Rustam Minnikhanov: Considering economic potential between Tatarstan and Karelia we need to increase our trade turnover

On February 16, speaking after his meeting with Head of the Republic of Karelia Alexander Hudilainen in Petrozavodsk, Rustam Minnikhanov said: “Considering economic potential between Tatarstan and Karelia we need to increase our trade turnover.”

Minutes on implementing a cooperation agreement between Tatarstan and Karelia were signed during the meeting that took place at the Head's residence.

"Both regions are interested in making our agreements a practice,” Rustam Minnikhanov said.

According to Minnikhanov, for economy to progress, markets are important, which is why Tatarstan and Karelia authorities should offer businesses terms allowing them to run projects and promote products.

He went on to say that Tatarstan is interested in cooperation with Karelia both within the agreement as a whole and in some specific areas.

As the most promising lines of cooperation, he outlined medicine, tourism, innovations and information technologies.

“You have the most powerful projects on automated production management systems. For Tatarstan, with its economy and oil recovery, they are very important. We have a strong petrochemical branch, we are the Russia’s largest manufacturer of plastics and rubber. We have a tyre plant, helicopter plant and automotive branch – all these facilities need advanced information technologies,” he explained.

Rustam Minnikhanov showed an interest in a workforce management project as well.

“Personnel management, a line being developed by your specialists and implemented by other regions, is very interesting to us,” he stated.

Answering questions from reporters, he appreciated new production facilities, IT Park and other sites he had seen in Karelia and said he had given an errand to Tatarstan ministries to explore the possibility of implementing some of Karelian projects at Tatarstan industrial plants.