The forecasted indicators are even more tense than in 2013

Tatarstan State Council held a hearing On Draft Budget of the Republic of Tatarstan for 2014 and the Planning Period of 2015-2016.

At the hearing, deputies inquired the ministers about financing state programs, unemployment rate, utility services, book publishing, orphans’ accommodation and other issues.

Radik Gayzatullin, Tatarstan Minister of Finance, pointed out that apart from the current expenses of the social sphere institutions, 2014 will see a continued financing of 23 republic-wide socially important programs amounting to 6.5 billion rubles.

Ildar Khalikov, Prime Minister of Tatarstan, commented on several issues: “These are not the numbers we would like to see. The forecasted indicators listed by the ministers are even more tense and risky than those in 2013. We need to clearly understand that”.

“We put the budget together mostly within Russian budget’s trend. Right now, on the national level, I or my colleagues cannot tell why economy should grow in 2014. There is no solid foundation for that. There is only hope that worldwide and Russian regulators will be able to influence those processes,” – stated Khalikov, - “I would like to point out that there are no reserves per se. The forecast is moderately optimistic. The Economy Minister’s presentation makes one to really start thinking”.

The head of Tatarstan Government said that Russian President’s May decrees will be fulfilled as any obligations.

The budget discussion was continued by factions, deputy groups and trade unions.