Rustam Minnikhanov meets with Japan Association for Trade with Russia

Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov met with a delegation representing the Japan Association for Trade with Russia and NIS. The meeting took place at the House of Government. Director of the Presidential Department of Foreign Affairs – Aide to the Tatarstan President on international issues Iskander Muflikhanov and Tatarstan Industry and Trade Minister Ravil Zaripov also took part the meeting.

The Japan Association for Trade with Russia and Eastern Europe assists in developing business cooperation between Japan-based, Russian and former USSR and Eastern Europe enterprises. The association has over 200 members, including trade firms, industrial manufacturers, banks, insurance firms, industrial associations, agencies for passenger and cargo transportation and local governance authorities.

Opening the meeting, Rustam Minnikhanov stressed that Tatarstan appreciated the relations between Russia and Japan. Being a Russian constituent, the republic is interested in increasing contacts with Japan, he added.

The head of Tatarstan noted that a Japan-Tatarstan investment conference would be held during the delegation’s visit. “I hope it will allow us to build new ties and contacts, as well as to find new projects,” R. Minnikhanov said.

Tatarstan has solid contacts with several Japanese firms. In November 2010, a contract for building a fertiliser plant in Tatarstan’s Mendeleevsk was signed, he recalled.

R.Minnikhanov called on Japanese auto manufacturers to consider placing production facilities in Tatarstan.

“We are convinced the Republic of Tatarstan is a place that could be interesting for the Japanese business,” he stated.

ROTOBO President Takashi Nishioka said in turn there were quite a few attractive regions in Russia, other than Moscow and Saint-Petersburg, that could interest Japanese businesses. Tatarstan is well-known in Japan as a large industrial centre, he added.

The Japanese delegation presented some potentially beneficial areas for cooperation, including petrochemistry, energy and infrastructure. R. Minnikhanov suggested a more in-depth discussion be held with relevant ministers.