A significant meeting took place today in Baku, where President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev welcomed Rais of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov at his residence. Minnikhanov expressed gratitude for the invitation to visit Azerbaijan, which had been agreed upon during Aliyev's earlier visit to Kazan for the BRICS Summit.
“We greatly value the opportunity to deepen cooperation with your country within the framework of the friendly relations between Russia and Azerbaijan,” Minnikhanov stated. He emphasized the increasing ties in recent years, noting that the trade turnover between Tatarstan and Azerbaijan reached $102 million last year. For the first nine months of this year, trade volume has already surpassed $80.8 million, reflecting substantial growth.
Minnikhanov highlighted the vast potential for enhancing trade, economic, and investment collaboration. He pointed out that several Tatarstan enterprises have been operating in Azerbaijan for years and are prepared to expand their presence. Additionally, he stressed the importance of developing trade through river and maritime routes, which are currently underutilized but could be leveraged through the Volga-Kama basin. He also shared his impressions of Azerbaijan’s Alat Free Economic Zone.
Potential Tatarstan exports to Azerbaijan include agricultural machinery, petrochemical products, oil and gas equipment, compressors, refrigeration units, and automotive tires.
President Ilham Aliyev warmly welcomed Minnikhanov, stating, “As we agreed in Kazan, we are concluding the year with a meeting here in Baku.” Minnikhanov expressed appreciation for Aliyev’s support of the Tatar community in Azerbaijan, which numbers around 18,000. He also acknowledged the active involvement of the Azerbaijani diaspora in Tatarstan’s cultural and social life, which, according to the latest census, includes 8,700 individuals.
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Photo: official website of the Rais RT
Based on materials from the Press Service of the Rais RT