Rustam Minnikhanov: We want French companies to choose Tatarstan as a launching platform for entering Russian market

On June 24, at a business forum in Lyon (France), Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov said that Tatarstan enterprises are interested in developing cooperation with French companies, and want to learn more about Rhône-Alpes region. The meeting with Rhône-Alpes businessmen was held at Lyon Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Vice-president of Lyon Chamber of Commerce and Industry Philippe Ero, representatives of the Association of French enterprises, Rhône-Alpes general confederation of small and medium-sized enterprises, and Lyon Mayor’s Office took part in the event.

Rustam Minnikhanov thanked participants of the forum for the interest towards Tatarstan and its economic and investment potential, and noted that experience of Grenoble and Lyon innovative clusters is interesting for Tatarstan.

The republic cooperates with a number of French regions, and a representative office of Tatarstan has worked in Paris for 20 years, the honorary consul of France and French visa centre work in Kazan.

Tatarstan President continued that Tatarstan has experience of cooperation with French companies, such as Schneider Electric, Air Liquide, Saint-Gobain, Auchan, Decathlon, Leroy Merlin, Danone. Major work is being done by the Association of Innovative Regions of Russia.

We want French companies to choose Tatarstan as a launching platform for entering Russian market, the President said.

Rustam Minnikhanov briefly told about Tatarstan economy and priority projects implemented in the republic.

Summing up, Tatarstan President said: “The purpose of our trip is to expand trade-economic, scientific-technical and educational cooperation with Rhône-Alpes and other French regions.”