Rustam Minnikhanov: India is one of the leading foreign economic partners of Tatarstan

On November 14, in the Kazan Kremlin, Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov had a meeting with Ambassador of India to Russia Pankaj Saran.

Welcoming the guests in Kazan, Minnikhanov noted that India has achieved significant progress in social and economic development and has strengthened its credibility in the international arena recently.

Relations between Russia and India are based on strong traditions of friendship and mutual respect and are developing in the spirit of strategic partnership, Tatarstan President emphasized.

Tatarstan President briefed about his visit to New Delhi and Mumbai in November 2014, during which a number of meetings with heads of ministries and representatives of major Indian companies were held. 

He reminded that in 2010 "KAMAZ" Automaker opened its truck assembly plant in India. Last year, the company was reorganized from a manufacturing company into a research center.

At the same time, we have a lot of opportunities for the development of economic cooperation, Minnikhanov said. Tatarstan is interested in promoting its other enterprises which produce ships, gas-pumping equipment, tires, compressors, medical instruments, engineering products and petrochemicals. In its turn, India can increase the supply of the goods, including tea, coffee, spices, textile and so on.

India is one of the world's leading software developers. Minnikhanov said that Tatarstan aims to become Russia's leading center in terms of IT-technologies. Last year, the first stage of the Kazan innovative satellite town, Innopolis Special Economic Zone, was opened in the republic. Rustam Minnikhanov invited Indian companies to visit Innopolis to get familiar with its opportunities.

Tatarstan President continued that relations in the field of education are developing successfully. More than 700 Indian students are studying in Kazan State Medical University and 53 students from India are undergoing training in Kazan State University.

"Tatarstan and India have great potential for cooperation in the field of agriculture, health, sports, tourism, humanitarian and cultural exchange. We should continue work in all these areas," Minnikhanov said.

In his turn Pankaj Saran said that this is his first trip to Tatarstan as Ambassador of India to Russia. He thanked Rustam Minnikhanov for excellent organization of the visit of the Indian delegation to Tatarstan.

“Today, India is interested in expanding bilateral cooperation with Tatarstan in many areas. Our country is actively cooperating with the company "KAMAZ" and Kazan Helicopter Plant. I am sure that in the future we will be able to undertake more ambitious projects," the ambassador added.