Rustam Minnikhanov: We appreciate cooperation between Tatarstan and the Islamic Republic of Iran within the framework of Russia-Iran relations

On October 29, at his meeting with Vice-President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Sorena Sattari at the Kazan Kremlin, Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov said: “We appreciate cooperation between Tatarstan and the Islamic Republic of Iran within the framework of Russia-Iran relations”.

The delegation of the Islamic Republic of Iran led by Iranian Vice-President Sorena Sattari is on a two-day working visit to Kazan (October 28-29,2014). During their visit Iranian colleagues got acquainted with the activity of such industrial enterprises of the republic as OAO “Kazancompressormash” (production of compressors), OAO “KMPO” (Kazan Motor-Building Production Association), and regional engineering centre of industrial laser technologies “KAI-Laser”. In addition, they looked around laboratories, scientific and educational centers of Kazan Federal University.

Welcoming the guests, Rustam Minnikhanov said that during their short visit members of the Iranian delegation were shown innovative platforms of the republic and told about projects that have been implemented in cooperation with the federal government.

He reminded that he had visited Iran several times and met leaders of the country and that his last visit took place in December 2011.

“The level of our trade turnover does not correspond to our relations that exist between Tatarstan and Iran. We should intensify our cooperation in the economic field and today we have such an opportunity. You could see it during your visit,” Minnikhanov said.

We are interested in increasing export of Tatarstan goods to Iran and import of Iranian products to our market, Minnikhanov went on to say. Tatarstan President also reminded that Tatarstan and Iran have close relations at the regional level, in particular, with Iran’s East Azerbaijan province, while Kazan and Tabriz are twin cities. Minnikhanov also said that Tatarstan delegation plans to visit East Azerbaijan in the near future.

Besides projects in the field of innovation, science and technology, we work in the sphere of education, culture and sport, Minnikhanov said, adding that filmmakers from Iran regularly participate in Kazan International Muslim Film Festival, concerts of Iranian music and exhibitions are held in Kazan. Tatarstan universities have cooperation agreements with universities in Iran, Minnikhanov added. We are interested in strengthening cooperation with Iran, he said.

In his turn, Sorena Sattari said that relations between Russia and Iran are experiencing a historic moment today. We should use this time to intensify our relations, our cooperation, he said. It is our priority to extend cooperation with the Russian Federation, he went on to say. In general, it will allow us to increase annual bilateral trade turnover up to 40 billion US dollars, he said.

Among the main areas of cooperation with Tatarstan Sorena Sattari pointed out cooperation in scientific and technical sphere, education, exchange of students and teaching staff members.

Upon visiting your IT park today, we are willing to cooperate in the field of information technology at any level, Sorena Sattari said. In addition, we are very interested in cooperation in the oil and gas sector, he continued. We are ready to create every condition to establish cooperation between Iranian and Tatarstan companies in this area, Sorena Sattari said. According to him, Iran is also ready to cooperate in the field of agriculture, including supplies of products to Russia.

In his turn, Aide to the President of Russia, Andrei Fursenko, who took part in the meeting, noted that it is really a good moment today to strength and expand Russia-Iran relations.

Following the meeting Rustam Minnikhanov, Andrei Fursenko and Sorena Sattari answered questions from the press.