President of Russia Vladimir Putin: How is everything, Mr Minnikhanov?
Head of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov: Everything is okay.
Mr President, I would like to report to you on the expectations and results of this year. I prepared several presentation materials on our socioeconomic development, on the projects that we are carrying out in our republic.
We expect our gross product to grow by 103 percent.
Vladimir Putin: Regional product?
Rustam Minnikhanov: Yes, two trillion.
Vladimir Putin: This is higher than the national average.
Rustam Minnikhanov: The volume and index of industrial production – 102 or 102.2 percent, or 2,167 billion. Agricultural production has increased by 5.5 percent to reach 260 billion. The scale of construction has not decreased – 356 billion rubles. We will put into service 2,407,000 square metres of housing.
Vladimir Putin: How much more is this compared to last year?
Rustam Minnikhanov: 100 percent. We stick to this figure. The main point is that about 500,000 square metres represent affordable housing for those categories of residents that we included in our programmes.
Fixed investment is 677 billion. I think it will be at the same level as last year. Foreign trade amounts to 16 billion rubles. The processing industry has grown as well.
I have conducted an analysis. Compared with 2010 our production of diesel fuel went up by 10 percent, petrol by 167 percent, we produce 725,000 tonnes of synthetic rubber which is 142 percent, polyethylene production grew by 120 percent, mineral fertilizer production increased six-fold with the construction of a new plant, manufacture of tires 112 percent, lorries 150 percent, and cars 110 percent.
I would like to tell you about the projects that we are carrying out in the republic. First of all, this is the most pressing issue…
Vladimir Putin: Roads?
Rustam Minnikhanov: Yes, roads. This year we have carried out almost 28 billion [rubles] worth of republic-wide programmes. This includes modernisation, repairs, paved roads and roads for our farms. Gravel-sand mixture is a good, low-cost project. It is not asphalt but a special surface for rural streets where traffic is not very heavy.
The municipal road fund. Thank you very much for safe, high-quality roads.
Vladimir Putin: I believe you have used different lane width standards.
Rustam Minnikhanov: Yes, a new category, Category Five roads. This is significantly cheaper; there is no need to spend huge amounts of money.
Vladimir Putin: I agree. This is good, positive experience. Generally, it is a little wider here than in other countries. However, if traffic is light, there is no such need.
Rustam Minnikhanov: We proposed this as a standard. The Transport Ministry supported us.
I would like to update you on our programmes. We have 37 programmes. Next year there will be 38. Total investment is 44 billion [rubles], including 25 billion from budgetary funds. This includes major repairs of outpatient clinics. As I told you, we are to bring all primary-level facilities – outpatient clinics – up to standard within two years. Major repair programmes for educational facilities. Every year, we perform maintenance and repairs at schools and kindergartens. In all, this is about 140 facilities.
There is a very good programme on public spaces. We have done 68 facilities worth nearly 3 billion. In this case we also received federal support.
Resource centres, training centres. To meet the goal you have set – blue-collar jobs – we already have 25 resource centres. In 2018, there will be another five such centres.
Teen clubs, children’s camps. We have launched a maintenance and repairs programme, doing 10 camps a year.
Cultural facilities. We are building at least one club in every district and are also repairing clubs.
The housing renovation programme includes 984 buildings. The programme is up and running.
We are currently helping vegetable and gardening communities with water, roads and gas supplies. They have kind of fallen between the cracks. We have a special programme whereby we provide 550 million [rubles] a year addressing [their problems]. Water supplies, sewage, utilities.
We also have a programme to bring rural facilities up to scratch. [There are] co-financing [programmes]. We provide part [of the funds]. These include cowsheds, silage and haylage trenches, vegetable storage facilities, machine-tractor stations – a total of around 2.35 billion rubles, 646 facilities.
Lighting programmes. In rural areas, transitioning to standalone boilers, the Accessible Environment programme. Boilers. There are many programmes – 37 of them. All are under way.
As for the May executive orders, Mr President, we are also carrying out the roadmap: all targets on education, higher education and medical care are being met. The same goes for this year’s roadmap.
Vladimir Putin: Are you also helping large families?
Rustam Minnikhanov: Yes, we are also carrying out a programme for large families, providing land plots.
Vladimir Putin: I believe this programme has been running since 2007.
Rustam Minnikhanov: There is a social mortgage lending programme; it is ongoing. Almost 10,000 flats a year [are provided] under this programme.
As for budget execution, growth is over 6 percent. We address all these issues.
There is the issue of [defrauded] housing equity holders. We are currently setting up a fund. We will help [them] with land and infrastructure. There is such a category. A federal fund is currently being established, but it is for the future. We will also help those who have ended up in difficult circumstances.
I have also briefed you on the issue of [defrauded] depositors. A fund has also been created. Small amounts have already begun to be paid to legal entities. This work is also in progress.
Vladimir Putin: Good.
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