Rustam Minnikhanov meets with Governor of Qazvin Province of Iran Ahmad Ajam

Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov met with Governor of the Province of Qazvin, the Islamic Republic of Iran Mr. Ahmad Ajam. The meeting took place at the Kazan Kremlin.

Rustam Minnikhanov greeted Ahmad Ajam and thanked him for visiting Tatarstan. He marked that today the republic attaches great importance to relations with countries of the Islamic world. He emphasized that the republic maintains close relationship with the Islamic Development Bank, the Islamic World Academy of Sciences and other public organizations founded by Islamic countries.

Talking about the relationship between Tatarstan and Iran, Rustam Minnikhanov reminded that First Tatarstan President Mintimer Shaimiev had visited Iran in 1996. During the visit, the Memorandum of Understanding between the Tatarstan Government and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran was signed. Rustam Minnikhanov visited Iran more than once as Tatarstan Prime Minister.

Rustam Minnikhanov said Tatarstan and Iran cooperation are trade and economy focused. The most active companies in this regard are OAO KAMAZ, JSC Kazan Helicopters and OAO Nizhnekamskneftekhim.

The Tatarstan President expressed confidence that there are numerous prospective directions for further cooperation with that country. Of big interest is the cooperation with Iran in education and cultural exchange. “I believe we have to raise to a new stage of cooperation at the provincial level. Your visit will become a starting point for that,” Rustam Minnikhanov said.

The dynamics in commodity turnover between Tatarstan and Iran is uneven. Over the 1st quarter of 2010 it made more than $19 mln. “It is not much for the country like Iran and our republic. We hope the turnover will increase,” Director of the Presidential Department of Foreign Affairs – Aide to the Tatarstan President on international issues Timur Akulov said.