The headliner of the consumer cooperation forum concert in Kazan will be Tatyana Kurtukova.

      The headliner of the concert program of the International Forum of Enterprises and Organizations of Consumer Cooperation in Kazan will be the Russian singer Tatyana Kurtukova. This was announced at a briefing in the House of the Government of the Republic of Tatarstan by the chairman of the board of Tatpотребсоюз Rashat Shaimardanov. "This year marks 195 years since the establishment of the first consumer society in Russia and 110 years since the organization of the Union of Consumer Societies of Tatarstan. These events have prompted the holding of the International Forum of Enterprises and Organizations of Consumer Cooperation in Kazan," he stated. According to Shaimardanov, more than 4,000 participants from 74 regions of Russia and 31 foreign countries will attend the forum. "This speaks to its serious status. Within the framework of the forum, the President of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov will present 39 keys to new special vehicles to consumer cooperation organizations at 'Kazan Expo', continuing the annual tradition of supporting rural residents and recognizing the merits of cooperators," he said. Tatpотребсоюз will organize an exhibition of its own products. Traditional Tatar sweets and confectionery, meat delicacies made from local raw materials, fish of its own salting and smoking, lemonades made from natural syrup and collections of Tatar herbs, and fresh vegetables from the fields of the republic's cooperators will be showcased. A separate stand will be dedicated to the light industry of Tatarstan. The forum will also feature the Museum of Consumer Cooperation of Tatpотребсоюз, recognized as the best in 2024. Its main exhibit will be a full-scale model of a Soviet 'Selpo' store from the 1950s, noted Shaimardanov. "A special section of the exhibition is dedicated to heroism during the Great Patriotic War and the Special Military Operation. The central exhibits are the legendary all-terrain vehicle 'UAZ-452 'Bukhanka', which is used in the special operation zone, and the motorcycle 'M-72' from the times of the Great Patriotic War. About 17,000 motorcycles were supplied to the army during the war years," he said. A separate display will showcase the charitable assistance of Tatpотребсоюz cooperators to participants of the special military operation – products of their own production, dry rations, canned meat, preserves, pasta, camouflage nets, and anti-drone blankets. "In the 'Bread of Memory' block, the chronicle of the war will be recreated through bread: from the front-line rations of Red Army soldiers to the symbolic Leningrad bread – 125 grams, as well as samples of occupation bread – 'Ostenbrot', rear bread – 'Rzhevsky', and Stalingrad bread," emphasized Shaimardanov. At the forum, Tatpотребсоюz will conduct a culinary master class on preparing traditional Tatar dishes: chak-chak, baursak, talkysh-kaleve, echpochmak, and kystybiya. In addition, an exhibition dedicated to modern equipment and specialized transport for consumer cooperation will be launched. As part of the Api Forum, an exhibition of honey produced in Tatarstan will open. "Here, visitors will not only be able to see but also taste the golden gifts of local apiaries – from classic to rare monofloral varieties," noted the chairman of the board of Tatpотребсоюz. Among other things, a Tatar courtyard will be opened for forum visitors, through which the republic's cooperators will present traditional life and culture. "Here, guests will be treated to national sweets, fragrant herbal tea, and aromatic pilaf. The festive atmosphere will be complemented by a performance from the State Ensemble of Folk Music of the Republic of Tatarstan under the direction of artistic director Aydar Faizrakhmanov. As part of the culinary show, guests will be served aromatic lamb shurpa prepared in a unique 1200-liter Tatar samovar, as well as offered hot tea and traditional national desserts," Shaimardanov reported.

      The business program of the forum, according to him, has been developed with the interests of all participants in mind – from the heads of regional consumer societies to young specialists. Practical discussions and round tables will take center stage. The International Forum of Enterprises and Organizations of Consumer Cooperation will take place at the international exhibition center 'Kazan Expo' from July 8 to 10.

      Photo: © Salavat Kamaletdinov / 'Tatar-inform'