Rustam Minnikhanov holds a number of business meetings in Geneva

On March 23, during his working visit to Geneva (Switzerland), Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov held a number of business meetings.

He first met senior executives of the technopark "Y". The Technopark is the first and largest Swiss scientific and technical park. The main activities of the residents are information and medical technologies and engineering. The Technopark occupies the area of 52 hectares, there are over 150 companies and scientific research institutions among the residents.

Minnikhanov and Director General of InnoPark, Inno Fund (managing company of the technopark "Y") François Egger discussed prospects for cooperative development in the area of innovation technologies, issues of cooperation in the area of scientific and technological research, and also the exchange of experience in promotion of start-ups to the international market.

Tatarstan President further met authorities of the Association of Small and Medium-sized Businesses of Germany. The largest of its kind organization of Europe unites about 600,000 companies with the total trade approaching to one trillion dollars. To date, the Association protects the interests of over 11 million people, and also actively opposes anti-Russian sanctions. It is planned to establish offices in Russia to support the development of business projects between Russia and Germany.

Minnikhanov noted that Germany is one of the main foreign partners of Tatarstan. The country’s investment represents a significant share in total investment in the republic. 

At a meeting with Vice President of the Swiss Center for Electronics and Microtechnology (CSEM) George Kotrotsios, the parties noted the high potential of mutual cooperation in the area of IT and radio electronics. The CSEM is involved in a wide range of research and development, in particular, it manufactures modules for space satellites, has its own experience for processing information and writing software. The company works in such areas as aeronautics and transportation, biotechnology, information technology and telecommunications, energy and construction, agriculture and processing industry.

During the meeting, in the presence of Tatarstan President, the Swiss Center for Electronics and Microtechnology and Tatarstan Ministry of Information and Communications signed an agreement of intent. 

Later on the same day, Minnikhanov had a meeting with Filippo Lombardi, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee at the Swiss Council of States, co-Chairman of the Swiss-Russian Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group, where he briefed about the economy of Tatarstan, indicating the main industries such as petrochemical, oil refining, machine building, including the manufacturing of cars, ships and helicopters. He said that Tatarstan is ready to develop bilateral interaction with the business community in Switzerland as part of Russian-Swiss relations.