Rustam Minnikhanov: Tatarstan and Finland can develop relationships in the sphere of sport and tourism as well as in business and education sectors

We have been studying Finnish experience in terms of development and support of small and medium business. Today with participation of Finnish specialists this work has become more systemic, President of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov stated at a meeting with Deputy minister of environment of Finland Hannele Pokka.

The event took place in House of RT Government.

Tatarstan was presented by Minister of ecology and natural resources Artem Sidorov, Minister of industry and trade Ravil Zaripov, Mayor of Kazan Ilsur Metshin, Director of Department for Foreign Affairs – Aide to the President on international issues Iskander Muflikhanov, Director-general of technopark “Idea” Sergei Yushko, Chief of RT investment development Agency Linar Yakupov.

Greeting members of Finnish delegation led by Ms Hannele Pokka Rustam Minnikhanov noted that all endeavours and joint projects of Tatarstan and Finland would be continued. He reminded as well that visit of Finnish President Tarja Halonen to Tatarstan gave impetus to mutually beneficial relationships which continued developing during a working visit of Tatarstan delegation led by RT President Rustam Minnikhanov to Finland (March, 24-25, 2011).

Head of Tatarstan thanked Finnish leadership for decision to open a visa centre in Tatarstan. He believes it will favour increasing of tourist traffic and the number of business contacts between Tatarstan and Finland enterprises.

Rustam Minnikhanov reminded as well that currently ecological departments of Tatarstan and Finland are working out the conception “Kazan – our green city”. Tatarstan capital is becoming one of the major cities in the country and this work should be continued. The project is really urgent because of forthcoming summer Universiade-2013 in Kazan.

Rustam Minnikhanov is sure that Tatarstan and Finland can develop relationships in the sphere of sport and tourism as well as in business and education sectors. It is important to find interaction mechanisms, build up logistics and provide comfortable conditions for tourists, he thinks.

Deputy minister of environment of Finland Hannele Pokkain her turn informed that currently Finnish government put much emphasis on ecological problems such has use of natural resources, attitude of enterprises towards environment, etc. She also considers joint work on “Kazan – our green city” project to be very important.

We reminded that parties agreed on project development in March 2011. It is aimed at improvement of all environmental components in Kazan.

The project “Kazan – our green city” includes working out of such issues as waste treatment, monitoring of atmosphere and environment, transport inftrastructure and explanation to the public.
Some regulations will be innovative for Kazan and further work requires interaction with Finnish colleagues. Specialists of RT Ministry of ecology and natural resources, Finnish Ministry of environment and Tatarstan enterprises engaged in water and wastes treatment will be involved in the project.

Upon finishing the meeting Memorandum of cooperation between Innovative Technology Centre of Lahti (Finland) and technopark “Idea” (Kazan) was signed by President of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov and Deputy minister of environment of Finland Hannele Pokka.