Natalia Kondratova: The number of entrepreneurs has increased in Tatarstan
Small and medium-sized businesses account for a quarter of the GRP of the Republic of Tatarstan, as well as more than 41% of the total number of people employed in the economy of the region. First Deputy Minister of Economy of the Republic of Tatarstan - Director of the Department of Entrepreneurship Development Natalia Kondratova spoke about the results of 2023 for small and medium-sized businesses, measures of federal and republican support, cooperation between SMEs and large businesses and new challenges for 2024 in an interview with IA Tatar-inform.
By the end of 2023, the number of entrepreneurs increased by 4.3% compared to last year and amounted to 172.5 thousand small and medium-sized businesses. The number of employees in SMEs increased by 14% and exceeded 875 thousand people. This is 41% of the total number of people employed in the republic's economy. At the same time, the number of self-employed increased by 30.7% and exceeded 306 thousand people. The revenue and turnover of the SME segment, as well as tax revenues, are steadily growing. The contribution of SMEs to GRP was about 25%.
In the context of the tasks of ensuring economic and technological sovereignty, the structure of small businesses should become more diversified, able to meet domestic demand and import substitution.
In the structure of SMEs, 38% is accounted for trade, 10% construction, 10% logistics, more than 7% is accounted for manufacturing, and more than 7% for scientific and technical activities. At the same time, compared with last year, scientific and technical activities increased by 5%, manufacturing by 4%, in addition, the hotel business showed high rates with an increase of 11% and IT by 6.4%.
Despite the ongoing restrictions and ongoing sanctions pressure, enterprises and organizations of the republic have managed to neutralize many challenges. For example, to rebuild logistics and sales markets, to maintain investment activity and production.
For the development of SMEs, it is necessary to ensure productivity growth due to a shortage of labor resources, maintain investment activity and scale production due to increased interest rates and outdated equipment, search for new sales markets and build cooperation with large enterprises.
Small and medium-sized businesses can count on the support of the state and the republic. The main measure of support is financial. There is a wide range of financial and non-financial support measures implemented, including within the framework of the national project "Small and Medium-sized Enterprises" initiated by the President of our country Vladimir Putin.