Rustam Minnikhanov: Tatarstan and Abkhazia have long-term friendly relations

On October 1, at a roundtable with Tatarstan and Abkhazia businessmen, during the working trip of Tatarstan delegation to Sukhum, Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov said that businessmen of both republics would open new areas for cooperation and agree on implementation of joint projects.

Earlier the same day, at his meeting with President of Abkhazia Raul Khajimba, Rustam Minnikhanov thanked him for hospitality and expressed confidence that mutual visits would contribute to strengthening of friendship and cooperation between Russia and Abkhazia.

Opening the roundtable, Raul Khajimba stressed that friendly relations between Tatarstan and Abkhazia continue traditions of the first President of Abkhazia Vladislav Ardzinba and first President of Tatarstan Mintimer Shaimiev. He continued that Abkhazia is interested in attracting investments from Tatarstan.

“We are interested in sustainable and long-term cooperation with your partners. Attraction of investments and increase in business activity of eastern regions of Abkhazia are priority areas for us,” President of Abkhazia said.

Rustam Minnikhanov thanked leadership of Abkhazia for the interest shown in Tatarstan. He added that the main purpose of the visit to Abkhazia is expansion of trade-economic, scientific-technical, and cultural cooperation.

Among the priority areas of joint work Rustam Minnikhanov mentioned agricultural industry, tourism, automotive industry, IT, health care, transport, science and education. He noted that Tatarstan is one of the leading industrially developed regions in Russia, where special attention is paid to innovative development.

Tatarstan Minister of Agriculture and Food Marat Akhmetov, Head of Tatarstan Investment Development Agency Taliya Minullina and Chairman of Tatarstan State committee on tourism Sergey Ivanov made presentations at the session.