Rais of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov meets President of Guinea-Bissau Umaro Mokhtar Sissoco Embalo

On 10 May, speaking his meeting in the Kazan Kremlin with the President of Guinea-Bissau Umaro Mokhtar Sissoco Embalo, who came on a one day visit to Kazan, thanked his guest for the visit, which is especially important under current complicated international situation, and emphasized that relations between Russia and Guinea-Bissau are traditionally friendly. In October last year the diplomatic relations between the countries celebrated the 50th birthday

“Positions of Russia and Guinea-Bissau are close in many issues in particular in developing the multi-polar world and international safety, fighting terrorism and following the international law regulations. Geological reconnaissance, mining, development of infrastructure, power engineering, agriculture, fishery and development of cultural ties are promising spheres for cooperation,” he said. 

The Rais of Tatarstan stated that currently there is no interaction between the republic and Guinea-Bissau. “I am sure your visit will give an impetus to development of our business relations. Helicopters and trucks manufactured in the republic are well-known in the African markets and there are good prospects for joint work in machine-building, petrochemical industry, agriculture and innovational branches,” he said.

Mentioning the KazanForum, which starts in Kazan on 14 May next week, Rustam Minnikhanov said: “We will be happy to see a delegation from your country at the Forum.”

He also informed about work done by the Strategic Vision Group “Russia-the Islamic World”, large scale celebrations of the 1100th anniversary of adoption of Islam by Volga Bulgaria held in 2022, the events held in Kazan as the OIC Youth Capital in 2023 and added that Tatarstan is a pilot region introducing the Islamic banking in Russia. Rustam Minnikhanov told about Islamic education and the Bolgar Islamic Academy in the republic.

He informed his guest about important events, such as the BRICS Games and the BRICS Summit to be held in Kazan in the current year and emphasized that Tatarstan is interested in developing mutually beneficial cooperation with Guinea-Bissau.

In his turn Sissoco Embalo thanked for the high level of organization of his visit to Kazan and highly appreciated achievements of the republic in various branches of economy. He also named Tatarstan an example of inter-ethnic and inter-regional friendship. 

The President stated that currently there are all opportunities for development of mutually beneficial cooperation with Tatarstan “Yesterday I had a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin who spoke a lot and warmly about your republic and you. We hope to develop interaction with the republic within the framework of the agreement with the Russian Federation,” he said. 

In particular Sissoco Embalo expressed his interest in developing cooperation in machine-building, power and petrochemical industries. “Guinea-Bissau is ready to become a window to the African markets,” he added and invited Rustam Minnikhanov to come on a reciprocal visit to Guinea-Bissau. 

The Rais of the republic accepted the invitation with gratitude and proposed to organize a working group to study possible cooperation spheres. Sissoco Embalo supported this proposal and expressed his readiness to give a delegation of potential partners the high level welcome.