Rustam Minnikhanov: It is important to find new areas of mutually beneficial cooperation and bring manufacturers of Volgograd region and the Republic of Tatarstan together

“Sales turnover between the Republic of Tatarstan and the Volgograd region made 5,2 bln roubles in 2011. Today we have to increase this rate considerably,” President of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov said at a meeting with Governor of the Volgograd region Sergei Bozhenov.

The meeting was held in Governor’s building of the Kazan Kremlin with participation of the Tatarstan PM Ildar Khalikov, Deputy PM and Minister of industry and trade Ravil Zaripov, Minister of transport and road construction Lenar Safin.

To the point, delegation of the Volgograd region led by the Governor Sergei Bozhenov arrived in Kazna with a two-day visit (January, 15-16). Members of the delegation visited several sport objects, transport junctions, got familiar with activity of Himgrad technopark and Agro-industrial park.

President of Tatarstan told guests about Tatarstan’s social and economic development and final results of 2012. In particular, the industrial output made 1,450 trillion roubles, GRP – 1,4 trillion roubles. Large amount of work on preparation for summer Universiade 2013 is being performed in Tatarstan, modernization of the international airport is underway.

Rustam Minnikhanov told about preparation for summer Universiade 2013. Representatives from 170 countries will take part in the event. 13,5 thousand participants and guests are expected to come. The RT President reminded that Kazan will host Aquatics championship in 2015, and World Football Cup in 2018.

Among areas that may be interesting for the Volgograd region Rustam Minnikhanov mentioned IT sector, GLONASS projects, informatization in health care, education and social protection spheres, creation of infrastructure for small and medium-size business.

The Tatarstan President supposes that it is important today to find new areas of mutually beneficial cooperation and bring commodity producers of the Volgograd region and the Republic of Tatarstan together.

“Within the framework of Agreement of cooperation between the Republic of Tatarstan and the Volgograd region signed in 2009, it is necessary to work out plan of actions and increase sales volume between two regions,” Rustam Minnikhanov said.

The Tatarstan President mentioned that celebrations dated to the 70th anniversary of battle of Stalingrad would be held in the Volgograd region. He expressed hope that Tatarstan veterans would be able to participate in the event. He noted that 175 veterans who participated in the battle lived in Tatarstan.

Governor of the Volgograd region Sergei Bozhenov thanked Rustam Minnikhanov for warm reception. “It was a very informative day, we managed to visit several big objects,” he said.

Sergei Bozhenov said that he visited Kazan in 2005 and noted a rapid progress. “We are to pass the same way and we should study Tatarstan’s experience in construction, design and other spheres,” he said. Sergei Bozhenov said that he was especially impressed by the project of Agro-industrial park.

“I suppose we will find mutual interests for cooperation. We have to increase sales volume in petrochemical and machine-tool building industries,” Sergei Bozhenov said.

Governor of the Volgograd region invited Tatarstan delegation led by Rustam Minnikhanov to visit the Volgograd region.

After the meeting Sergei Bozhenov and Rustam Minnikhanov answered questions of media agencies.