R. Minnikhanov: “The venture fair is an excellent opportunity to see innovations”

Over 60 companies representing Russia, Canada and the UK take part in the 6th Kazan Venture Fair that has today opened in the capital of Tatarstan.

Attendees at the opening ceremony were President of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov, Prime Minister Ildar Khalikov, Russian Association of Direct and Venture Investment executive director Albina Nikkonen and other officials.

Sixty two companies from Canada, the UK, Russian regions, including Moscow, Novosibirsk, Tomsk and Tatarstan, are this year represented at the fair. The total requested investment is $225 million. By comparison, last year the figure was $160, in 2009 - $360. The number of participants was 55 and 40 respectively.

Most projects presented within the fair are related to the IT branch, television, advertisement (19), pharmacology and medicine (10).

Rustam Minnikhanov said at the ceremony this year’s edition was special. A Russian science festival is for the first time run alongside the main event. Students at the Kazan high school No 19 have, jointly with Singaporean peers, built a peace airplane symbolising absence of borders.

“The venture fair is an excellent opportunity to see innovations,” R. Minnikhanov stressed.

Albina Nikkonen noted the fair’s participants had for the 6th consecutive year gathered in Tatarstan, one of the most innovatively advanced regions of Russia. “It is a joy to see increasingly many new faces and new companies year-to-year,” she said. “I wish the dialogue between the entrepreneurs, investors and authorities representatives to succeed.”

After the opening the high-profile guests viewed the Kazan Venture Fair’s display.