Artyom Zdunov in Nizhnekamsk: ‘There are reserves to enhance business activity’

The economy growth has increased the MSE's growth

About 150 entrepreneurs of Zakamye — the representatives of small and medium enterprises of Nizhnekamsk, Naberezhnye Chelny, Elabuga, Leninogorsk, Zainsk and even Kukmorsky district – expressed desire to communicate with the head of the Ministry of Economy of the Republic. However, barely half of them attended the meeting.

Before answering to the questions, Artem Zdunov noted that 'there are difficulties but the economy is cautiously growing, we are pleased that the number of entrepreneurs in Tatarstan is growing: the number of SMEs has increased by 3.8% and now accounts to142 218. Those indicators which we would like to achieve — to increase the share, to increase the turnover of the entrepreneurs — we are achieving them'.

About 150 entrepreneurs of Zakamye expressed desire to communicate with the head of the Ministry of Economy of the Republic, however, barely half attended the meeting

Information technologies will be involved to support SMEs

The first question related to the subject 'non-financial state support and its tools' was asked by a businesswoman from Nizhnekamsk Anna Rickman — whether in each city of the Republic there will be created business support centers. 'This topic is raised at every meeting,' said Timur Nagumanov.

Artyom Zdunov said that the issue has already been solved. The business support centers will soon be opened at the municipal multifunctional centers where in 'one window' a person will get necessary advice, apply for participation in a particular program and solve a problem without the necessity to come to Kazan. 'MFCs, they pay off by themselves, and, accordingly, we will not have to raise funds for the opening of additional branches of the support center,' explained this decision the head of the Ministry.

Of course, in order to solve that problem the information technologies will be involved, which, according to Zdunov, 'should be on the first level of interaction'. Now the Ministry of Information and Communication is engaged in the development of special programs. They will create a united resource of state support, a single portal where there will be no difference — the Ministry of Economy or the Ministry of Agriculture — all forms of support will be provided.'

Is there a program for replenishing the working capital if the company has shortage of such funds? This question came from the entrepreneurs from Naberezhnye Chelny. According to Artyom Zdunov, this program will soon appear in the framework of collaboration with MSP-Bank. The question in return — when will it start to work? Zdunov advised: turn to Andrey Gennadevich [Afonin — editor's note]. In his turn, the head of Entrepreneurship Support Fund Andrey Afonin added that 'the lag in the program of the Ministry of Economic development exists, MSP-Bank has already allocated us 50 million rubles. That's enough to support trade, and there also will be investment loans not exceeding 15 million. Everything works, come, submit documents.'

A lot of instructions from the Minister were given to Andrey Afonin (the second on the right)

Myth or truth about business development in Nizhnekamsk

Perhaps, one of the 'toughest' questions was from Timur Nikonov, the head of the project 2GIS in the Republic: 'Is it truth or myth that the authorities of Nizhnekamsk are more interested in the development of skilled professionals that are required in large industrial enterprises and less interested in the development of the personnel structure of SMEs?'

'I think that it is a myth,' categorically parried Zdunov. I know what effort is made by the local administration to remove the dependency on big industry. Thus, one should not forget that Nizhnekamsk is one-industry town, like other six cities of the country where there is a dependence on one or two anchor businesses. If the enterprise's business goes well — it's all good with the city. But there is always a risk associated with international markets and opportunistic enterprises. In Nizhnekamsk they know about that. And 'Business factory', which operates in Neberezhnye Chelny, is actively entering Nizhnekamsk.'

The answer came from Timur Nagumanov: 'There is no such territory, especially in Nizhnekamsk, where one can say that the authorities are not interested in business development. It is unnatural. There are difficulties associated with the fact that here there are large and highly efficient and backbone enterprises, and then there is too small space for small and medium businesses in their surrounding. As for the work of the business ombudsman I can say that we don't have a pile of calls from Nizhnekamsk citizens, there are no examples which somehow would show that the activities of entrepreneurs in Nizhnekamsk would be limited somehow.'

'6 and 5' instead of 'Leasing-Grant'

Answering to the question whether there are plans to expand the program of preferential crediting for the transport sector and households, the Economy Minister answered yes, in the last six months they have managed to expand the scope of the program '6 and 5'. Its essence is that the Central Bank selects 12 major banks and finance them at 6% and 5%. For this, they have to credit small businesses at 11%, and the medium businesses – at 10%. Now the number of banks has widened: AK Bars has been included, the letters have been sent to eight banks. So, the Republican banks will be able to provide services for concessional lending.

Answering to the questions, Artyom Zdunov gave instructions to take note of the problem to his deputies

Artyom Zdunov was talking about the federal program of SME's support with regret— it narrows the amount of funds. The authorities of the Republic and Ministry of Economy, according to its head, treat it 'very painfully'. According to Zdunov, it is needed to increase up to 24 billion rubles like in 2008. As he assured the audience, 'we will fight so that everything would remain. There was a meeting with Igor Shuvalov, where it was recorded in protocol to add 10 billion more. This ensures us that we will not reduce the turnover of Leasing-grant. So there appeared the program '6 and 5' that had not existed before.'

In addition to these issues, the entrepreneurs searched for and found the answers to almost all their questions regarding concessional lending and subsidies to farmers without collateral, where to get startup capital for business development and whether there will be continued the program Leasing-grant. Answering to the questions, Artyom Zdunov gave instructions to take note of the problem to his deputies and immediately after the meeting to communicate with a specific inquirer. A lot of instructions were given to Andrey Afonin.

According to one of the participants of the 'talk' Sergey Mayorov, the head of the Supervisory Board of the Agency for attracting investments, other regions of the country are jealous of such format of meetings of business and government 'because you are like a team and it is good that you have a dialogue, when the authorities are not hiding in the trenches and the business does not exist separately.'

When the Minister of Economy went to the next meeting, his deputies left to answer to the questions of the entrepreneurs of Zakamye.

The journalists, given the busy schedule of stay of the Minister in Nizhnekamsk, managed to ask him a few questions. Speaking about the effectiveness of the project 'Business and power', Artem Zdunov noted that 'the format of any interaction with entrepreneurs, receiving of feedback is effective, it is one of the most effective formats, which now exist in the Republic'. As for the problems of SME's development in Nizhnekamsk, Artem Zdunov believes that 'you cannot rely on the fact that there is NKNK, there is TANECO, and the entrepreneurs will always be at this level. Therefore, we gather here because we believe: there are reserves to enhance the business activity.'