Kazan is the capital of the Tatarstan republic and one of the biggest economical, scientific and cultural centers of Russia. The city is situated on the left bank of the Volga River and both banks of the Kazanka River. It occupies the territory of 425,3 square kilometers and has the population of 1,11 million people, represented by more than 101 nationalities. Long history of the city is connected with ancient civilization of the Kazan Tatars and their direct ancestors – the Bulgars of the Volga region. The city, located on the border line of Europe and Asia, has always been a kind of link between the East and the West, keeping traditions of two great cultures. Kazan with the marvelous Kremlin, mosques, churches and rich museums, is a unique place of interest, included among the Volga River tourist routs and the World Heritage List. It has been awarded several diplomas and a medal of UNESCO. Kazan is also a city of theatres, museums, music, international festivals, rich libraries, newest technologies, business partnership and science.

The Industrial City
There are two giants of aircraft industry in the city: the GUP “Kazan Aircraft Production Association” and the “Kazan Helicopter Plant” Joint Stock Company (KVZ). Serial production of “TU-214”, begun at the GUP KAPO named after S. P. Gorbunov, was an important event for Kazan. The “KVZ” Joint Stock Company (Kazan Helicopter Plant) became famous for producing helicopters MI-8 and MI-17, which showed their advantages being exploited in more than 50 countries all over the world. One of the biggest chemical plants in the country, Joint Stock Company “Kazanorgsintez”, is also located in Kazan. It is the leading producer of high-quality polyethylene, polyethylene tubes, synthetic coolants, phenol, acetone, chemical reagents, used in oil extraction and natural gas drainage. The production of new medical equipment together with German colleagues at the “Kazan Medical Equipment Plant” Joint Stock Company was quite a success alongside the use of Italian technological equipment at the Nefis” Joint Stock Company. Up-to-date technologies are also used at the Joint-Stock Companies “Baker’s and Confectioner’s”, “Kazanzernoproduct” and “Edelweiss-M”.
Stable tendencies of production growth have been obvious in the city economy recently. The use of advanced technologies and foreign equipment alongside re-equipment process of the “Krasny Vostok” Joint-Stock Company resulted in 16-times increase in the production of beer for the last six years.

Urban planning and Architecture
In accordance with the Federal purpose-oriented program “Conservation and Development of the Historical Centre of Kazan city” a lot of unique complexes and monuments of architecture and city-planning were restored. Besides, more than a thousand of historical and cultural  buildings are being  reconstructed.

The Market of Consumers’ Service
The number of supermarkets in Kazan is constantly increasing. Big range of goods is provided by 2699 trading and public catering enterprises; about one thousand of  consumer services centers are open for the citizens. There are 7 big markets in Kazan. The Trading Centre “Savinovo” is a covered market of total area of 19981,5 square meters, which can accommodate 1112 shops and indoor kiosks.

Goods Production
Kazan was one of the first major transit junctions of the Trans-Siberian Railway, which is the oldest in the country. Now the city is a big distributive centre with a river-port, airport, two main railways and a few companies of cargo carriers, which deliver products to Russian sales markets and abroad. 84,4% of total volume of production is sold in Russia, and 15,6% go to the CIS and foreign countries. Besides, 68,1% of total volume of export implies products of mechanical engineering and metal-working industry, 31% of chemical and petro-chemical industry.

Foreign Investments
More than 100 enterprises of foreign investments and branches of foreign juridical persons (2/3 of total number of joint ventures, set on the territory of Tatarstan) have been registered in Kazan. Besides, there are more than 150 representations of foreign firms. The volume of foreign investments to the economy of the city has been increasing for the last 5 years. The main foreign investors are Switzerland, the Republic of Cyprus, Germany, the USA and Slovenia.

Education
Kazan is one of the biggest scientific and educational centers of Russia and the second biggest city by the number of students. About 10 000 young people finish secondary schools every year. Approximately 120 thousands study in 30 institutions of higher education and 23 schools and colleges. The Kazan State University, one of the oldest sites of learning of Russia, celebrated its 200th jubilee in 2004. One of the most important peculiarities of education is the possibility to study in one’s native language in accordance with the “Program of Conservation, Learning and Development of Language of people, living in the Kazan city”.

Health Care
The healthcare system of Kazan implies 120 clinics and dispensaries with the staff numbering more than 15 thousand people. There are a lot of specialized centers, such as oncologic, phthisiological, narcotics, cardiological, endocrinological, paediatrical and other clinics, as well as the Blood Transfusion Centre, and the Emergency Center. The Inter-Regional Center of Clinical Diagnostics was opened in Kazan. Scientific and research institutes of Kazan have been working on the up-to-date problems of clinical medicine. They master advanced methods of cardio- and neurosurgery, ophthalmology, oncology, and endosurgery. The Kazan State Medical University, the Kazan medical Academy and the Medical College provide clinics and dispensaries with qualified personnel.

Multinational Commonwealth
Being the harmony interlacement of the East and the West, Kazan is a place of living of many nations and nationalities. One can hear speaking in more than 110 languages in Kazan. Multinational relations are based on the principle of liberty of conscience, implying equality of all religions before the law, the right of a person to choose any religion.
There are 153 religious organizations in Kazan, including 68 Moslem, 48 Orthodox, 30 Protestant, 2 catholic and several organizations of nontraditional religions. The functioning Kazan temples enumerate 33 mosques and 23 Orthodox temples of Russian Orthodox Church, 3 temples of Old-Believers, a Lutheran church, a Catholic Chapel, synagogue, Baptist chapels, the Seventh Day Adventists, Krishnaits and Bahai. The are four theological institutions of higher education: The Kazan Theological Seminary, The Islamic University of Russia, the Higher Moslem medrese “Mukhamadia”, the higher Moslem medrese, named after the 1000-jubilee of Islam Adoption, and a few Sunday schools.

Mass media
Five TV companies and 14 radio companies broadcast the city. More than 150 newspapers and magazines have been registered in Kazan. There are also 20 publishing houses and 8 press-services.