Rustam Minnikhanov: ''The best wine in Europe is in South Moravia''
A delegation of the South Moravian Region of the Czech Republic headed by Governor Bohumil Šimek pays a business visit to Tatarstan
A delegation of the South Moravian Region of the Czech Republic headed by Governor Bohumil Šimek pays a business visit to Tatarstan. The Czech guests visited Eidos Medical Science Centre Regional Engineering Centre of Medical Simulators, watched a presentation of the Investment Development Agency. The visiting programme of the Czech Republic also includes a trip to the island-city of Sviyazhsk and Innopolis. Realnoe Vremya's reporter was at the meeting with the president of Tatarstan in the Kazan Kremlin where possible cooperation areas of both regions were discussed.
''France tries to compete with you, but it is useless!''
The Czech Republic is one of the leading foreign economic partners of Tatarstan. The republic is among the six regions of the Russian Federation that were officially approved by the government of the Czech Republic as priority for cooperation.
The South Moravian Region is located in the south-east of the Czech Republic. The population totals 1,2 million people. It is among the regions with considerable economic potential. Over 10% of the Czech Republic's GDP is manufactured here. Manufacturing, which accounts for ¼ of the region's GRP, has the dominating position in the region's economy.
Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov thanked the governor of the South Moravian Region for the visit. He recalled he was in the region in April 2016. It seems that the wine made in South Moravian Region made a strong impression on the head of Tatarstan. He called it ''the best wine in Europe'' and added that ''France tries to compete with you, but it is useless!''.
The Tatarstan president also recalled a meeting with President of the Czech Republic Miloš Zeman in May last year and expressed his hoped to make time during the visit to Russia and visit Tatarstan.
According to Rustam Minnikhanov, Tatarstan and the Czech Republic established good, kind relations and had business contacts.
''We held a Czech-Tatarstan business forum, exhibitions. It is very pleasant for us that our delegations constantly communicate. It is clear that at the level of your region and our republic, we make a contribution to conserving relations between Russia and the Czech Republic. It is no secret that the international climate is not simple, and it is important to save the relations in such conditions. Tatarstan and the South Moravian Region don't have problems, they did not and won't have them!'' the president stressed.
''We cover all the areas''
The head of Tatarstan reminded that the Commercial and Economic Representative Office of Tatarstan works in the Czech Republic. A joint working group coordinating the commercial and economic cooperation of the Republic of Tatarstan and the Czech Republic was created, there is a visa centre of the Czech Republic, directs flights are operated from Kazan to Prague.
Then the Tatarstan president mentioned the areas the republics already work in together: they cooperate in petrochemistry, power engineering, mechanical engineering, machine tool engineering, automotive industry, pharmaceutics.
''A big job was done on modernisation of outside lighting, realisation of projects in the Agricultural and Industrial Complex as well as science, education, culture and tourism. We cover all the industries,'' the Tatarstan president noted and called prospective new possibilities for cooperation: nanotechnologies, biotechnologies, robotics, composite production.
Rustam Minnikhanov is sure that Tatarstan has serious potential in terms of infrastructure to attract Czech investments: there are two special economic zones, a chain of technoparks, industrial platforms.
The Tatarstan president proudly told about Tatarstan's capabilities in holding sports events.
''We had Universiade, FINA World Championships. Next year I invite you to the Football World Cup.''
Having known that the Czech team won't participate in the world cup, he noted with a smile: ''It is easier, you will support the best team.'' And he shared his impressions of the Confederations Cup games that took place in Kazan this year: ''We saw the strongest teamы. Even my wife who never visited football matches visited all the matches with me.''
''I did not come empty-handed''
Bohumil Šimek became the governor of South Moravian Region this year. And it has been his first visit to Tatarstan. Nevertheless, Kazan, its industrial and scientific potential have already impressed him.
As Bohumil Šimek said, they came with a strong team. They knew that Tatarstan was an economically strong region and are going to develop relations with it in culture, tourism and other areas. ''I did not come empty-handed,'' he said. According to him, he brought a list of companies that are interested in cooperation with the republic. In addition, both big and small companies were in the list.
The governor of the South Moravian Regional invited enterprises of Tatarstan to participate in a mechanical engineering exhibition that will take place in the region at the beginning of October. In his opinion, it will be possible to push the cooperation between Tatarstan and the South Moravian Region to a new level.
As Bohumil Šimek told, they consider Tatarstan as the most developed region of Russia. South Moravia is also a region with considerable potential. So such cooperation of the strong regions will create the most favourable conditions for further development of projects in science, research including education, health, tourism.
Bohumil Šimek said Tatarstan and the Czech region would create a working group to design the road map for further cooperation.
''Unfortunately, we fell a bit behind on this issue''
Talking to journalists after the meeting, Rustam Minnikhanov confirmed Tatarstan's participation in the mechanical engineering exhibition in the Czech Republic and shared his impressions of Czech enterprises.
''We need to work together on educational programmes. South Moravia has powerful educational centres, new technologies. Today we have been told about unique microscopes that enable to see nanoparticles. There is a company making gas equipment and dealing with water treatment projects. It is very topical. An enterprise manufacturing tools to process glass and metal is interesting. The Czech delegation also has a representative of a company that has projects in renewable energy. Unfortunately, we fell a bit behind on this issue. A serious job on the use of the wind and solar energy is done in the world. Some countries' share of this energy in the total energy production reaches 20%.''
The Tatarstan president expressed confidence that the list of companies that was given by the Czech side will allow to work on joint projects in a more specific way. There will be prepared a protocol after the visit of the Czech delegation that will become the road map for further cooperation.