Rustem Khamitov has held a meeting with bloggers

On February 24 the President of Bashkortostan Rustem Khamitov has held a meeting with bloggers in the House of State Council RB. He has mentioned in his opening address that many positive changes had occurred since their previous talk. The main thing here, in opinion of the President RB, is that Bashkiria is stably found in the Top of Russian leaders by the main indices of economic development. Favorable situation can be observed in sphere of small and medium business. According to monitoring, made by “The Support of Russia”, we are found on the 7-8th places in Russian Federation by the level of such conditions. “The main thing is that we are moving in right direction, following the course, which we determined for ourselves one year and a half ago” – the President RB mentioned.

Rustem Khamitov considers the fact that the authority has managed to raise average salary in 2011 from 16,5 to 19,5 thousand rubles very sizeable achievement. At the same time the President understands that many local residents are deprived of such incomes, so, there is nothing here to be proud of, but it is important that the Republic managed to reduce the gap between rich and poor layers of population. Earlier this gap amounted to 20 times in the Republic. Now it is equal to 17 times, while the civilized world considers the 8-time gap maximally admissible, so we still have much to work at, the President RB mentioned.

In opinion of Rustem Khamitov it is becoming “easier to breathe” in the Republic – from the point of view of its openness for the rest of the world. Bashkiria is gradually leaving the state of “sleeping territory”.

In opinion of the President RB many problems can be observed in sphere of higher education in the Republic. Thus, big federal institutes and scientific centers work on the territory of other regions and Bashkiria still hasn’t such centers and there is a danger that gifted young people can start leaving the Republic. Rustem Khamitov believes that one can’t do without reforming of high education system in Bashkortostan and for the first turn we have to establish one big technical institute, possibly based on the Ufa State Oil Technical University and the Ufa State Aviation Technical University, but it can’t be a simple merger of two universities. In opinion of Rustem Khamitov the Republic should raise its recognizability in business world. “We should form the image of the Republic, aimed at modernization and visible points of growth” – the President RB mentioned and, as he thinks, new techno-parks and new enterprises have to be opened on our territory.

At the end of the meeting Rustem Khamitov broached upon the theme of authority’s openness and the feedback between authority and local population. He suggested that the project “Open Republic” should be launched on the territory RB. This project has to give people a chance to discuss all problems, stirring the society, but the President thinks that special sites for such free discussions should be opened.

In the course of the meeting Republican bloggers were asking the President RB about development of techno-parks in big cities, development of tourism, shortage of kindergartens and many other questions.

In conclusion the President RB has mentioned he intends to continue such meetings with bloggers in the nearest future.