The best mayor in Russia finalizes the results of Year 2008 and voices plans for 2009

Author: Foreign Economic Relations Department

Yesterday, local journalists had an opportunity to communicate directly with Mr. Pavel Kachkaev who led the press-conference dedicated to the results of Year 2008. Ufa mayor noted that overall economic indices of Ufa in 2008 maintained the positive dynamics attained in 2007. Within 2008, Ufa companies have produced goods and services for the amount exceeding 278 billion rubles, which is 20.3 per cent higher than in 2007. The volume of investment within 11 months of 2008 is expected at the level of 63.2 billion rubles. Construction companies did a good job – over 520 thousand square meters of housing have been constructed within 11 months of 2008, 14.8 per cent more than in 2007.
Head of Ufa city municipal district Administration of Bashkortostan Republic has emphasized that within the Year of social support of families in Bashkortostan Republic special attention in Ufa was paid to the construction and reconstruction of social objects. Among the objects commissioned are four kindergartens, educational and sports facilities, Duslik children sanatorium, retail and entertainment complexes and much more. Ufa citizens now enjoy a new bridge in the southern entrance of the city near the area of Kamennaya Pereprava (Stone passage), which will be augmented next year. Many new production units have been installed at petrochemical and oil-refining companies of Ufa.
Small and medium businesses have been very active in developing retail and catering services in Bashkortostan’s capital. Over 90 per cent of Ufa retail trade turnover is represented by non-state companies.
As for the municipal budget, Mr. Kachkaev mentioned that within 11 months of 2008 Ufa companies and organizations have replenished all levels of budget with 118 billion rubles worth of taxes and duties. Ufa budget has received over 11.3 billion rubles by December 1, 2008 – which is 24 per cent higher than in the same period of Year 2007. The revenues obtained have allowed the city to finance all planned expenses, with predominance of the social sector: over 80 per cent of expenditures have been made in education, healthcare, housing and communal services and social support.
As for the incomes of Ufa citizens, the average salary in the city within 11 months of 2008 has reached the level of 18223 rubles, which is a 26 per cent increase as compared to 2007 figures.
Positive demographic situation in the city is a cause to praise local social policies. Within the first 10 months of 2008, 11034 babies were born in Ufa, which is a 7.7 per cent increase as compared to 2007. For the first time in fifteen years, birth rate has exceeded death rate, and natural increase of Ufa population equaled to 220 people! Ufa hold the first place among one-million strong cities in Russia by this index.