Turkey’s Economy Minister: “Tatarstan holds a special place in our relations with Russia”

On December 1, at the Turkish Ministry of Economy in Ankara, at his meeting with Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov, Minister of Economy of Turkey Nihat Zaybekci said that intensive economic cooperation with Tatarstan contributes to developing relations between Turkey and Russia.

Welcoming Minnikhanov and Tatarstan delegates, Nihat Zeybekci reminded them of the previous meeting with Tatarstan governor in Mersin in May of the current year. “For us, Tatarstan holds a special place among the Russian regions, and we find the republic as a unifying link in our relations with Russia,” Zeybekci said. “The republic contributes to developing our relations with Russia and I want to thank Rustam Minnikhanov for this,” he continued.

According to the Turkish Minister, Tatarstan is an important region in solving the task set by the country’s authorities to achieve a trade turnover of 100 billion US dollars between Turkey and Russia. Even though there are considerable achievements, the cooperation potential between Tatarstan and Turkey is still huge, he added.

Turkish authorities supported investments made abroad, in particular, in the energy sector, and Tatarstan is one of the best places for such investments, the official said.

Minnikhanov told about the implementation of plans discussed at the meeting in Mersin. “All plans we made in Mersin are implemented, we expect to continue working to strengthen our contacts,” he said. “This year we have launched two large Turkish production facilities, and this is evidence of delivering on our promises.”

Another three Turkish factories would soon be put into operation in the Alabuga Special Economic zone, Rustam Minnikhanov said, inviting Nihat Zeybekci to visit the republic to witness the events.

Minnikhanov went on to say that Tatarstan and Turkey municipalities are actively cooperating and contacts between technoparks are established. He said that medicine is a promising area for cooperation, suggesting that Turkish businesses launch small ventures in the textile, furniture and polymer processing branches as well.

Nihat Zeybekci said that on November 28 he visited Moscow and met Turkish entrepreneurs working in Russia. “They said they felt comfortable working in Tatarstan. Turkish business has already invested nearly $2 billion in the republic and is ready to continue to invest,” he said.