Rustam Minnikhanov takes part in 13th Russia – Kazakhstan Interregional Cooperation Forum

On October 4, Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov took part in the 13th Russia – Kazakhstan Interregional Cooperation Forum devoted to the development of the transport and ligistic potential of Eurasia.

The Forum was attended by the Russian President Vladimir Putin and the President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev.

One of the main events of the day was the Russia-Kazakhstan Business Forum. It was noted that more than 6400 companies with Russian participation are successfully working in economy, oil production, manufacturing industry, transport, communication, machine-building, space area, etc. in Kazakhstan.

In 2015 the trade turnover between Russian and Kazakhstan made 15.5 billion US dollars.

Welcoming participants of the business-forum, Putin noted that Kazakhstan is Russia's strategic partner and ally. Out cooperation has many aspects and covers numerous areas, gradually developing in all areas, he noted.

“Our bilateral trade and investment ties have moved to a high level. Kazakhstan holds nine billion US dollars of the Russian capital and has invested three billion US dollars in the Russian economy. Together we created 6,000 companies and strengthen our cooperation in almost all sectors of economy. Last year alone 150 delegations of Russian businessmen visited Kazakhstan,” Putin went on to say.

Speaking at the forum Nazarbayev said noted that there is great potential to expand cooperation. “We are working within the framework of the Eurasian Economic Union. We purposefully form common rules of the game which are clear to all manufacturers and investors. By investing in the economy of Kazakhstan, the Russian business will feel almost home in terms of conditions," he stressed.

Later the same day at the plenary session the heads of states discussed prospects of cooperation between Kazakhstan and Russia in the development of the transport and logistics potential of Eurasia, further efforts to lift trade barriers between the two countries and cooperation in tourism.

According to Putin, the development of the transport services market is one of the urgent issues. "Russia and Kazakhstan are at the crossroads of a major trade route between Europe and Asia. We have a common customs border, well developed railways and roads, and we can insure high security transport,” the Russian President said.

A number of official documents were signed at the plenary session.