Ufa is the pearl of South UralsUfa is one of the largest and ancient cities of Russia, the powerful industrial and cultural center of the Republic of Bashkortostan where more than a million people live in harmony and friendship and all of them are the representatives of hundred nationalities. The history of our city dates back to ancient times. The results of archeological excavations carried out the fact that on the territory of modern Ufa was a large ancient settlement begirded by fortress walls with jewellery work shops and prosperous trade. Caravan tracks led to the ancient town which was considered very attractive for merchants and craftsmen due to its location between two continents of Europe and Asia and its position at the intersection of three rivers - Agidel, Karaidel and Dema. A fortress was built on that place after Bashkiriya’s voluntary joining to Russia in XVI century. Modern Ufa occupies the territory of over 71 thousand hectares. It spreads from north to south for 53 kilometers. The enterprises of fuel, chemical, petrochemical, engineering industry of highest world standards make up the basis of capital economics. The fuel industry takes special place in the industrial complex. The engineering complex specializes on the production of labour-intensive compound and precision machinery and high technological equipment. The stable economic growth is a characteristic feature of Ufa at the beginning of XXI century. Ufa dynamically develops foreign-economic and interregional relations. The trading partners of Ufa companies are over 70 countries of foreign and former Soviet republics. The capital of Bashkortostan actively develops trading relations with Germany, the Netherlands, the Great Britain, China and many other countries. One of the permanent business partners of Ufa companies is France. Investments aimed to the capital economy increase every year. There are very favorable conditions in Ufa to attract investors. According to the data of the international rating agency «Standard & Poor’s», the international investment rating of Ufa is «B+» (positive forecast). The municipal budget is socially oriented. It is proved by the fact that three fourth of Ufa annual budget goes to education, health protection, housing and communal services and social policy. Our city historically is the important transport center connecting the West and the East of Russia. Many main-line trackages like railway lines, river routes, pipelines, motor transport roads, airlines go through Ufa. A lot of attention is paid to a new building construction that forms modern image and European style in Ufa. The buildings of banks, theatres, cultural and sport constructions, hotels, and big stores serve as the city decoration and give it a unique and special view. The priority for us is to build comfortable and affordable accommodation. Around 600 thousand square meters are raised annually. The house-building is carried on fully by whole microdistricts. Ufa is the famous university and academic center which is well-known in the country and abroad. The Academy of Sciences of Bashkortostan, the Ufa scientific centre of Russian Sciences Academy, research and planning institutes, design offices of different orientation work in Ufa. 27 institutions in Ufa train specialists for all branches of manufacture, science, culture and education on up-to-date level, for republic companies, Russian organizations and foreign countries. Ufa citizens keep the memory of many prominent cultural workers who started their artistic career here. An outstanding writer Sergey Aksakov and artist Michael Nesterov were born in Ufa. There is still the building in the centre of Ufa where Fedor Ivanovich Shalyapin, a future world-famous bass singer, gave his first performances. Today the Ufa State Art Academy is located there. Well-known vocalists Askar and Ildar Abdrazakov, Svetlana Arginbaeva and Zukhra Bayburina studied at the Academy. A world-famous ballet dancer, Rudolph Nuriev started his professional career on the stage of Bashkir State Opera and Ballet Theatre. Ufa is multinational city. Bashkirs, Russians, Tatars, and representatives of many other nations and religions live in peace and friendship. Mosques and Orthodox churches blend well with the city landscape. Education is conducted in 3 languages in capital educational institutions, 10 languages are studied in comprehensive and Sunday schools: Bashkir, Tatar, Ukrainian, Polish, Jewish, Chuvash, Mari, German, and Armenian. Ufa citizens like their city very much. They treat it with care and think that the capital of Bashkortostan will always stand its deserved place in the family of European megapolises.
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