“Opening of Belarus Embassy branch in Kazan should lead to development of cooperation between Tatarstan and Belarus”, - RT President Rustam Minnikhanov said at a meeting with Ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of Belarus in Russia Vasily Dolgolev. The meeting took place in House of RT government with participation of RT Premier Ildar Khalikov, Mayor of Kazan Ilsur Metshin, RT Minister of transport and road facilities Lenar Safin and RT Minister of industry and trade Ravil Zaripov.

Vasily Dolgolev introduced Head of recently opened branch of Belarus Embassy in Kazan - Ruslan Drozd.

Opening the meeting, Rustam Minnikhanov noted that economic cooperation between Tatarstan and Belarus had been historically developing. According to RT President, Belarus takes the 5-6th place among foreign-trade partners of Tatarstan by volume of commodity circulation. Oil is exported from RT, Belarus components, tractors, trolleybuses are imported in Tatarstan. R.Minnikhanov thanked Belarus party for supporting the project on constructing filling stations. He separately expressed gratitude for procurement of potatoes in autumn 2010.

By words of RT President, Tatarstan and Belarus have several good joint projects. One of the most successful is assembly of tractors of Minsk tractor works in Elabuga region of RT. Also cooperation of Tatarstan and Belarus educational institutions is developing and there are prospects in the sphere of aircraft building.

R.Minnikhanov wished good luck to the Head of branch Ruslan Drozd in his work.

Vasily Dolgolev called Tatarstan one of the major partners of Belarus. By his words, two assembling works of Minsk tractor works functioning in Elabuga region are the best on the territory of Russian Federation.