Rustam Minnikhanov: ‘At federal level, we adopt laws that are not in ordinary people’s interest’

'Russia is a great country, and it must be self-sufficient'

Ilshat Aminov, director general in Novy Vek TV and Radio Company: Good morning, Mr Minnikhanov. Your meetings with heads, directors of news services of the leading TV companies of the republic became a tradition. At these meetings, we get answers to the most topical questions that are of much concern to all TV viewers and citizens of the republic. This is why, with your permission, I'll start. Extension of sanctions and continuing recessions became key topics in the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, which ended recently. Negative consequences are well-known. But still, are there any positive moments?

Rustam Minnikhanov: I think there are. Today SPIEF is already one of the most powerful world platforms. Despite all difficulties, sanctions, representatives of the largest companies of world and heads of the states participate in this forum. There is a great amount of interesting projects discussed during the forum. It means there are big prospects. It is a serious and popular platform. It is a great opportunity to gather in one place and discuss all problems. There were 28 or 29 official meetings during two days, while the number of the unofficial ones was greater. As for the recession, it exists. In the republic, in general, the situation is better. We see the sanctions affect not only Russia. Sanctions have a serious impact on our partners whose position differs from the position of the politicians. It takes time. In addition, the sanctions are a lesson to our science, educational system and ourselves. We need to be self-sufficient. Russia is a great country, and it must be self-sufficient.

'Federal authority is good and the municipal is bad – impossible'

Liliya Galimova, head of the news broadcasting in Kazan TV and Radio Company: Now there are heated arguments about what economic development model Russia will choose. One of them is to stimulate the development of regions. In your opinion, what measures would be effective for Tatarstan?

Minnikhanov: All measures that give an opportunity to develop the territory are effective for Tatarstan. I think strong Russia means strong regions. This motto is not just a phrase. The economic base, working places, added value, taxes are formed in the real sector of the economy. And, undoubtedly, tourism should be considered too. I think our country has big room here. It was told by the administration of the Russian Federation many times.

Municipal, regional level is the life and work of our people, our people's attitude to the power. Power cannot be divided into levels – municipal, regional or federal. Everything is either good or bad. We should work as a single unit. Financial power needs to be supported by financial and economic possibilities. These steps are what our Russian Federation needs. As for Tatarstan, we can say we – as a region, republic, municipalities and settlements – work as a team. We don't have any division. And representatives of federal departments who are in the republic actively support to develop the whole state and municipal systems. This is why this motto is very important. Indubitably, good projects, success, the growth we are waiting for are very important for our country. A country is to have at least a 4-5% growth. Unfortunately, we see another thing because of several circumstances. Our President Vladimir Putin set a task to elaborate several programmes. I visited one of the commissions. This matter is topical. How to provide a growth of the economy of such a big country? I think the regions are to be the key participants of this process.

Aleksey Kuleshov, director of TV news service in Efir TV channel: Mr Minnikhanov, Tatarstan became the leader in the investment rating among the regions of Russia again. It is more difficult to maintain the position than win only once, of course. What are the sums of the success of the republic? What do you think?

Minnikhanov: It is not like running 100 metres or a marathon, you know. It is a mass of indicators that create the investment attractiveness or other parameters. Yes, we've been the leader for the second consecutive time, though we are worse than somebody concerning some indicators. Anyway we are the leaders. In general, it is a good job of all branches of power, all departments and relations of the power and business, of course. Last year we did an analytical research to know our reserves as we do now. We have big reserves. Not all people understand that business in the foundation of our economy. Not all our heads understand it. Not all necessary regulations are perfect. For this reason, we will go on working. People who can be leaders are very important. We should prepare people who could be an example and teachers in this process. It is a systematic work. We will continue working in this field. It is the success of Tatarstan. First of all, it is a merit of small and medium business that show positive results of the process that take place in our republic. But it doesn't mean everything is good here. We need to work more in order to yield fruits of these mechanisms for our republic.

In answer to Aleksey Kuleshov's question: 'People who can be leaders are very important. We should prepare people who could be an example and teachers in this process'.

'Many professions will disappear in the short run. We should not be afraid of it'

Firdus Gimaltdinov, director in Tatarstan State TV and Radio Company: Mr Minnikhanov, you often visit different countries. You see their directions of economic growth and processes that take place in the world yourself. Speaking about Tatarstan, what development areas are more important? What do you stake on?

Minnikhanov: All lines in our work are to be important. Any problem we don't pay attention to becomes a problem later. What do you use as a basis? Tatarstan relies on a foundation that was laid: oil industry, oil refinery, automotive industry, our powerful machinery, aviation, helicopter engineering, machinery in other fields, energy, agricultural and industrial complex. They all are important. Plus, today we are seriously speaking about small and medium business. Tatarstan was represented by big and medium-sized companies. There are few small companies. Today the chain of techno parks and industrial platforms form an environment for the appearance of small enterprises that become medium-sized later. Two SEZ appeared – the largest in Europe industrial park called Master and Khimgrad techno city. A machine always needs to be fed. New fields have appeared: nanotechnologies, new materials, robotics, biotechnologies where other things are needed. Smart people are needed. In other words, our competitive advantage and future is a human asset. Educated people are needed. I don't mean the people who are educated mathematically or good at dictation. I speak about people educated in the fields that are competitive today. For example, Innopolis, which is a global project for the whole country, or laser, petrochemical engineering centres, centres on digital technologies that we open. It is a digital revolution, though these new directions are maybe small now. Steam locomotives appeared first, then we had electric cars, IT and now we face new challenges. Many professions will disappear in the short run, other specialities will appear. We should not be afraid of it, it is a normal process. We cannot fall behind, we need to know where all these processes lead to. This is why I don't downgrade the role of the oil industry and automotive industry – it is a foundation. But good specialists are needed everywhere. For instance, the IT park. There is nothing there except water and electricity. But the result is products that cost millions. Today intelligence gives the price that gives the government taxes and developers incomes. The world changes, we should be ready for it.

'We always need to be dissatisfied'

Aminov: Dear Mr Minnikhanov, undoubtedly, the 2016 Russian legislative election is the key political event this year. You won a convincing victory last year. Recently you chaired the Tatarstan regional list of United Russia party. But that's not the point. I just wanted to know your opinion of the election and its importance for Tatarstan.

In answer to Ilshat Aminov's question: 'Election is an exam. People who work pass this exam: whether you kept your promises or could not do it. The Presidential election took place last year. It was an election of a president only but the whole team that represent Tatarstan. This is why it was a general exam. In my opinion, we must say real things right now. Whatever can be told, but there must be real results'.

Minnikhanov: There are different attitudes. Election is an exam. People who work pass this exam: whether you kept your promises or could not do it. The Presidential election took place last year. It was an election of not only a president but also the whole team that represents Tatarstan. This is why it was an exam for everybody. In my opinion, we must say real things right now. Whatever can be told, but there must be real results.

We have about 30 programmes, it all depends. There are problems connected with the systems that concern people. The Programme of Major Overhaul of Dwellings had never been reviewed systematically. We worked on it in recent year. Programme on Overhaul of Schools. Several new schools were put into operation, we applause, while a great number of schools are in a bad state. Today we start to deal with kindergartens too. Look, a person was hospitalised. He or she needs an operation. But it is impossible to help. Why don't we prevent it? What are the sports facilities for? Is it an eye candy? No, it is a healthy lifestyle. Recreation areas, parks and public squares are not an eye candy. People should be in a place they like. All these programmes lead to decisions. It is not easy, it is not always pleasant because it is an exam. As you already work, you need to correspond to the criteria.

As for the State Duma, it is the supreme legislative body of our country. Professionals and experienced people should be there, not some populists or rich people. It is no secret that at federal level, we often adopt laws that are not always in ordinary people's interest. People who have experience, skills and authority must be there.

In answer to Ilshat Aminov's question: 'As for the State Duma, it is the supreme legislative body of our country. Professionals and experienced people should be there, not some populists or rich people'.

Aminov: Thanks a lot, Mr Minnikhanov, for this thoughtful interview. Indeed I hope our meetings will become traditional, and we will be able to find answers to the most topical and important questions of the modern time.

Minnikhanov: I also would like to express my gratitude. We possibly don't deliver our projects and plans to the population enough. And such meetings allow to do it in detail. Any new project can be estimated and forecasted in different ways. For this reason, today the role of the media is enormous when people have enough information, including when there is accidental information. It is very important to deliver the message of a source. I don't want to say you are squeaky clean. We know about many things that concern people or where we failed via mass media. Anyway you are our partners. This is why we will go on working and cooperating according to today's work organisation.