Rustam Minnikhanov discuss issues of cooperation with former Prime Minister of Malaysia

March, 10. President of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov met with former Prime Minister of Malaysia Makhatkhir Mokhamad in Moscow. Tatarstan was presented by Aide to RT President Iskander Muflikhanov and Chairman on developing small and medium entrepreneurship Linar Yakupov.

Rustam Minnikhanov got acquainted with Dr Makhatkhir Mokhamad in June 2010 in Kazan at international summit of Islamic business and finances. An official visit of RT President to Malaysia took place in December 2010. In the course of visit meetings with prominent political figures and representatives of Malaysian companies were held.

By words of Aide to RT President Iskander Muflikhanov, projects of Tatarstan and Malaysia are being intensively realized. These are joint projects on “KAMAZ”, shipbuilding plant named after A.M.Gorki (Zelenodolsk region). On finishing the meeting, Iskander Muflikhanov told that Tatarstan enterprises are interested in purchasing palm oil input of high quality.

Malaysia and Tatarstan cooperate in educational sphere. In January 2011 Malaysian students started training at Kazan state medical university. Malaysian educational exhibition will be held in Kazan on April 8-9 2011. Officials of Malaysian universities, ministry of education will take part in the event. There issues of cooperation between Malaysia and Tatarstan in educational sector will be discussed. Moreover, in the mid-April Tatarstan specialists will visit Malaysia to explore issues of Islamic finance and banking.

Necessity of air service between Kazan and capital of Malaysia Kuala Lumpur was debated likewise at the meeting. Technical and economic grounds of this issue are being worked out currently.

Makhatkhir Mokhamad held a post of Malaysian Prime Minister from 1981 to 2003. During his governance Malaysia turned from the country with poorly developed agrarian economy into one of “Asian tigers”. Due to his efforts new economic policy and national policy of development were successfully implemented in the country. Currently the strategy of turning Malaysia into modern, high-tech state is being realized.