More than 3,5 thousand guests from the APEC countries visited Kazan within the framework of forum “Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation” in the Tatarstan capital on May 20 – June 5. By and large, 37 different sessions, seminars, meetings, sessions of working groups and committees were held in Kazan.

Tatarstan first Deputy Minister of industry and trade Ruslan Kabirov informed at a briefing at the RT Government House that the Kazan forum was the biggest one by the number of participants and level of events held.

“Tatarstan was chosen for holding events of the APEC forum, it means our republic enjoys high confidence and acknowledgement of its achievements in economic development,” deputy minister said. He reminded that in accordance with outcomes of 2011, Tatarstan’s foreign trade turnover made 25 bln dollars, including 1,5 bln dollars with APEC countries.

“Major projects with participation of APEC countries are realized in different economic sectors of republic. Trade-economic cooperation of Tatarstan with China, USA, Vietnam, Japan, Canada, and Indonesia is developing. Republic actively cooperates with Singapore in the sphere of innovation infrastructure,” Ruslan Kabirov said.

Work on main issues of the agenda in the context of Russia’s set priorities continued during the events of the APEC forum in Kazan. Main topics discussed were liberalization of trade and investments, regional economic integration, food safety, development of transport-logistics chains and support of innovations.

Tatarstan representatives, officials of federal ministries and agencies took part in the events.

At the session dedicated to automobile industry representatives of the APEC states discussed issues of innovative development of the automobile sector and production of auto components which are considered very important sectors of the Tatarstan industry.

Attendees of the session of the expert group on issues of investments held on May 27 acquainted with realization of private-government partnership in republic. Moreover, construction projects of the motorway “Shali-Bavly” and Sviyazhsk interregional multimodal logistics center were presented.
The RF Minister of agriculture Nikolai Feodorov and RT Prime Minister Ildar Khalikov spoke at a ministerial meeting on issues of food safety.

First deputy chairman of the RF Government Igor Shuvalov, Minister of economic development Andrei Belousov, RT President Rustam Minnikhanov and Director general of WTO Pascal Lamy took part in the meeting of trade ministers of the APEC countries.

According to results of ministerial meetings, the Kazan Declaration on food safety and the Declaration of trade ministers were approved. The declarations will make the basis of a final document meant to be passed at the meeting of APEC leaders in Vladivostok.

The delegations which arrived in Tatarstan comprised experts and representatives of the international business community.

The RT Ministry of industry and trade, the Ministry of economy, the Ministry of agriculture and foodstuff, other ministries and Investment venture fund organized the exhibition-presentation of different areas of Tatarstan’s industrial and social-economic development.