In 2020, Tatarstan will send applications for co-financing of several infrastructure projects by the Single-Industry Towns Development Fund

In 2020, the Republic of Tatarstan will send at once several applications for co-financing the construction of the infrastructure of single-industry towns to the Single-Industry Towns Development Fund. This was announced by RT President Rustam Minnikhanov during a teleconference dedicated to the discussion of regional projects implemented with support of the Fund.

An online broadcast was organized on the territory of the Zelenodolsk industrial park. The Republic of Tatarstan was represented by the President of the Republic Rustam Minnikhanov and the Minister of Economy of the Republic of Tatarstan Farid Abdulganiyev; Speakers from Moscow were Igor Shuvalov, Chairman of the VEB.RF Development State Corporation, Tatyana Bakalchuk, Wildberries General Director, Irina Makieva, General Director of the MONOGORODA.RF Fund. Participants discussed the implementation of large-scale infrastructure projects for development of single-industry towns of Tatarstan totaling more than 3.5 billion rubles, which are currently being implemented by the Government of the Republic of Tatarstan in conjunction with the Monogoroda.RF Fund, got acquainted with the process of building a large distribution center of Wildberries in Zelenodolsk.

As President of the Republic of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov noted, with the assistance of the Fund, reconstruction of road infrastructure in the industrial zone of Naberezhnye Chelny, roads at the entrance to Nizhnekamsk were carried out, engineering and road infrastructure of the “Razvitiye” Industrial Park and Haier factories in Naberezhnye Chelny, industrial parks Zelenodolsk and Nizhnekamsk were constructed. In addition, support was provided to KAMA-Trade Tatarstan OOO in creation of a metal-processing service center for metal cleaning, and Kip-Master OOO in development of the Kama Industrial Park.

In 2019, the Fund supported the project to create the production of special secure vehicles of Remdiesel AO, and also approved an application for co-financing the construction of off-site networks for the Elabuga wholesale distribution center.

According to RT President Rustam Minnikhanov, plans for 2020 include filing applications to the Fund for co-financing of two more large-scale projects for the construction of utilities and transport infrastructure: for stage II of the Haier industrial park in Naberezhnye Chelny and for a warehouse complex for transshipment of cargo from the pier to urban-type settlement “Kamskiye Polyany”.

Teleconference participants also discussed ongoing infrastructure and investment projects in the Zelenodolsk industrial park, where 13 resident companies currently operate. Among them are such large business entities as the federal chains X5 Retail Group, OZON and Wildberries. It is expected that implementation of investment projects of only these three companies will attract about 10 billion rubles of investments into the economy of the single-industry town of Zelenodolsk and the Republic of Tatarstan and create about 7 thousand new jobs. The engineering and road infrastructure of the industrial park, worth about 1.3 billion, was built with the co-financing of the Single-Industry Towns Development Fund. The Fund’s investments amounted to over 930 million rubles.

“Today Zelenodolsk is an economically sustainable city. Alternative industries are developing, new investors are coming, urban environment is changing. We are pleased that the Fund has become part of these changes. The single-industry town has great prospects, I am sure that we have many joint projects ahead”, outlined Irina Makiyeva, Deputy Chairman of the VEB.RF, General Director of the Single-Industry Towns Development Fund. She added that with the arrival of the largest online retailer Wildberries in Zelenodolsk, new opportunities will open up for small business development.

Let us recall the construction of a large distribution center Wildberries in Zelenodolsk with a total area of ​​100 thousand square meters began in November 2019. In accordance with the plans of the company, the first stage with an area of ​​50 thousand square meters will be launched in the first half of 2020. Wildberries investments will amount to 5 billion rubles. In total, over 4 thousand new jobs will be created. Construction of the distribution center of this company will enable manufacturers of Tatarstan to directly sell their products through Wildberries to other regions of Russia and abroad, to reduce their shipping costs.

“An integrated approach is important for development of small towns. This project is not only supporting entrepreneurship, but also developing infrastructure and creating new jobs. With their implementation, cities will have a new quality of life”, said Igor Shuvalov, Chairman of VEB.RF.

“Implementation in Tatarstan of such large-scale investment projects in the field of e-commerce indicates the presence in the republic of a favorable environment for development of electronic commerce. This is largely facilitated by our course towards improving the region’s infrastructure: engineering, logistics, and digital. Of course, the support provided by the Single-Industry Towns Development Fund is very significant and allows us to create the necessary conditions for our investors. Combining their experience in escalating the business and resources of Tatarstan will provide a powerful synergistic effect for economic growth of the republic. The construction of the Wildberries logistics center in Zelenodolsk can rightfully be considered as an investment project of national importance”, said Farid Abdulganiyev, Minister of Economy of the Republic of Tatarstan.

Indeed, according to the data of the General Director of Wildberries Tatyana Bakalchuk, over 3 years the number of suppliers from Tatarstan, presented on the Wildberries online site, has more than tripled - up to 66, and their turnover - more than five times.

“The new Wildberries distribution center will carry out not only logistic functions, among the tasks is to assist entrepreneurs in developing their business in the e-commerce segment and exporting products to other countries where Wildberries sells. Therefore, we position it as the Center for the Support of Omni-channel Trade (CSOT). We are confident that the opening of the Center will allow entrepreneurs of Tatarstan, especially small and medium-sized businesses, to expand their range at Wildberries and, accordingly, increase sales”, said Tatyana Bakalchuk, General Director of Wildberries. The cooperation of Tatarstan companies and self-employed as suppliers with the Wildberries operator will allow them to minimize logistics costs and at the same time gain access to a wide consumer audience.