On September 4 speaking at the opening ceremony of Tatarstan-Turkish business forum Tatarstan President noted high level of trade and economic relations between Tatarstan and Turkey, however the countries should use their potential at full.

Officials of 85 Turkish and 170 Tatarstan companies working in the sphere of automotive components production, woodworking and building industry take part in the forum.

Welcoming participants of the forum, Rustam Minnikhanov said that holding meetings with Turkish businessmen has become a good tradition.

Russian and Turkish leadership pays much attention to development of cooperation in many spheres. He noted that Turkey is one of the leading foreign partners of Tatarstan. The volume of trade turnover between Tatarstan and Turkey in 2012 made 930 mln rubles, the amount of announced investments – 1.5 bln rubles. Turkey takes the first place by the number of joint enterprises in Tatarstan.

Rustam Minnikhanov reminded that a session of Russian-Turkish commission was held in Tatarstan in 2011, Consulate General is working in Kazan, and a representative office of Tatarstan – in Istanbul. There is a visa-free entry between Russia and Turkey. Regular flights are available between Kazan and Istanbul.

Rustam Minnikhanov continued that Tatarstan is one of the most attractive and economically developed regions in Russia. Among prospective areas of cooperation he pointed out petrochemistry, energy sector, engineering, production of automotive components, agriculture, high technologies, medicine, and other industries.

Turkish Minister of Economy Zafer Chaglayan said that support of Tatarstan President and Turkish Prime Minister plays an important role in development of relationships between Tatarstan and Turkey.

Minister of Industry and Trade Ravil Zaripov presented Tatarstan investment and economic potential.

The Agreement on cooperation between Tatarstan Ministry of Industry and Trade and Turkish Exporters Assembly, and trilateral protocol between Administration of Naberezhnye Chelny town, Eurogroup and Compas Engineering on building a multi-purpose housing complex in Naberezhnye Chelny were signed during the forum.