Ildar Khalikov participates in Tatarstan-Finland Business Forum

Relationships between Tatarstan and Finland have obtained practical relevance and we are glad to receive Finnish businessmen in Kazan, Prime Minister of Tatarstan Ildar Khalikov said at the opening of Tatarstan-Finland Business Forum.

The event was held in Korston hotel & Mall with participation of the Minister for European affairs and foreign trade Aleksander Stubb, Tatarstan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of informatization and communications Roman Shaikhutdinov, First Deputy Minister of industry and trade Ruslan Kabirov, industrial adviser of the Finnish Ministry of employment and economic development Severi Keinala.

Welcoming participants and guests of Tatarstan-Finland Business Forum, Ildar Khalikov said that the event was held in the period of dynamic growth of bilateral business relationships. He mentioned that he visited Finland in June 2012 (The 3rd EU–Russia Innovation Forum, Lappeenranta). Besides, the Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov met with the Finnish President Sauli Niinistö within the framework of St. Petersburg international economic forum in June.

The Tatarstan PM told about economic situation in republic, major projects being realised in Tatarstan.

According to Ildar Khalikov, in the first half of 2012foreign trade turnover between Tatarstan and Finland has increased twice in comparison with the first half of 2011 and made 400 mln US dollars.

Ildar Khalikov reminded that the Finnish visa center was opened in Kazan and the number of issued visas was going up. The PM informed that the issue of opening the direct flight connection between Tatarstan and Finland is being worked out. He offered the Minister for European affairs and foreign trade Aleksander Stubb to render assistance in this matter.

Ildar Khalikov also told about Tatarstan’s innovative projects such as establishment of technoparks, business incubators, industrial platforms, SEZ “Alabuga”, High Technology Technopark “IT-park” and Innopolis satellite city.

The Tatarstan PM suggests that the petrochemical industry id a perspective area of cooperation between Tatarstan and Finland.

The Minister for European affairs and foreign trade Aleksander Stubb welcomed the audience in Tatar language. He said that though he was visiting Kazan for the first time he had heard a lot of positive comments about Tatarstan.

Aleksander Stubb positively estimated the proposal on opening direct flight connection between Tatarstan and Finland.

“Representatives of thirty Finnish companies have arrived to participate in Tatarstan-Finland Business Forum with me. They are willing to establish close business relations with Tatarstan. Your region has obtained good reputation. Tatarstan is said to be one of the most dynamically developing regions in Russia,” Aleksander Stubb said.

First Deputy Minister of industry and trade Ruslan Kabirov told about Tatarstan’s economic potential and development of four main clusters.
The Minister of informatization and communications Roman Shaikhutdinov told about innovative satellite city “Innopolis”.