19 April 2000
DAILY REVIEW FROM TATARSTAN
Tatarstan's Major Firms Urged To Cooperate More
Tatarstan's president, Mintimer Shaimiev, held a governmental meeting on 18 April on developing the republic's oil and chemical industries, RFE/RL's Kazan bureau reported the same day. The Tatneft oil company, the Nizhnekamskneftekhim chemical company, and Nizhnekamskshina tire company, were advised to join forces in implementing technologies for more efficient production. The governmental meeting was reportedly attended by Prime Minister Rustam Minnikhanov, Minister of Economy and Industry Sergei Kogogin, the general-directors of Tatneft, Nizhnekamskneftekhim, and Nizhnekamskshina -- Shafagat Takhautdinov, Vladimir Busigin, and Radik Ilyasov, respectively.
500 Republican Companies To Begin Bankruptcy Proceedings
Republican Bankruptcy Affairs Committee Chairman Aleksei Semin told a press conference on 18 April that 500 enterprises in Tatarstan will undergo bankruptcy proceedings this year. Semin said that enterprises that fail to restructure their debts would be later auctioned off. He said the workers of bankrupt enterprises "didn't lose anything -- just the opposite -- with new owners they are usually given a salary raise and new duties." Included on the blacklist of Tatarstan's enterprises is the unique music factory in Kazan producing Tatar national music instruments.
Bashkortostan To Reduce State-Ownership Of Industry
Bashkortostan's government issued a decree on the sale of state-owned shares packages in 17 industrial companies, Bashinform agency reported on 18 April. The list of companies affected by the decree includes a number of metallurgical plants, a machine-constructing concern in Inmash, the Sterlitamak machinery works, a synthetic rubber plant in Ufa, the Ufakhimprom chemical plant, and a number of construction companies.
Flood In Tatarstan's Saba Region
The Zur Mishe River in the Saba region flooded the villages of Kara Shurma, Uzek, and Abdi, news agencies reported on 18 April. Residents of the villages were reportedly evacuated before the flood. According to Tatarstan's Ministry of Emergencies, the water level kept rising during the day after destroying the dam built to protect that area.
Compiled by Iskender Nurmi