Interaction between Russian and CIS trade representative offices was discussed in Tatarstan

Forum “Tatarstan business partners.New possibilities of cooperation” was held in National Culture Center “Kazan” by Rustam Minnikhanov. RT Prime Minister pointed out that Tatarstan has experience in cooperation with republic state structures, administrations from Russian regions, CIS countries and Baltic States.

Oleg Vlasov, RT Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade reported on the work of Tatarstan representative offices and trade houses in Russia. According to his words today 19 trade representative offices and 44 trade houses are functioning in Russia and abroad. Unfortunately, in current situation some trade houses have finance problems (in particular, some are in debt to republic, 24 are nearly closed).

However, trade turnover in Russian regions and CIS countries made 6 billion RUR in 2007. For the first half-year, 2008 the figure was 4,5 billion RUR. Mainly it’s the petrochemistry and machine-building production.

Rustam Minnikhanov noted that today’s work system of Tatarstan trade houses and representative offices is not so efficient. The problem is that they don’t contact properly with foreign offices. RT Prime Minister offered Minister of Industry and Trade to change the system completely.

Rinat Zakirov, Chairman of Executive Committee of World Tatar Congress, Leonid Alekhin, general Director of JSC “Kazanorgsintez”, Timur Shagivaleev, Chairman of RT Small and Medium Enterprises Development Committee also reported to the point.