God Semenovich Nisanov - biography of the entrepreneur
God Nisanov was born on April 24th, 1972 in “Krasnaya Sloboda” in Azerbaijan, into the family of Semen Davidovitch Nisanov and Margarita Mordehaevna Nisanova.
God Semyonovich Nisanov (born on April 24, 1972, in Krasnaya Sloboda, Azerbaijan SSR, USSR) is a Russian entrepreneur, Board Chairman of Kievskaya Ploschad Group of Companies, and Vice-President of the World Jewish Congress.
God Nisanov was born on April 24th, 1972 in the “Krasnaya Sloboda village” in Azerbaijan, into the family of Semen Davidovitch Nisanov and Margarita Mordehaevna Nisanova. His first administrative experience was at his father’s enterprise, where he fulfilled the duties of manager. In 1992, together with his friend and countryman Zarakh Iliev, he started a business related to wholesale trade.
Today, the primary interests of the entrepreneur are focused on the development of socially significant projects, such as the first agro-cluster in the country — Food City. The agro-cluster was opened by God Nisanov and the Mayor of Moscow, Sergey Sobyanin, in Autumn 2014. By 2015, the Moscow City Hall recognized the format of the agro-cluster as optimal for supplying food to the metropolis.
Food City is Russia’s first modern agro-cluster. “Its capacity is enough to provide a third of the city's food supply,” said Sergey Sobyanin at the opening of the wholesale food center. Today,Food City provides the residents of the capital with fresh produce at an affordable price and offers a guarantee for product sales to Russian agricultures.
Another socially significant project is the Center of Oceanography and Marine Biology – Moskvarium. God Nisanov personally presented the Moskvarium both to the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin and to the Mayor of Moscow, Sergey Sobyanin during its opening day in August 2015. It is the largest Oceanarium in Europe and the only marine park of such scale that is located hundreds of kilometers from the sea coast. The Center of Oceanography and Marine Biology accommodates 80 aquariums, each appropriately conditioned to provide comfortable living for various animals. Thousands of people visit the Moskvarium daily, for informative and scientific purposes. The Oceanarium is equipped with a lecture hall, where students of different ages are invited to partake in thematic exercises.
In spring 2015 God Nissanov, together with the Mayor of Moscow, Sergey Sobyanin, opened a new international bus station – Southern Gate, that is located on the 19th kilometer of the Moscow Ring Road. God Nisanov is a co-investor of the project.
In January 2017, Moscomarchitecture approved the project for the redesign of the Shchelkovsky bus station building. The reconstruction will start in spring 2017 and will end in autumn 2019.
According to the design project, the station will become a modern and multifunctional complex, with the design of the façade to look like a flying glass ship. Its eleven floors – six above the ground and five below – will accommodate: cash desks, waiting rooms, shops, a café, a cinema, storage rooms and an underground parking.
The commercial properties God Nisanov focuses on set trends in urban infrastructure development, playing an important role in shaping the modern appearance of the capital city and having a great social significance for Moscow. These include Radisson Collection Hotel Moscow (formerly, Ukraina Hotel), Radisson Slavyanskaya, Radisson Royal Flotilla, and the furniture malls of Grand, Grand YUG, and Moskva.
The projects mentioned above and many others have been deservedly praised by the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin. In 2014, Vladimir Putin awarded God Nisanov with the Order of Friendship with the following wording: “For the vast contribution to the implementation of economic projects and the attraction of investments towards the economy of the Russian Federation." A year later, Vladimir Putin ordered to present God Nisanov with a commemorative medal "70 years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945."
In addition to the implementation of socially significant projects, God Nisanov actively engages in charitable activities. He made a significant contribution to the restoration of the Kronstadt Naval Cathedral named after St. Nicholas the Wonderworker.
In 2015, with God Nissanov’s assistance, the Jewish school ‘Heder Menachem’ was built.
In September 2014, God Nisanov was elected vice-president of the ‘World Jewish Congress,’ which unites communities of 115 countries.
In December 2016, he was elected vice-president of the Russian Azerbaijan Congress, uniting the Azerbaijani diaspora of the Russian Federation.
God Nisanov’s latest project is a luxury hotel, which will be located at the beginning of the Varvarka Street and will adjoin the Zaryadie Park. In order for the new buildings to organically blend into the city’s historical image, it was decided to render a pre-revolutionary look to the new designs. The facades of the former income house ‘Anchor’ will be restored according to the preserved samples and drawings. The project intends for the construction of the building to allow one to move from the busy street to the park and back. The atrium of the hotel will become a continuation of the Zaryadye park – the space will be constructed at the ground level, and fruit trees will be planted in the courtyard. Part of the building facing the park will have a modern look and thus will become a fine background for the historical buildings of the area. The project implementation period is three years and two months.
Kievskaya Square Group of Companies acquired Moscow Olympic Stadium in December, 2017. In the near future the citizens will have an access to a 21st-century style sports and entertainment complex. The new owners intend to transform the stadium into Russia's and Europe's top professional training and competition facility, as well as a concert hall. The reconstruction, which is to start in 2019, stipulates a complete preservation of Olympic's historical features. All the premises will preserve their functional purpose, while the renovation will be performed in several stages and last for two years.
A new socially significant project of the company Kievskaya Square is the purchase and reconstruction of one of the oldest Moscow marketplaces: Velozavodsky. As well as Russia’s greatest agrocluster Food City, it solves the tasks of the capital’s alimentary security and provides the inhabitants of south-east Moscow with fresh organic food products directly from the producers. Another particular feature of the renovated agricultural compound is the opportunity for small farmers to rent a space at the Velozavodsky Market to retail their products along with big farming businesses from various Russian regions.
Today, Kievskaya Ploshchad Group of Companies is one of the TOP-100 largest private companies in Russia. The company employs over 26,000 people.
According to the Forbes magazine,in 2019 God Nisanov’s fortune amounted to $3.5 billion.
God Nisanov is fond of snorkeling and horse riding. He speaks six foreign languages, including Arabic, Turkish and Farsi.
International Award of the International Congress of Real Estate Investment, 2019. «For achievements in the field of investment»
Letter of appreciation from the Mayor of Moscow, 2018. «For significant contribution to urban regeneration programs and the formation of a comfortable urban environment in Moscow in 2018»
Letter of appreciation from the Mayor of Moscow, 2018. «For active participation in the public life of the capital and great personal contribution to the urban development of Moscow»
Letter of appreciation from the President of Russia, 2017. «For active participation in the creation and installation of a monument to the Holy Great Prince Vladimir, Equal of the Apostles, and Christianiser of Russia, on Borovitskaya Square»
Letter of appreciation from the working group under the President of Russia, 2017. «For significant contribution to the preparation and celebration of anniversaries dedicated to the memory of Holy Great Prince Vladimir, Equal of the Apostles, the Christianiser of Russia»
Letter of appreciation from the Mayor of Moscow, 2016. «For contribution to the construction of the Multifunctional Migration Center»
State award of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Order "For Service to the Fatherland" of the Third degree, 2016. «For contribution to the development of the Azerbaijani diaspora»
Commemorative medal ‘70 years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945’, 2015. «For active participation in the patriotic education of citizens and solving of the socio-economic problems of veterans»
State award of the Republic of Azerbaijan, «Tereggi» medal, 2011 «For patronage and support of fellow countrymen in Russia».
In 2021, Kievskaya Ploschad Group of Companies opened the Pavilion on Patriarch's Ponds. Its appearance and functionality were completely preserved and its historical value for the local architectural appearance was considered as well.
In 2020, Kievskaya Ploschad launched a project to replicate the FOOD CITY format on the territory of the Four Seasons wholesale and food complex in Domodedovo, which was purchased at a public auction.
In 2020, Central Market is a modern gastronomic project that combines a shopping gallery with food stalls, a food court and restaurants.