On October 12 the Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov participated in the conference “Sberbank 2014 as seen by eyes of customers” in Kazan. Attendees at the meeting were chiefs of the republican ministries, spokesmen of small and large businesses.

Opening the conference the Vice-president of Sberbank of Russia Sergey Borisov marked that Tatarstan historically was known for its emphasis on small and medium-size business. “It is just the very place where the first clusters, industrial and technological parks were established”, - Sergey Borisov said.

Rustam Minnikhanov informed that this morning he had a meeting with the Deputy chairman of JSC "Sberbank of Russia" Board Andrey Donskikh in the House of the RT Government. The President stated he had no doubt about implementation of the task to enter the top 10 banks in the world by 2014 as it was set by the Head of Sberbank German Gref.

Head of the Republic highlighted much attention given in Tatarstan to development of small and medium-size businesses as “that is the basis of any state”. “In order to build up the middle class we need educated ambitious people and financial resources, and we have both”, - Rustam Minnikhanov said. He believes Sberbank of Russia can help the Republic in this area by growing financing small and medium-size businesses and developing relevant projects.

Today the share of small and medium-size businesses in the republican economy makes 25 %.
“To reach 40 % new mechanisms of work are needed, such as loans and leasing. Our enterprises should be in contact with small and medium-size business. Team work makes success”, - Rustam Minnikhanov added.

The Deputy chairman of the JSC "Sberbank of Russia" Board Andrey Donskikh thanked Tatarstan authorities for contribution in development of small and medium-size businesses and spoke on the concept of supporting small business which Sberbank launched this autumn.

The event continued by awarding diplomas to sole entrepreneurs. After that the Head of the Republic answered questions of businessmen. In the course of the conference Rustam Minnikhanov participated in the session of a round table with representatives of large businesses.

The All-Russia Conference of corporate and retail units of Sberbank of Russia is held in Kazan on October 12-16. The program implies holding workshops, meetings, presentations and signing agreements at the Kazan Federal University, and a visit to the Volga State Academy of Physical Culture, Sport and Tourism.