Today, President of the Republic of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov addressed a welcoming speech to the participants of the Turkmen-Russian Business Forum held in Ashgabat on January 19 and 20, 2023.
The forum is held to deepen bilateral trade, economic and industrial cooperation, especially between the business communities and organizations of the two countries. More than 300 representatives of state organizations and private companies are taking part in the business forum.
The Russian delegation to the Turkmen capital of Ashgabat included representatives of the Russian Presidential Administration and the State Duma of the Federal Assembly, as well as the Russian Export Center, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Ministry of Education and Science, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Construction, the Ministry of Economic Development, the Ministry of Industry and Trade and others.
Rustam Minnikhanov expressed gratitude to Prime Minister of Russia Mikhail Mishustin and President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhametov for the opportunity to participate in the opening of the Turkmen-Russian forum and for the support in implementing joint projects and the great attention to the development of interregional relations.
Tatarstan, as one of the leading industrialized regions of the Russian Federation, is actively involved in the development of cooperation between the two countries, said Rustam Minnikhanov. He reminded that our leading companies - such as KAMAZ, Tatneft, Kazan Helicopter Plant, KER Holding, Shipbuilding Company and others - have been successfully operating in Turkmenistan for many years. "Contracts and deliveries of vehicles (KAMAZ) have been fulfilled, auto centers were opened in the cities of Turkmenbashi, Mary, Turkmenabat, besides one more auto center is going to be opened this year - in Dashoguz. Work on further opening of new projects is under way," Rustam Minnikhanov stressed.
Regarding cooperation with the KHP, Turkmenistan received the Ansat medical helicopter designed for providing emergency ambulance services to the population.
The Gorky Zelenodolsk Plant supplied high-speed passenger ships to Turkmenistan, and there are plans to build a container ship.
KER Holding cooperates with Turkmen partners on gas turbine engines.
"There is considerable potential for the development of ties in such areas as oil exploration, oil production and gas transportation. Automobile, aviation, and shipbuilding, energy, supply of chemical products, pharmaceuticals and medicine, agro-industrial complex and many other directions," the president of tatarstan noted.
In 2021 the volume of our trade turnover amounted to $77.5 million, Rustam Minnikhanov said, unfortunately the pandemic and other circumstances have reduced the volume of trade turnover, but active work on its growth continues.
"I wanted to thank the leadership of Turkmenistan in terms of opening the Consulate General in Kazan, which works successfully. There is the representative office of the Republic of Tatarstan in Ashgabat. And of course I would like to thank the leadership of the country for the fact that there is a direct flight connection with Turkmenistan. Cooperation in culture, science, sports and tourism is also important. The number of Turkmen students studying at our universities in Tatarstan is growing every year. At the moment, there are 6,212 of them. It is almost a quarter of all foreign students studying in the Republic," said Rustam Minnikhanov.
Rustam Minnikhanov also emphasized that Turkmenistan confidently holds the first position in the number of foreign students in the Republic of Tatarstan.
"We are grateful to the Turkmen side for supporting the Tatars living in Turkmenistan, about 15 thousand people. Also in the Republic of Tatarstan we pay great attention to the national and cultural autonomy of Turkmens. There are already over 3 thousand of them," Rustam Minnikhanov emphasized.
Rustam Minnikhanov also reminded that Kazan hosts the annual economic forum "KazanSummit. Russia - Islamic World".
He invited the Turkmen delegation to take part in the International Forum "KazanSummit. Russia - Islamic World", as well as to participate in other events held in the country.
In conclusion, Rustam Minnikhanov wished successful work to all the participants of the Turkmen-Russian Business Forum for the benefit of strengthening the Russian-Turkmen relations.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: official website of the President of the Republic of Tatarstan
Based on materials from the Press Service of the President of the Republic of Tatarstan