Rustam Minnikhanov: There is significant potential for expanding our interaction with the business of the Netherlands

On April 2, speaking at a round-table meeting with the participation of the Dutch business community, Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov, who is on a working visit in the Kingdom of Netherlands, expressed his gratitude to the leadership of the Netherlands for supporting joint projects and initiatives.

Speaking at the event, Minnikhanov said that Tatarstan is interested in attracting capital to the region and is pleased to expand mutually beneficial ties.

“We expect that during our today's meeting the business community will open up new areas for cooperation, agree on joint projects,” he said.

Minnikhanov continued that the Kingdom of the Netherlands is one of the leading foreign partners of Tatarstan.  For example, the trade turnover with the Netherlands increased by one third and amounted to about 2.8 billion US dollars in 2018. The companies of Tatarstan and the Netherlands cooperate in the field of oil production and petrochemical industry.

Cooperation with the Philips company is carried out in the field of health care, illumination supply of infrastructure facilities, electrical engineering. Besides, the Dutch agro-industrial equipment, technology and breeding animals are widely used in the agricultural sector of the republic. There is DSM plant producing high-quality animal premixes in Naberezhnye Chelny.

“We are grateful to the Dutch companies that are operating in our republic,” Minnikhanov said. “Official contacts and business visits give a good impetus for cooperation. Our embassies and trade missions help a lot in this work. ”

At the same time, according to Tatarstan President, there is significant potential for expanding interaction with the business of the Netherlands. 

“We need to look for new ways to increase cooperation, primarily in the field of innovation. We pay much attention to innovations and new technology. We are interested that the Dutch companies choose our republic as a starting platform for doing business in Russia,” Minnikhanov said.

We invite you to cooperate with Tatarstan, Minnikhanov said. “I am sure that we will find many projects for joint implementation," he added. 

Secretary General of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate of the Netherlands Maarten Kamps addressed the meeting with a welcoming speech.

It was noted that the regional cooperation is a driver of relations at the present time.