On April 21 Tatarstan Prime Minister Ildar Khalikov, Head of the Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States, Compatriots Living Abroad and International Humanitarian Cooperation Konstantin Kosachev, Director of the Department for work with compatriots living abroad of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Anatoly Makarov, Tatarstan Vice-Premier Yury Kamaltynov took part in opening of International youth forum of Russian compatriots (April 21-24, Kazan).

To the point, 120 activists of youth Russian-speaking diasporas from 45 countries of the far and near abroad will take part in the event.

This forum is held every year in different Russian cities. Main subject of the forum 2014 is exchanging experience in the sphere of development of modern high-tech platforms and startups with the focus on the role of the younger generation in innovative activity.

Honourable guests from Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Federal Agency for Youth Affairs, Tatarstan Government, scientific experts, representatives of higher educational institutions, and Tatarstan innovative enterprises will take part in the forum.

The programme includes visits to Kazan Federal University, Kazan National Research Technical University, Kazan National Research Technological University, High Technology Park “IT park”, presentation of Tatarstan industrial and investment potential “Investment and innovative potential of the republic: outlines of new model of social and economic development”, projects of SEZ “Alabuga”, “Electronic Tatarstan”, “Innopolis”, “Smart city”, federal electronic trading platform, meetings and round tables with participation of members of Tatarstan scientific community.

The forum is organized by Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Tatarstan Government.

Welcoming participants of the forum at the opening ceremony today, Director of the Department for work with compatriots living abroad of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Anatoly Makarov read out the address of the Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov.

Welcoming the audience, Prime Minister Ildar Khalikov in his turn thanked Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for holding the forum in Kazan. He told about economic, innovative, sport, scientific and educational achievements of Tatarstan, and wished participants of the event to use their time profitably, and enjoy their staying in Kazan.

Head of the Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States, Compatriots Living Abroad and International Humanitarian Cooperation Konstantin Kosachev, in his turn, noted that the event is dedicated to a very important issue. He told about programmes implemented by the agency that might be interesting for participants of the forum.