The Republic of Tatarstan regards auto making as its machine building branch’s main prospect, the republic’s head Rustam Minnikhanov said after a meeting of the council of general and chief designers, leading scientists and high-technology economy sector specialists in Naberezhnye Chelny. The meeting on implementing advanced engineering technologies in auto design was chaired by Russia government’s vice-premier Sergey Ivanov.The council of general and chief designers, leading scientists and high-technology economy sector specialists at the Russian Federation government’s chairman was set up on October 13, 2008. Its main tasks are analysis and developing recommendations on issues related to the state and trends of Russia’s industry’s development, state structural, innovative and research and development policy, as well as expert examination of large R&D investment and other programmes, projects and proposals submitted to the government.

The strategic session “The development of the Republic of Tatarstan: the new strategy of development and attraction of investments” can be called the beginning of joint work of Tatarstan and the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RUIE), Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov said greeting the participants of the session. The event attended by representatives of Tatarstan’s government structures and business community was held at the RT House of Government.

President of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov and President of Russian union of manufacturers and entrepreneurs Aleksandr Shokhin debated on attracting investments and strategies of Tatarstan development.The meeting was held in House of RT government with participation of RT Prime Minister Ildar Khalikov, Aide to RT President Iskander Mouflikhanov, Aide to RT President Anatoly Krasnov, Co-chairman of Russian union of manufacturers and entrepreneurs Committee on investment policy Igor Vdovin, managing partner of Oriental Patron Company Joseph Chan and others.

RT President Rustam Minnikhanov met with Director General of JSC “United Industrial Corporation “Oboronprom” Andrey Reus in Kazan Kremlin.Issues of future cooperation between the corporation “Oboronprom” and Tatarstan in the sphere of helicopter engineering were discussed at the meeting.Parties also debated the objective of improving works on adopting advanced technologies at JSC “Kazan helicopter plant”.

Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov and CEO of Yokogawa Electric Corporation Shuzo Kaihori signed the Protocol of Intentions at the Kazan Kremlin on November 24.The signing ceremony at the Kazan Kremlin was held during the meeting of Rustam Minnikhanov with the delegation of Yokogawa Electric Corporation.

Artem Sidorov has become Minister of ecology and natural resources. Prime Minister of Tatarstan Ildar Khalikov presented new head of the ministry to the staff.Head of RT government read out the Edict about assigning Artem Sidorov to this post signed today by RT President Rustam Minnikhanov.Presenting new Head of Ministry of ecology and natural resources Ildar Khalikov noted: “It is very important when experienced people come to work in the ministry. Artem Sidorov has been working in this ministry for two years and he knows the staff well”.

Irek Faizullin was appointed to the post of Minister of construction, architecture and housing. Today Prime Minister Ildar Khalikov presented new head of the ministry to the staff. We remind that former minister Marat Khusnullin transferred to another job. Now he is the head of Department of construction under Moscow Mayor’s office. The Order about assigning Irek Envarovich Faizullin, former Deputy Minister of construction, architecture and housing has been signed today by RT President.

RT Prime Minister Ildar Khalikov and managing director of consulting company «Dar AI Sharia Legal & Financial Consultancy LLC» of Islamic Bank Dubai Dr Hussein Hamed Hasan discussed possibility of participation of Islamic financing tools in RT economy. The meeting was held in House of RT government.Ildar Khalikov welcomed guests on behalf of the President Rustam Minnikhanov and thanked for shown interest towards republic. Today Tatarstan pays much attention to all possibilities of cooperating with institutions of Islamic bank of development and financial organizations working by Islamic canons, Ildar Khalikov said.

About 4,5 mln. people in Russia live in slum or hazardous dwelling. This was announced by RF President Dmitry Medvedev at the session of RF State Council Presidium which was held in Syktyvkar (Komi Republic). The event was dedicated to issues of developing modern infrastructure in housing utilities complex. President of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov took part in the session of RF State Council Presidium.By words of Dmitry Medvedev, the given figures are not real, in fact, there are much more people living in such conditions. He stressed likewise that we have to move towards reducing the volume of slum dwelling. About 40 % of houses need to be repaired, Dmitry Medvedev said. He also assessed the activity of State Corporation “Fund of promoting reforms in housing and public utilities” created for making major repairs being rather successful.