German Gref: Tatarstan has a unique experience in managing mega-projects

Republic of Tatarstan commands unique experience in managing mega-projects, which should be employed in projects across the country, said German Gref, Head of Sberbank, at Sochi-2013 international investment forum.

Maxim Sokolov, Russian Minister of Transport, commented on the project of a high-speed railway between Moscow and Kazan. He stated that although its construction suggests some risks, it is likely to have a multiplier effect together with other Russian mega-projects.

Igor Shuvalov, First Deputy Chairman of Russian Government, classified mega-projects as ventures that can enhance people’s life quality: “Tatarstan is a non-stop mega-project. They constantly have some big projects, each of them meaning a higher life quality for the people”.

According to Shuvalov, Universiade was one of these ventures: “It was very responsibly treated by contractors and by Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov personally. Only the football stadium had gone through value appreciation”.

Rustam Minnikhanov reminded that the appreciation took place due to the fact that the stadium plan had to be refined to meet FIFA requirements.

According to the President, all the republic’s investors responded positively to high-speed railway project, seeing new opportunities the venture will provide. Minnikhanov pointed out that the railway costs need to be carefully calculated to avoid appreciation “and, surely, there should be a person responsible for the project”.

He stated that the republic’s government supports the high-speed railway construction and strives to minimize the project’s costs.