Tatarstan and Iran to develop relations in science and education

The Republic of Tatarstan and the Islamic Republic of Iran are willing to develop relationships in scientific and educational spheres. This issue has been discussed today at a meeting of RT President Rustam Minnikhanov and Adviser to the President of Iran, chief of the Centre for technological and innovative cooperation under the President of Iran Hamid Reza Amirinia.

To the point, scientific delegation of the Islamic Republic of Iran is in Kazan on a working visit. Yesterday’s visit to the high technology technopark IT-park impressed the guests. The project “Electronic Government of the Republic of Tatarstan” and some other best practices in IT sphere seemed to be especially interesting for Iranians.

Welcoming the delegation, Rustam Minnikhanov thanked Iranian leadership for warm reception rendered to Tatarstaners during the working trip to Iran in December 2011. He marked that all objects he had seen left good impression on him, especially gas-chemical complex under construction. He also emphasized intensive development of science and education.

Economic diversification is currently observed in Iran, such spheres as nanotechnologies, biotechnologies, rocket production are developing, Rustam Minnikhanov said. Besides, leadership of the country puts much emphasis on increasing the social status of scientists and scientific investments.

“We have to use our scientific and industrial potential and share the experience,” Rustam Minnikhanov said. He believes that positive dynamics is now characteristic of the relations between Tatarstan and Iran within the limits of Russian-Iranian cooperation. We are interested in cooperation in such spheres as petrochemistry, scientific research, education, Rustam Minnikhanov added.

RT President hopes that leadership of province Eastern Azerbaijan (the Islamic Republic of Iran) will come to Kazan in May to take part in the international summit of Islamic business and finance KazanSummit.

Chief of the Centre for technological and innovative cooperation under the President of Iran Hamid Reza Amirinia informed that relationships with RT Academy of sciences and its President Akhmet Mazgarov are actively developing today.

We are willing to establish interaction in five areas: nanotechnologies, biotechnologies, IT, oil-gas chemistry, and industrial equipment, Mr Hamid Reza Amirinia informed.

Rustam Minnikhanov and Hamid Reza Amirinia discussed opportunity of creating a joint Fund of science and technologies. The Iranian party is ready to invest 1 mln US dollars in such a structure. The Tatarstan President confirmed intentions regarding realization of this idea.