Rustam Minnikhanov and Danish Ambassador to Russia discuss prospects for cooperation between Tatarstan and Denmark

On October 1, at the Kazan Kremlin, Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov had a meeting with Ambassador of Denmark to Russia Carsten Søndergaard.

Carsten Søndergaard was appointed Ambassador of Denmark to Russia in August this year. At various times he served as Ambassador of Denmark in Turkey, Germany and Ireland.

During his visit to Tatarstan, Søndergaard plans to take part in the opening ceremony of a new production line at the Rockwool plant in the Alabuga Special Economic Zone, which will be held tomorrow on the 2nd of October.

Welcoming the ambassador in Kazan, Minnikhanov noted that Tatarstan is actively cooperating with Denmark as part of Russian-Danish relations.

Danish business is successfully developing its activities in Tatarstan. Rockwool launched one of the Europe's largest plants for manufacturing non-combustible materials at the Alabuga Special Economic Zone in 2012. Tomorrow, it is planned to open the second stage of the project for the production of of substrates from Grodan mineral wool. 

Moreover, the republic uses the experience of Denmark in the field of resource and energy saving. Tatarstan enterprises and universities interact with Danfoss and Haldor Topsoe companies.

Minnikhanov stressed that by the end of 2017, the trade turnover between Tatarstan and Denmark increased significantly. According to him, this dynamic should be maintained. Moreover, there is a great potential for deepening mutually beneficial ties in a number of areas, including power engineering sector, high technology, engineering, health and pharmaceutical industry, agro-industrial sector, investment and innovation and production sector, Tatarstan President continued. 

In his turn, Søndergaard noted the high economic and investment potential of Tatarstan. “This is my first, but I am sure that this is not the last visit to your republic. The cooperation between Tatarstan and Denmark is developing, the trade turnover is growing, humanitarian ties are strengthening,” he said.

The ambassador said that today there are about 200 Danish companies on the Russian market. “My task is to facilitate the expansion of the presence of Danish companies in Russia,” he added.

Aide to Tatarstan President Radik Gimatdinov, Head of Tatarstan Investment Development Agency Taliya Minullina, representatives of regional ministries and enterprises took part in the meeting.