Rustam Minnikhanov: Today Tatarstan actively works with partners from Uzbekistan

On 4 October, speaking at a plenary session of the III Forum of Interregional Cooperation between Russia and Uzbekistan held with participation of the Russian Deputy Prime Minister- the Minister of Industry and Trade of the country Denis Manturov and Uzbekistan Deputy Prime Minister Jamshid Khodjaev, the Rais (Head) of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov said that today the republic is actively interacting with Uzbekistan partners and first of all in economy and investments. 

In the beginning of the session, Denis Manturov read out greetings from Russian President Vladimir Putin to participants and guests of the forum, which said: “Your forum is a really efficient mechanism of a direct dialogue with participation of heads of regional and municipal power bodies, businessmen, and workers of science, culture and education. The forum focuses on various aspects of interaction in the spheres of transport, industry, trade, logistics, tourism and the youth policy. All these directions already have good ground work and the important task for now is to find new promising forms and methods of joint work.” 

In his greeting , which was read out by Jamshid Khodjaev, Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev stated that the forum proved its efficiency and turned into a serious platform of generation of promising ideas and practical proposals in further deepening of relations between Russia and Uzbekistan. ”It is extremely symbolic that Kazan has been chosen as a venue for today’s meeting. Historically this city has plaid an important role in development of trade-economic, cultural and educational exchanges with the Central Asia. Currently relations of Uzbekistan and Tatarstan, as well as those with other regions of Russia, are characterized by high dynamics of cooperation,” the greeting said. 

Rustam Minnikhanov emphasized that Tatarstan appreciates the opportunity to expand cooperation with Uzbekistan within the framework of friendly Russia-Uzbekistan relations. “It is a great honor for us to welcome representative delegations of regions of our countries in Kazan. Setting up and strengthening direct business contacts and practical interaction of the regions are an important part in inter-state relations,” he said. 

He also told participants of the session that a visit of Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev , which will be the  first visit of Uzbekistan President to Kazan will mark a new stage in development of cooperation between republics. The Rais of the republic stated that by the results of 2022 the foreign trade turnover of the republic was estimated as 18.9bn dollars. Last year the trade turnover between Tatarstan and Uzbekistan showed the 50 per cent growth and reached 290m dollars. In the first six months of the current year the trade turnover grew by another 30 per cent, he said and added: “We should continue increasing the amount and the range of mutually shipped products and services and implementation of joint projects. We have everything we need for that.” 

He informed that there is a representative office of Tatarstan working in Tashkent and invited representatives of Uzbekistan business to take part in large international events to be held in Kazan next year, namely the KazanForum and the Games of the Future . He also mentioned the BRICS and BRI CS+ summits to be held in Kazan next year and added: “I am sure Uzbekistan is interested in developing active interaction with BRICS countries.” 

At the session heads of a number of Russian regions and hokims of regions of Uzbekistan told about their experience of inter-regional cooperation and stated the most promising spheres for further development of partnership relations.