NEWS

On March 23, speaking at the Switzerland-Tatarstan business forum, Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov, who is on a working visit in Geneva, said that Tatarstan is interested in attracting Swiss business and capital.

Welcoming the participants of the business forum, Minnikhanov thanked the representatives of the business circles for their interest shown to Tatarstan. He noted that Tatarstan delegation includes heads of ministries and departments of the republic, representatives of large enterprises. We expect that during the visit the business circles will open up new areas for cooperation and agree on joint projects, Tatarstan President added.

Minnikhanov noted that this forum is a good platform for discussing the state and prospects for the development of Tatarstan-Switzerland cooperation aimed at strengthening cooperation between Russia and Switzerland. 

According to Tatarstan President, the Russian leadership headed by President Vladimir Putin elected last Sunday, looks forward for constructive work with foreign partners. "We must give the right signals to business at the regional level. We hope that this visit will give a new impetus to the development of cooperation between Tatarstan and Swiss companies,” Minnikhanov said.

He added that Tatarstan has considerable experience of cooperation with Switzerland. Many Swiss companies are doing business in the republic. Last year, the trade turnover between Tatarstan and Switzerland increased by 2 per cent to make 121.3 million US dollars.

On March 23, during his working visit to Switzerland, Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov had a meeting with Head of the Department of Economic Development of the canton of Valais Gilbert Loretan.

The canton of Valais is one of the dynamically developing regions of Switzerland. The canton features oil refining, aluminum, chemical, woodworking, pulp and paper branches of industry, ferrous metallurgy, engineering and production of mechanical equipment. Agriculture is an important sector in Valais, especially cattle breeding and dairy farming.

Lonza, the manufacturer of chemical products, is one of the largest companies in the canton. Today, it is one of the world's largest chemicals and biotechnology companies, manufacturing products for the pharmaceutical, food and cosmetic industries, and the healthcare sector. It has 40 factories and research units and serves 10 thousand companies in 30 countries. Lonza has its representation office in Moscow.

On March 23, during his working visit to Geneva (Switzerland), Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov held a number of business meetings. The task force of Tatarstan includes Minister of Economic Affairs Farid Abdulganiev.

Tatarstan President met authorities of the Association of Small and Medium-sized Businesses of Germany. The largest of its kind organization of Europe unites about 600,000 companies with the total trade approaching to one trillion dollars. To date, the Association protects the interests of over 11 million people, and also actively opposes anti-Russian sanctions. It is planned to establish offices in Russia to support the development of business projects between Russia and Germany.

Minnikhanov noted that Germany is one of the main foreign partners of Tatarstan. The country’s investment represents a significant share in total investment in the republic. 

At a meeting with Vice President of the Swiss Center for Electronics and Microtechnology (CSEM) George Kotrotsios, the parties noted the high potential of mutual cooperation in the area of IT and radio electronics. The CSEM is involved in a wide range of research and development, in particular, it manufactures modules for space satellites, has its own experience for processing information and writing software. The company works in such areas as aeronautics and transportation, biotechnology, information technology and telecommunications, energy and construction, agriculture and processing industry.

During the meeting, in the presence of Tatarstan President, the Swiss Center for Electronics and Microtechnology and Tatarstan Ministry of Information and Communications signed an agreement of intent. 

Later on the same day, Minnikhanov had a meeting with Filippo Lombardi, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee at the Swiss Council of States, co-Chairman of the Swiss-Russian Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group, where he briefed about the economy of Tatarstan, indicating the main industries such as petrochemical, oil refining, machine building, including the manufacturing of cars, ships and helicopters. He said that Tatarstan is ready to develop bilateral interaction with the business community in Switzerland as part of Russian-Swiss relations.

On March 22, 2018 a training center of Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) in Kazan hosted IV Russian research and development conference on the following topic: "Control of economic concentration as a mechanism for implementing national policy on competition development."

The conference was attended by representatives of the central office of FAS Russia and its regional bodies, representatives of other state and regional authorities, scientific and educational communities, experts and entrepreneurs.

The "Perspektiva" resource center for development and extended education of civil society institutes launches a series of workshops with heads of non-commercial organizations in Zakamye for targeted information support with a topic of "Grants reporting". The first workshop will be held in an International Friendship Center of Nizhnekamsk on
March 23 present year at 3:00 p.m. (Khimikov avenue, 74B).

Workshop attendees will discuss peculiarities of reporting for grant-giving organizations, types of such documents as well as delivery deadlines.

Today delegation of representatives from Small and Medium Businesses in road building industry of Republic of Tatarstan is on business mission in Amsterdam, where takes place a big event called INTERTRAFFIC AMSTERDAM 2018.

Today Ministry of Economic Affairs of Republic of Tatarstan held a workshop on the following topic: "Investment activity in the regions of Russia. Creation of "Single window" for implementation of investment projects". The participants of the workshop discussed strategies for support of investment projects, planned to be implemented with the government support, stages of selection and implementation, as well as conclusion of agreements and roadmap for investment project implementation.

The speeches were presented by deputy minister of economics of Republic of Tatarstan Bulat Khaziakhmetov, deputy chairman of the contest organizing committee Oleg Khovalkin and representatives of Sberbank PJSC Mikhail Yurkov and Kazan branch of SAO VSK Corporate Insurance Center Svetlana Lugovnina.

Russia prime-minister Dmitriy Medvedev signed an order to extend the list of customers, who should ensure mandatory participation of small and medium businesses in purchasing.  The document was published on the site of the government.

"The lists of particular customers, purchase plans of which are assessed for compliance to requirements of small and medium businesses participating in purchasing, are extended by more than 600 customers of regional and federal levels", – says explanatory note to the order.

It's noted that this measure is caused by reduced thresholds of annual revenue and assets, which allow or require a customer to purchase from small and medium businesses.

Today the Minister of Economy of Tatarstan Farid Abdulganiev visited the participants of the WorldSkills Russia championship events. He reviewed the training of young professionals in the "Entrepreneurship" competence.  In the late April already the National team will participate in the qualifying tournament in Yaroslavl. "You are representing the republic, and, thus, have already proven your abilities. High level of expectation is set, we are ready to provide comprehensive support", - noted the Minister of Economy. Now they are taking English classes, solving case studies, practicing skills of teamwork and presentation of projects. 

One of the last year's winners, Karina Khaleeva, also joined the meeting. Her team won in the final of the V National Championship "Young Professionals" (WorldSkills Russia - 2017). Now she is getting ready to represent the country in Finland at Taiyaja - 2018 (Finnish National Skills Competition).

A meeting of the Expert Council of the State Duma Committee on Economic Policy, Industry, Innovative Development and Entrepreneurship was held in Moscow. Issues of invention and rationalization, intellectual property, engineering, child scientific and technical creativity were reviewed at the meeting.

The main topic of discussion was the intellectual property related state policy, as well as issues of commercialization and protection of the results of intellectual activity.

The meeting was attended by the Deputy Ministet of Economy of Tatarstan Bulat Khaziakhmetov.