-closed doors. Read more about what was allowed to hear to the press in the material of Realnoe Vremya.
Other region – other protractions
For several years, they have been trying to introduce 12 models in Russia to ease conducting business and to increase investment attractiveness of the regions. Five of them have been realized, and others are being at various stages of implementation. Russian Presidential Envoy in Volga Federal District Mikhail Babich dwelled on the achievements as well as on the failures.
Entrepreneurs in Russia most often complain of difficulties in obtaining construction permits, lack of tax benefits, of export support measures, there are also other problems. Nevertheless, according to Plenipotentiary Envoy, in the Volga region there has formed a group of regions which is actively engaged in improving the business environment.
The leader of the national rating of investment climate has become Tatarstan which has been ranked first in the country, the Chuvash Republic takes the 6th place, the Ulyanovsk Oblast — the 11th. The same procedures in the regions differ in number and duration.
''For example, the average time to receive a construction permit in Udmurtia is 94 days, in Samara Oblast — 266 days. Grid connection for business in Mordovia takes 51 days, in Penza Oblast — 147 days. There is no rational explanation for that,'' said Mikhail Babich.
New territories of priority development on the map of Tatarstan
Rustam Minnikhanov told at the expense of which public tools of support of entrepreneurship Tatarstan has managed to lead the national ranking. The authorities of the Republic have focused on the development of favourable conditions for doing business, the implementation of long-term investment projects and modernization of production. As successful examples they cited Technopolis Khimgrad, Kama Industrial Park Master, Technopark Idea, IT-Park, SEZ Alabuga, which accounts for about 70% of the revenue of all Russian special economic zones. The territory of advanced development in Naberezhnye Chelny is successfully developing, they plan to create the same sites in Nizhnekamsk and Zelenodolsk.
''An important role in shaping an attractive business environment have been played by road maps, implemented in cooperation with the Agency for strategic initiatives. They are aimed at reduction of administrative barriers in different spheres of business,'' said Rustam Minnikhanov.
The climate of the regions should be improved
As well as natural climate depends on many factors — terrain, presence of sea, so the investment one consists of several components. It is the reduction of administrative barriers, oversight of supervisory bodies, measures to support entrepreneurship. On the background of the achievements there are problems as well.
''In different regions there is different investment climate. This is shown by researches of 2016, based on them there has been prepared a program and a set of measures that are needed to make the climate in our regions improved,'' said Deputy Minister of Economic Development of Russia Savva Shipov.
In his speech, he focused on one direction — the reform of the supervisory activities of business. After the moratorium, the number of inspections, of course, declined, but there is still work to do. In particular, it is suggested to check business entities depending on risk category.
The amount of public procurement for SMEs stunned the head of the corporation
Director General of Federal Corporation for development of small and medium enterprises JSC Aleksandr Braverman told about the important direction. It is the increase in access for SMEs to procurements of infrastructure monopolies, state-run companies and joint-stock companies where the state share exceeds 50 and 1 share. The total amount at the end of 2016 amounted to 1 trillion 511 billion rubles.
''The amount was striking for us, not only in its size. There is a part of export products, at about 27 billion U.S. dollars of annually revaluated orders for SMEs,'' said Aleksandr Braverman.
According to him, within the framework of the Volga Federal District, the amount of the participation of SMEs in public procurement is also very significant — 200 billion rubles.
The program 6.5 won't be folded
The speaker also told about 172 billion rubles in the form of credit support that were brought to the regions last year. Part of the amount — 100.2 billion rubles — were issued under the guarantee of corporation on the line of so-called Programs 6.5, within the framework of which the Central Bank refinances authorized banks at a rate of 6.5%, and entrepreneurs receive soft loans. By the way, Tatarstan Bank Ak Bars is trying to join it.
However, the validity of the program has come to an end. In the press they discussed various options for its future. Today Aleksandr Braverman has put an end to all sorts of gossips.
''Until the end of June, regional base banks should choose under this program 13.4 billion rubles, and in this case the Central Bank gives us the second part of the limit of 100 billion, which it gave us in July-December. If we observe the proportion of 50 to 50, that will give us a share of regional base banks in the portfolio of approximately 40-45%, we can count on. We have cautious optimism for this reason that the Central Bank will extend this program in 2018. After 2018, this program will be folded,'' said the head of The MSP Corporation.
About the role of MFC
Later, Presidential Envoy in the Volga Federal District Mikhail Babich told about the role of MFC's development where Tatarstan acted as the pilot region of the program.
''It was important to understand what was the result, to correct the work so that MFC (the Multifunctional Centre) has really become available for people. So that they took the maximum number of services — federal, regional and municipal,'' said Babich.
Besides, according to him, it is important that these services do not duplicate those provided by territorial authorities.
''The tension has decreased''
As for the meeting of the commission, Babich noted many suggestions for improving of the business environment.
''It is important that the degree of tension between business and government has really greatly decreased today. At least, there are no critical statements, any excess action of the regulatory bodies. Those cases which used to arise are considered by bodies of Prosecutor's office,'' said the Presidential Envoy.
Rustam Minnikhanov reminded about successful educational projects for the business such as Factory of Business, Business Class and others.
''We will take advantage of any possibility. Especially on the Business Navigator we had a conversation, we will arrange master classes. It all just seems very complicated, but it is absolutely not difficult. And we'll engage more and more would-be entrepreneurs,'' concluded the president of Tatarstan.