Tatarstan President: Consumer cooperation remains socially-oriented system

On January 27, speaking at a general meeting of representatives of consumer societies on results of the cooperatives’ activity in 2014 in Tatarstan, Consumers Union’s Board Makhmut Fattakhov said that activity of the consumer cooperatives has amounted to over 16.2 billion roubles in Tatarstan in 2014, increasing by 1.6 billion roubles compared to the last year. A total of 17 cooperatives have provided the growth of the activity, and falling has been fixed in 12 regions.

Fattakhov noted that the republic paid serious attention to the cooperatives’ activity. It included subsidies for preparation of livestock products, purchase of equipment, compensation of expenses on fairs. As many as 100 mobile shops were allocated for itinerant trade in remote and sparsely populated areas, and 83 out of them were already received.

Tatarstan President emphasized that the consumer cooperatives had a good opportunity to expand into new markets due to current restrictions on import of some food products to Russia.

The president announced proposals on development and improvement of consumer cooperatives’ work.

First of all, a system work of municipal formations is needed. Currently, 16 regions do not have a centralized system of consumer cooperatives, and appropriate assets belong to private entrepreneurs. Minnikhanov has given an errand to Tatarstan Ministry of Agriculture and Food, the Consumers Union, some departments and prosecutor’s office to monitor the assets on legality.

Another goal, according to the President, is finding of new market channels and promotion of goods produced by private householders.

In turn, the regional leadership would support the consumer cooperatives through different programmes such as Leasing Grand, Rustam Minnikhanov said. Also, the President touched upon problems of capacities’ effectiveness, procuring activity, and staff. He, in particular, offered to the head of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food to consider an opportunity of a targeted training in educational establishments as specialists for agriculture industry.

At the end of meeting, Tatarstan President awarded distinguished employees of Tatarstan consumer cooperatives.