This year Tatarstan applied for federal co-financing of state programs to support entrepreneurship for the sum of 613 mln roubles, of which 585 mln roubles (more than 95%) have been approved, Director of the Tatarstan Investment Development Agency (TIDA) Linar Yakupov informed today at a briefing dedicated to state programs on supporting entrepreneurship realized in Tatarstan.

Linar Yakupov explained that Tatarstan's request was not fully approved since funding limits are provided for every region. He informed that regions had been very active this year, therefore RF Ministry of economic development had to reduce limits by 11 %.

Linar Yakupov reminded that programs on supporting entrepreneurship are financed by federal and regional budgets in proportion 60% to 40 %. He told about main changes in programs “Leasing-grant”, “Social business”, and “Adoption of innovations”. For now, all agreements have been reached and the agency is about to start receiving applications and documents from entrepreneurs for obtaining state support from July, 2.

Main changes in the program “Leasing-grant” are as follows: the range of leasing companies has expanded, entrepreneurs can chose any leasing company meeting their basic conditions; limits by amount of subsidies have been increased; the package of documents and forms of required business plan have been simplified; the decision-making system has been improved.

Entrepreneurs providing employment to socially unprotected citizens can get state support in the context of the program “Social business”.

In accordance with the Order of RF Ministry of economic development, the program “Adoption of innovations” implies granting of subsidies to legal persons (except for individual entrepreneurs). The subsidy rate makes 5 mln roubles. Support is rendered to businessmen producing innovative products and performing innovative activity and those whose costs deal with technology innovations.

In order to reduce cost loading on business entities, TIDA realizes the program “Technical connection and energy saving.” Small and medium-size business entities acquire the right to compensate their expenses on paying connection to energy networks, performance of energy saving measures, and expenses connected with implementation of energy inspection.

The Tatarstan Investment Development Agency also launches some new programs this year.