Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov and Senegal Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Russia Mamadou Saliu Diouf have today discussed prospects for economic and cultural cooperation at a meeting at the Cabinet of Ministers.

The Senegalese ambassador immediately after the meeting told journalists the Republic of Senegal was interested in developing economic, public and cultural cooperation with Tatarstan, every condition for which was available. “The populations of Tatarstan and Senegal have much in common. The Muslim religion is widespread in both republics. The Republic of Tatarstan is well-known thanks to the JSC Kamaz products and the Tatarstan’s team's participation in the Paris-Dakar rally race,” the guest said.

The Tatarstan President director of the external relations department, aide to Tatarstan President on international affairs Timur Akulov said Senegal was an emerging country with a high potential. The republic has adopted a food programme, aimed to provide Senegal and African countries with food. Senegal is going to have a huge demand for machines and equipment manufactured by Tatarstan. The Republic of Senegal delegation that includes 6 people will tomorrow visit Kamaz and Sollers.

Based on the 2009 results, bilateral trade between the parties totalled $504.4 thousand, Senegal ranking 90th among the Tatarstan’s trading partners. The major exported items between 2007 and 2009 were land transportation vehicles. In 2007, a total of 26 Kamaz-5460 autos were supplied to Senegal, in 2008 – 5 Kamaz-5460 autos, in 2009 – 10 Kamaz-6460 autos.

The promising areas for cooperation between Tatarstan and Senegal include arranging supplies of the JSC Kamaz and JSC Yelaz to the Senegalese markets and West Africa states, expanding cooperation between the JSC Kazan Helicopter Plant and Senegalese companies. The priority areas include setting up service centres and training flight crews and engineers, cooperating between the JSC Tatneftekhiminvest Holding and petrochemical companies in Senegal, as well as considering the possibility to perform geological exploration for oil recovery in Senegal and West Africa with the participation of the JSC Tatneft.