Japan envoy in Mendeleevsk promised to bring his Prime Minister to Putin, despite Obama underhand plotting
Rustam Minnikhanov has filled an eye of Daruma doll… thank to Ammonia
On 24 February, ceremonial presentation of Ammonia took place in Mendeleevsk. The companies, involved in the construction, received deserved praise. Japanese and Chinese partners in their speeches noted that the main achievement was not the plant, but close and productive relations. In the speech Rustam Minnikhanov called on the Chinese workers not to hurry to disassemble the construction camp. Details – in the report of Realnoe Vremya.
Ceremonial bustle and delegations of potential investors
Since the morning, at the plant there was a public excitement, the representatives of the Japanese and the Chinese delegations were crowding in the plant office, people scurried back and forth, the protocol office offered seats to the guests in the conference room.
The journalists, participants of the official opening, noted that that day it was quieter, and it is no wonder as the official start was given from Naberezhnye Chelny via video conference.
The places in the presidium were taken by Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov, Chairman of the Board of Directors of JSC Ammonia Rinat Khanbikov and Director General of the enterprise Sergey Shevchenko. Rinat Khanbikov was the first who was given floor. He thanked all participants involved in the construction. Then he called on the next speaker — Deputy Head of Japanese Embassy in Russia Hitoshi Ozawa.
Review on the threshold of Shinzo Abe visit
The guest from the Land of the Rising Sun, in addition to congratulations with the launch of the new plant, noted its importance as an economic driver not only in the regional market, but also in international. However, Deputy Head of Japanese Embassy in Russia focused most on the relations between two countries. In particular, he said that Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is going to visit Russia with an unofficial visit.
That way, he confirmed the message of The Japan Times, which wrote that the Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe has ignored a call by President Barack Obama, who on 9 February asked him to cancel the visit to Russia.
Hitoshi told about the planned visit to Japan of the delegation from Russia headed by the Minister of Industry of Russia Denis Manturov, the participant of this visit will be President of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov.
In this context, we can't help to note an impressive Japanese delegation that took part in the ceremonial presentation of Ammonia. On the guests list were the top managers of the companies Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Sojitz Corporation, the Japan Agency for export and investment insurance (NEXI), Moscow representative office of the Bank of Japan, Sumitomo Mitsui Rus Bank, Bank of Tokyo, Mizuho Bank.
Thus, we can talk cautiously about the plans for a breakthrough in Russian-Japanese relations, especially in the field of joint industrial and infrastructure projects. The launch of Ammonia proved to be very helpful, demonstrating to potential investors the success story of the management of Tatarstan.
Not only the plant is valuable but also the relationships that were created between us
The next speaker was the senior manager of chemical plants division of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ban Eiichiro. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd (MHI) was in the head of the construction consortium. Japanese Sojitz Corporation Ltd and China National Chemical Engineering Group Corp (CNCEC) were also in the consortium.
'We have managed to create a strong and reliable connection between us, which, in my opinion, is the most valuable project result. Not only the plant is valuable, but also the relationships that were created between us during the implementation of the project,' told Eiichiro.
President of the China National Chemical Engineering Company Yu Jinbo in his speech also stressed the importance of established contacts. In the final speech, Rustam Minnikhanov urged the Chinese partners do not hurry to disassemble the construction camp.
Vladimir Putin took our side
Rustam Minnikhanov in his speech told about the difficult fate of the project, endorsed by Vladimir Putin at the last minute.
'I am very thankful to our President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, who was Prime Minister at that time when the Supervisory Board reviewed and took our side. Although there were different opinions that oil and gas projects should not be financed through the Development Bank, it was a utopia, but the trust of our leader, our dedication, precise work of our Japanese partners, financial schemes, technologies, competent contractor, the scheme – all was correct,' told Rustam Minnikhanov.
Tatarstan President told that for several decades the country did not build such facilities and domestic specialists have acquired new competencies.
Rustam Minnikhanov also hinted on new challenges for the Gorky railway. Perhaps, the award with the order 'For merits before the Republic of Tatarstan' to Rinat Khanbikov was the most vivid illustration of the importance of the enterprise. Other participants of construction also were awarded medals from the Republic.
Later, Rustam Minnikhanov drew a symbolic line at the end of the project by filling together with Japanese partners the second eye of Daruma doll. According to Japanese tradition, it means the accomplishment of the goal. First eye Tatarstan President filled in 2007.
