Rustam Minnikhanov: Tatarstan and Abkhazia have all possibilities for ramping up their cooperation

On 31 January, speaking at his meeting in the Government house of the republic with Minister of Economy of Abkhazia Kristina Ozgan, who came on a visit to Tatarstan as the head of an Abkhazian delegation, Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov said that both republics have all possibilities for ramping up the trade turnover and cooperation.

The Abkhazian delegation arrived to Kazan on 30 January and already had meetings in the Ministry of Economy of Tatarstan and visited the regional Investments Development Agency (TIDA) where they were told about investment projects of Tatarstan.

Speaking at the meeting, Kristina Ozgan said that the delegation is very impressed and expressed her gratitude for possibility to study experience of the republic in various spheres. She reminded that after Abkhaz President Aslan Bzhania visited Tatarstan in 2022 it was decided to send a delegation of Abkhaz colleagues to study the experience of the republic.

In his turn Rustam Minnikhanov thanked for being interested in developing relations with Tatarstan and reminded that the Russian Federation acknowledged Abkhazia to be a sovereign state and there is a working agreement on alliance and strategic partnership, ongoing activity in strengthening the legislative basis and signing agreement in economics, humanities and other spheres. On top of that there is the Russia-Abkhazia intergovernmental commission in trade and economic cooperation and the Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin chairs it on the Russian side.

 He reminded: “Relations between Tatarstan and Abkhazia have a long and good history. In August 1994 our republics signed an agreement on friendship and cooperation. Abkhaz delegations regularly take part in various events in our republic. Even though our trade turnover is not big, there is a good progress”.

Tatarstan is ready to deliver KAMAZ trucks, tires, machine-building products, chemical and petrochemical, medical and pharmaceutical goods as well as to share its experience and achievements in territorial development, development of modern city infrastructure and attracting investments, Rustam Minnikhanov said and added that tourism and sanatorium-and-health-resorts are the growing points of cooperation.

He also said that the agreement between the republics also envisages inter-municipal cooperation and in 2015 Nurlat region from Tatarstan and Gudauta region from Abkhazia also signed a cooperation agreement.

Tatarstan Minister of Economy Midkhat Shagiakhmetov, Minister of Trade and Industry of the republic Oleg Korobchenko and Mayor of Kazan Ilsur Metshin also took part in the meeting.