Rustam Minnikhanov: ‘Regions-recipients need nothing, they are content…’
The course for the preservation of Turkish investments: Shamov hospital to be commissioned in 2017
The growing gap in the well-being among the regions in Russia prevents Tatarstan from attracting foreign investments. This conclusion was made at the final Board of Tatarstan Investment Development Agency, which was held on 27 January in Kazan. Regions-recipients deter investors, supposes the President of the Republic Rustam Minnikhanov. As the correspondent of Realnoe Vremya found out at the Board meeting, in this situation Tatarstan focuses on the preservation of already existing Turkish investments and will take advantage of the lifting of sanctions against Iran for cooperation.
Tatarstan vs regions-outsiders, or will Taliya Minullina be invited to Moscow
The position of Tatarstan in the situation of foreign political and economic tensions was the main theme at the final Board of Tatarstan Investment Development Agency, which was held on January 27 in Kazan IT-Park. Despite the fact that all speakers tried to stay optimistic, they couldn't avoid talking about problems. So, the invited Chairman of the Board of NPO National Association of Investments and Developments Agencies Sergey Belyakov said that the crisis has exacerbated the inequality of the Russian regions.
'The gap between small group of regions-leaders and big group of outsiders is growing, because regions-leaders stay as motivated as they were, and in the current situation even pay more attention to the relationships with investors. The outsiders have a wider gap,' he admitted. But the existence of these outsiders creates a negative attitude towards Russia that repels potential partners and leading regions, said the speaker. Belyakov admitted that it is hard to convince investors that the Republic, unlike the rest of Russia, can offer the best terms and to guarantee their implementation.
It is especially hard to do this in the situation when overall global investment capital is shrinking. However, the Board organizers made a list of speakers with high responsibility: everyone mentioned strong points of Tatarstan. Belyakov even raved about the Republic and about the head of the Tatarstan Investment Development Agency Taliya Minullina.
Belyakov's point was unexpectedly supported by the head of the Republic. 'I think that the regions-recipients need nothing, they are content with the current situation. But the regions which want to be dynamic, they seek for different variants: foreign experience, experience of our colleagues, we are interested in it,' he said. 'We are trying to participate in all projects. It is important to preserve prestige, any project must be under control of a head of a region, a Minister…' admitted Minnikhanov.
According to his words, Tatarstan needs not only money, but also technologies, experience, partners and new markets. With all the complexities, investments in fixed assets amounted to 600 billion rubles: there is growth and it is important to preserve it, said the President. He reminded that the Republic has difficult times: there are difficulties in working with EU and US companies. 'But not everything is so bad: Iran opened, we need to work actively with Iranian companies, they have a huge potential. Also, there is China. Unfortunately, we had huge plans withTurkey, and it is important to preserve those enterprises and investments that had been made. Many projects waited their turn, apparently, we need time until our political problems will be settled. Foreign policy is the prerogative of the leadership of our country, we need to endurethis course,' he said.
Common projects of Russia and Iran at $25 billion: myth or reality?
Taking into account the words of Minnikhanov, the speech of the acting head of the Consulate General of Iran in Kazan Mohsen Fagani became symbolic. Several days earlier, Iran was lifted 'unfair', according to Fagani, foreign sanctions. 'Now, there are conditions under which friendly to Iran countries can collaborate with Iran,' – he said.
However, Russia is already cooperating, he said, and as the main areas he called the import of agricultural products, fruits, vegetables, poultry, fish and dairy products to Russia from Iran and the Russian supply of meat to Iran, the signing of the memorandum on mutual protection of investment, identification of joint investment projects at the amount of more than $ 25 billion, providing by Russia a credit line at $5 billion and by Vnesheconombank — at the amount of $2 billion for implementation of joint projects in Iran. What the projects are, the consul didn't say.
Besides, Fagani reported that the terms of entry between the countries were simplified for such categories of citizens as businessmen and industrialists, students and teachers, drivers, tourists. It comes into force on 6 February.
However, it should be noted that Tatarstan has been trying to build relations with Iran for a long time, but without visible results. So, Tatneft is trying to gain a foothold in the Iranian market since 2002: it signed a contract with the Iran Institute of Oil on sale of technologies and equipment for oil refining, and also a contract at $1 million on testing the enhanced oil recovery. Then the oil workers of Tatarstan was engaged in seismic research in one of the Iranian oilfields. 3 years later, together with the Fund of Deprived they created the joint venture Pars Tatneft Kish to participate in projects for exploration and development of oil fields. It was planned that Tatneft will invest in oil production $500 million, but in three years of existence, they failed to sign a single agreement. After that, the negotiations did not stop, however, the extraction of oil hadn't been started.
Shamov hospital to be commissioned in a year
The Deputy Head of Kazan Executive Committee Ivan Kuznetsov was entrusted to tell about the success of Tatarstan in attracting foreign investment and plans for the future. He called the removement of administrative barriers as the priority in attracting investments.
Speaking of future projects, the official marked the reconstruction of Shamov hospital, which future was in question because of sanctions against Turkey. The company Polistroycapital (100% owned by the Turkish parent company JSC POLİSTROY İNŞAAT TAAHHÜT SANAYİ VE TİCARET ANONİM ŞİRKETİ) was lifted from the sanctions along with other important investment projects. As Kuznetsov reminded, investments accounted to more than 2 billion rubles. In addition to reconstruction of the building of Shamov hospital to the hotel, they will establish a Museum of Shamov.
As the deputy of a regional branch of Polistroycapital Junate Unal told, the contractor is planning to end the reconstruction of Shamov hospital by the second quarter of 2017.
Tatarstan attracted one and a half times more of foreign investments
According to Taliya Minullina, 597 billion rubles (for 9 months — 357.2 billion rubles) were invested in fixed assets in 2015, in the Volga Federal district, Tatarstan takes the first place for investments, and in Russia – the third. Investments in fixed capital from non-budgetary sources for 9 months amounted to 336 billion rubles: the growth by 37 billion on 2014. Foreign investments are also growing: according to the assessment, in 2015 $812 billion were invested, which is one and a half times more than in 2014. Almost $483 million of foreign direct investments are from 26 countries.
Most part was invested in SEZ Alabuga, and every day Tatarstan attracts more than $2 million, that in the current economic situation is especially valuable, noted Minullina. At the same time, in the Board materialsit was noted that for 9 months the investments amounted to only $487.9 million.
Also, Taliya Minullina announced that extensive promotion program Invest in Tatarstan starts, where each resident and visitor of Tatarstan – a potential agent of influence. 'We want to attract people to this process, for example, we will ask them to upload photos of armored products and collect 'likes' in social networks,' she said. Besides, Tatarstan Investment Development Agency will start spreading the KazansummitForum, which has been organized by the predecessor of MinullinaLinar Yakupov. 'Now it is officially called 'Russia – Islamic world. Kazansummit'. We found new partners, created special directorate. It will work on the principle of self-sufficiency,' told Minullina.
