Rustam Minnikhanov: Cooperation plays an important role in development of rural territories

On 5 February the Rais (Head) of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov took part in a general meeting of representatives of consumers’ unions and cooperatives of the republic held with participation of the Chairman of the Russian Council of Center Union Dmitriy Zubkov, the Minister of Agriculture and Food of the republic Marat Zyabbarov, the Rector of Kazan Cooperative Institute Alsu Nabiyeva and other officials.

Reporting about results of work of consumers’ societies and cooperatives, the Board Chairman of Tatarstan Consumer’s Union Rashat Shaymardanov said that the total amount of three-year work of the Union organizations of the republic made 61.3bn rubles with an annual growth of 10 per cent. The largest share of work is in procurement – 54 per cent, retail trade – 26 per cent, production – 14 per cent and public catering – 5 per cent, he informed

Rashat Shaymardanov said that the retail trade turnover in the last three years made 16.8bn rubles with the yearly growth of 18 per cent and currently 135 shop trucks provide mobile trade services to 1 216 settlements of the republic.

In his turn Rustam Minnikhanov stated that development of cooperation is impossible without attention and support of Russian President Vladimir Putin as today consumers’ cooperatives can get all kinds of state support of agricultural cooperation.

He thanked the regional Consumers’ Union for work done in a number of social spheres such as support given to the military and residents of new regions, holding city fairs and participation in the International Exhibition “Russia” which demonstrates cultures of Tatarstan people and life of rural residents.

Rustam Minnikhanov emphasized that with 943 thousand people living in rural areas in Tatarstan, the cooperation plays an important role in development of these areas. “Today all regions of the republic have consumers’ societies which are involved in procurement of agricultural products and their processing, trade and public catering, but at the same time not all consumers structures are organized properly in regions. Heads of cities and regions should monitor their work attentively,” he said.

Rustam Minnikhanov also specially emphasized the function of the regional Consumers’ Union in supplying goods to remote and less populated settlements, development of site trade facilities, efficient use of regional buildings of consumers’ unions and huge potential of procurement.

He also emphasized: “Training specialists is very important and we lay our hopes on Kazan Cooperative Institute. We also express our gratitude to our colleagues from the Central Union for its support granted to training employer-sponsored students. However there is still a lot of work to be done.”

In his speech Dmitriy Zubov gave high assessment to work of Tatarstan cooperatives and said that they are an example for the others. “Cooperation is developing and members of cooperative societies of the republic play a huge role. Using you as an example we demonstrate how it can work. The system is built very properly here and your own production is developing,” he added.