On December 3, participants of the second session of coordination council of Tatarstan mechanical engineering enterprises that was held within the framework of the 14th specialized exhibition "Mechanical engineering. Metalworking. Kazan” discussed issues of development of Tatarstan mechanical engineering industry.

Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov, Tatarstan Minister of Industry and Trade Ravil Zaripov, heads of enterprises, representatives of major Russian and foreign companies took part in the event.

Opening the session, Rustam Minnikhanov said that work of the Coordination council is very important for the republic and the whole country.

“Tatarstan is a region with developed industrial potential. Mechanical engineering complex is one of the most important economic sectors in the republic. There are 150 large and medium-size enterprises with 140, 000 employees in total,” Minnikhanov said.

The president also told about measure of state support for mechanical engineering enterprises and the network of resource centers of professional education, and engineering centers of laser technologies and medical simulators being created in Tatarstan.

Minnikhanov continued that the volume of supplies of Tatarstan enterprises for major Russian companies, such as OAO “Russian railways”, OAO “Gasprom”, “Lukoil”, made 14 billion roubles last year.

According to Minnikhanov, mechanical engineering enterprises help to realize modernization and create high-technology production. He mentioned the long-term programme of technological upgrade implemented by OAO “KAMAZ” Automaker.

Tatarstan President also noted that regional enterprises should take an active part in federal programmes, and that import substitution is a priority area of industrial policy in Russia. “Russian Federation and the Republic of Tatarstan are open for opening production facilities of foreign companies on their territories. I think we will hear a lot of interesting opinions at today’s session. Mechanical engineering enterprises should join their efforts,” he said.