The 14th All-Russian Gathering of Entrepreneurs from Tatar Villages took place in Tatarstan, bringing together small business representatives, farmers, and government officials. Over three days, participants discussed the development of rural areas, got acquainted with regional practices, and paid special attention to the halal industry, which became the central theme of this year’s forum.
“Entrepreneurship in the Village is Also a Form of Creativity”
The 14th All-Russian Gathering of Entrepreneurs from Tatar Villages was held in Tatarstan from March 29 to 31. It was attended by representatives of small businesses, farming enterprises, private household plots, and government bodies. The forum served as a platform for exchanging experiences and discussing rural development, as well as a venue for direct dialogue between entrepreneurs and government structures.
The program of the three-day gathering was packed. On the first day at the Academy of Sciences of Tatarstan, following the official opening, participants worked in discussion sections, addressing agricultural issues and the development of the halal industry – the key theme of the 2026 forum.
On the second day, entrepreneurs traveled to the Tukayevsky and Sarmanovsky districts. As Irek Sharipov, Deputy Head of the Executive Committee of the World Congress of the Tatars (WCT), told Tatar-Inform, several thematic routes were prepared for participants: livestock and breeding, crop production, vegetable processing and storage, poultry farming, as well as the development of social infrastructure in rural areas.
In the Sarmanovsky district, the focus was on private household plots; in the Tukayevsky district, on social infrastructure and agricultural production. This district is one of the key suppliers of agricultural products for Naberezhnye Chelny.
“Entrepreneurship in villages is also a form of creativity. Everyone has their own path of development. We see that along with private household plots, collective farms and large investors must also exist. <…> There should always be a choice. We are interested in showing that the field of activity exists for all forms of entrepreneurship,” Sharipov said.
After the off-site program in the districts, a cultural segment awaited the gathering participants. A gala concert of the “National Pearls” festival-competition, held for the second consecutive year by the R. Vagapov Foundation, took place at the K. Tinchurin Theater.
“I Even Feel Pride for Our Republic – There Are No Such Forums in the CIS or Russia”
The final event of the gathering was held in the ballroom of the Korston CEC. Before the official start, invited guests gathered in the foyer, awaiting the arrival of the republic’s leader.
“A quarter of the republic’s population lives in rural areas, and we see that a significant portion of small and medium-sized business entrepreneurs – about 20,000 – work there,” Farid Abdulganiev, Assistant to the Rais (Head) of Tatarstan and Commissioner for the Protection of Entrepreneurs’ Rights, told a correspondent.
According to him, entrepreneurs in rural areas are often more patient in resolving issues that arise. However, the number of complaints increased last year due to the introduction of mandatory labeling for light industrial goods. The issue was promptly raised to the level of the Rais of the republic, and then to the Chairman of the Government of Russia.
Before the start of the plenary session, Rais of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov was shown an exhibition-fair of products and folk crafts from Russian regions.
The exhibition began in the foyer – with a banner featuring a quote from Yevgeny Yevtushenko: “In Penza lies all of Russia’s history, all its mysterious distance. If you are invited to Penza, it is like an honorary medal.”
Further along the wall, tables displayed products from Penza: non-alcoholic mead, baked goods, meat and canned products, light industrial goods, and carved wooden figures.
At the entrance to the main exhibition, a stand provided information about the 16th All-Russian Rural Sabantuy. It will be held on June 26–27 in the village of Maly Truyev, Penza Oblast – the birthplace of Tatar writer Adel Kutuy.
In the main exhibition hall, guests were greeted by Albert Burkhanov, Head of the Committee for Work with Tatar Local Historians of the WCT. A stand featured various local history publications. Behind it was a small art gallery of the “Tamga” creative group, uniting avant-garde artists and ethno-futurists. Chelyabinsk artist and group leader Khamza Sharipov explained the works to visitors.
The central part of the exhibition was a fair of products from rural entrepreneurship.
“It’s not just pleasant, I even feel pride for our republic – there are no such forums in the CIS or Russia. Look at the level of agriculture we have in Tatarstan! Beautiful words may be spoken in Paris and New York, but in Kazan, only actions are valued. Why say beautiful words when you can prove it with deeds?” said Farit Farisov, Chairman of the Tatar National-Cultural Autonomy of Moscow, sharing his impressions of the exhibition with Tatar-Inform.
After viewing the exhibition, Rais of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov greeted the gathering participants and took his place in the presidium. Beside him was the honored guest – Head of the Federal Accreditation Service (Rosakkreditatsiya) Dmitry Volvach.
The plenary session was moderated by Vasil Shaykhraziev, Deputy Prime Minister of Tatarstan and Chairman of the National Council of the WCT.
Among the participants in the hall were also the republic’s mufti, Chairman of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Tatarstan Kamil Samigullin, Tatarstan Minister of Youth Affairs Azat Kadyrov, and Zilya Valeeva, advisor to the head of the WCT National Council.
“Accreditation of the ‘Halal’ Committee of the DUM RT is a Historic Step”
The main part of the plenary session featured speeches from entrepreneurs from Orenburg and Sverdlovsk Oblasts, Perm Krai, and the republics of Udmurtia and Bashkortostan.
They spoke about the development of their farms – from small initiatives to large enterprises, job creation, and business participation in the improvement of their native villages.
Greetings from Supreme Mufti of Russia Talgat Tajuddin were conveyed by Islam Davydov, Chairman of the DUM (Spiritual Administration of Muslims) of Penza Oblast.
In turn, Almaz Khakimov, Deputy Chairman of the Government of Penza Oblast, reminded attendees about the upcoming rural Sabantuy and noted: “Tatarstan’s example in supporting the village is a role model for Penza Oblast.”
The key theme of this year’s gathering was the halal industry. The special attention to it is partly due to the “Halal” Standard Committee of the DUM RT undergoing an inspection by the Federal Accreditation Service to comply with GOST requirements.
Maxim Protasov, head of Roskachestvo (Russian Quality System), welcomed the forum participants on behalf of the organization’s team. He joined the event online.
“It is in small businesses and rural areas that products are born that later become the face of a region and the country,” he noted in his address.
Protasov noted that the “halal” theme has already become a significant part of Roskachestvo’s agenda. He also reminded that the “Halal” Standard Committee of the DUM RT became the first regional certification body to receive accreditation from the Federal Accreditation Service.
“This is an important step for the entire industry,” he emphasized.
In turn, Dmitry Volvach stated: “We understand that there is currently significant demand for halal products both domestically and abroad.”
He emphasized that the state supports the halal industry at a high level, and the key task now is to build a system that complies with both international and Russian standards. Volvach called the accreditation of the Halal Committee of the DUM RT a historic step.
“This is the very case where, perhaps for the first time, we have managed to combine the strict requirements of state standards with profound spiritual knowledge,” he noted.
Dmitry Volvach, together with Rustam Minnikhanov and Vasil Shaykhraziev, presented the accreditation certificate for the “Halal” Standard Committee of the DUM RT to its head, Abbzyas hazrat Shlyaposhnikov. Certificates of compliance with Halal standards were also awarded to JSC “Zelenodolsk Dairy Processing Plant,” LLC “ITLE-KITCHEN,” and LLC “Chisto Fri.”
“You Not Only Develop Your Own Business, But Also Support Your Native Villages”
The plenary session traditionally concluded with a speech by the Rais of Tatarstan, Rustam Minnikhanov. He thanked the gathering participants for their attention to the platform.
“Today, there are 4,200 Tatar villages in Russia. We are glad for every meeting with you. Special thanks to the World Congress of the Tatars for the high level of organization of the event,” he said.
He noted that Russia is actively cooperating with the Islamic world today.
“Thanks to the far-sighted position of our President, Vladimir Putin, Russia is today an observer in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). We see that Muslim states have not turned their backs on our country. In cooperation with partners, Islamic banking instruments and the halal lifestyle industry are developing. Halal is a crucial direction that opens up new export opportunities. This topic also traditionally holds a key place in the business program of KazanForum,” the Rais of Tatarstan emphasized.
Addressing the delegates, Rustam Minnikhanov thanked them for their contribution to preserving national identity.
“You not only develop your own business but also support your native villages, preserve traditions, culture, and language. You are an example, we are proud of you,” he said.
The Rais of Tatarstan then presented a number of state awards of the republic. Specifically, the Order of Duslyk (Friendship) was awarded to Ravil Nurgaleev, chairman of the “Congress of Tatars of Kirov Oblast” organization.
Last year, at the “Business Partners of Tatarstan” forum, he shared that his enterprise, Molot-Oruzhie LLC, was on the brink of bankruptcy seven years ago. After financial rehabilitation, the company not only restored operations but has also been sending humanitarian aid worth hundreds of millions of rubles to the special operation zone.
At that time, Nurgaleev also presented the Rais of Tatarstan with a gift certificate for the receipt of 25 smoothbore carbines.
Rustam Minnikhanov awarded the Medal of the Order of Merit for the Republic of Tatarstan to Shamil Nurimanov, a representative of the Regional National-Cultural Autonomy of Tatars of Nizhny Novgorod Oblast.
The Medal of the Republic of Tatarstan for Valiant Labor was awarded to Alfiya Akhatova, leading consultant of the interregional cooperation sector at the Ministry of Education and Science of the RT.
Source: https://www.tatar-inform.ru
