Rustam Minnikhanov: Tatarstan and Bukhara region have good cooperation prospects

On 26 July in the beginning of their meeting in the Kazan Kremlin, the Rais (Head) of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov and the Hokim of Bukhara region of Uzbekistan Botir Zaripov witnessed the procedure of singing an MOU in tourism between the State Committee on Tourism of the republic and the Directorate of Tourism of Bukhara region and an agreement on cooperation between Chambers of Commerce of the republic and the region.

Rustam Minnikhanov thanked Botir Zaripov for the attention he attaches to the development of cooperation with Tatarstan and reminded about his visit to Bukhara in April of the current year, when he attended a number of facilities including the site of the Special Industrial Park “Bukhara Complex of Development of Industry”, the project being implemented with the support of Tatarstan. “I am sure the implementation of the planned projects will facilitate strengthening relations between Tatarstan and Bukhara region,” – Rustam Minnikhanov said.

He emphasized that the republic highly appreciates the opportunity of expanding cooperation with Uzbekistan within the framework of friendly Russia-Uzbekistan ties, with special merit for this given to the leaders of both countries.

Rustam Minnikhanov reminded about the visit of Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to Kazan in February of the current year and Tatarstan delegations going to Tashkent, Surkhondaryo, Bukhara and Navoi regions and taking part in the international industrial exhibition “INNOPROM. Central Asia” in Tashkent.

He also informed that last year the trade turnover between Tatarstan and Uzbekistan made 370m US dollars, having demonstrated the growth of 27%. “We should go on increasing the amount and range of mutual deliveries of goods and services. We have everything necessary to do this,” he said and reminded about the General Consulate of Uzbekistan in Kazan and the representative office of Tatarstan in Tahskent, and direct flights from Kazan to Tashkent, Samarkand and Fergana.

Rustam Minnikhanov put special emphasis on the development of interaction in spheres of agribusiness, culture, tourism, sports, science and education and told about joint work in such events as the KazanForum, the Strategic Vision Group: Russia-the Islamic World and the BRICS Games held in Kazan.

“I am sure your current visit to Tatarstan will facilitate further development of our interaction,” Rustam Minnikhanov concluded.

In his turn Botir Zaripov thanked for a warm welcome and an opportunity to get acquainted with best practices of Tatarstan as the delegation visit programme includes the Chamber of Commerce, the IT Park, the Khimgrad, Innopolis and the Agribusiness Park.