Rustam Minnikhanov: “Being Tatar it is not a shame today”

On December 6, Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov and heads of ministries and agencies of the republic took part in a plenary session of the international forum “Business partners of Tatarstan” at G.Kamal Tatar state academic theatre, Kazan.

Businessmen from 54 Russian regions and foreign countries took part in the event. Participants of the forum looked around the exhibition of agricultural products of the republic.

Opening the event, Chairman of the executive committee of the World Congress of Tatars Rinat Zakirov said that an extended session of the executive committee “On results of work for 2014 and confirming the plan of work for 2015” was held in Kazan on December 4-6.

Making a report at the forum, Tatarstan Minister of Industry and Trade Ravil Zaripov told about economic achievements of the republic. According to the minister, 130 countries are trade partners of the republic, Tatarstan has signed agreements on trade-economic, scientific-technical, and cultural cooperation with 69 Russian region.

Representative offices and trading houses of Tatarstan in Russia and countries of the near and far abroad play an important role in development of international and interregional cooperation. This year representative offices of the Republic of Tatarstan were opened in China and Crimea.

Tatarstan Minister of Agriculture and Food Marat Akhmetov, in his turn, told about development of agricultural industry in the republic, Chief Executive of Tatarstan Investment Development Agency Taliya Minullina made a report about investment attractiveness of the republic.

Then, representatives of congresses of Tatars from different regions of the country and businessmen delivered their speeches.

Representatives Tatar community living outside the republic thanked leadership of Tatarstan for rendered support and told what programmes on preservation of culture and traditions of Tatar people implemented in their cities.

Summing up, Rustam Minnikhanov said that such meetings are important and Tatar businessmen should met more often, share their contacts and experience. He noted as well that the World Congress of Tatars is a liaison for Tatars living outside the republic.

Minnikhanov noted that there were a lot of interesting speeches at the forum and many people are concerned about issues of preservation of Tatar culture and language.

State awards of the Republic of Tatarstan were handed at the end of the meeting.