Rustam Minnikhanov: ''Tatarstan has always attached great importance to the development of contacts with Uzbekistan''
Uzbekistan intends to strengthen cooperation with Tatarstan in the field of gas chemistry
The delegation from Uzbekistan headed by Chairman of Zhukorgi Kenges of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, Deputy Chairman of the Senate of Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan Musa Erniyazov visited Kazan with one-day visit. During the meeting, attention was paid to the state and prospects of the development of Russian-Uzbek cooperation, the trade, economic, cultural and tourist cooperation. The delegation visited the head office of TAIF Group in the course of the meeting. The parties discussed the implementation of joint investment projects in Uzbekistan in the field of gas chemistry and power engineering. Read the details in the material of Realnoe Vremya.
The president supports the friendship of the two capitals — Kazan and Nukus
Welcoming the delegation from Uzbekistan to the Kazan Kremlin, Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov said that the republic has always attached great importance to the development of contacts with Uzbekistan within the framework of Russian-Uzbek relations. According to him, positive and coordinated changes are taking place in Uzbekistan today. ''In mid-October, our president Mr. Putin plans to visit your country. I think it will speed up our cooperation,'' Minnikhanov said. He added that he also plans to visit Uzbekistan.
The president supported the idea of cooperation between the two capitals — Kazan and Nukus (the capital of Karakalpakstan — editor's note). At the same time, the republics can find mutual interest in the development of trade, cultural and tourist relations. At present, the trade turnover with Tashkent, Samarkand and Ferghana regions has been established. In 2017, Tatarstan's foreign trade turnover with Uzbekistan amounted to 92,7 million USD, which is 1,8 times higher than in 2016.
Rustam Minnikhanov mentioned direct flights between Kazan, Tashkent, Fergana and Samarkand. According to him, they will be in demand, since about 300,000 Tatars live in Uzbekistan.
''We need to build diverse contacts, to identify promising areas for joint work. For example, KAMAZ has joined the Uzbekistani projects. You have the strong oil and gas industry, it is necessary to study this area, to see how we can be mutually beneficial to each other. It is important to strengthen inter-parliamentary ties as well. There are many opportunities for cooperation, we have energy companies, the work with which may also be interesting,'' Minnikhanov said. He also invited Musa Erniyazov to participate in the annual international economic summit 'Russia — Islamic World: KazanSummit' in 2019.
The chairman of Zhukorgi Kenges of the Republic of Karakalpakstan in his turn thanked the president of Tatarstan for the invitation to visit the republic. He noted that in Kazan he has the opportunity to visit the business incubators, to study the urban economy. ''Urban management, public service — one of the priority issues in Uzbekistan. We have learned what kind of support is provided to entrepreneurs, have become interested in business incubators. You have a lot to learn,'' Erniyazov shared his impressions. He suggested Nukus and Kazan becoming sister cities.
Uzbekistan is interested in cooperation with Tatarstan in the field of gas chemistry
Musa Erniyazov also noted that Uzbekistan is interested in cooperation with Tatarstan in the field of gas chemistry. There are large oil and gas deposits in Karakalpakstan. The Ustyurt gas chemical complex, launched in 2016 with the participation of businessmen from South Korea, is one of the world's largest projects in the oil and gas sector. Further development of Uzbekistan in the field of gas chemistry was considered during the visit of the delegation to the head office of TAIF Group. The parties discussed the implementation of joint investment projects in Uzbekistan in the field of gas chemistry and power engineering.
The decision to create a commission on joint work was taken in the course of the meeting. ''We think that your delegation will visit Tashkent soon, where we will discuss the specific direction of our cooperation. TAIF is a famous company that inspires trust. During the meeting, we learned about its projects in the field of petrochemistry,'' Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Karakalpakstan Bakhytzhan Khabibullayev told the Realnoe Vremya correspondent after the meeting.
It should be reminded that the cooperation between Tatarstan and Uzbekistan was established in the '90s with the opening of the Permanent Mission of Tatarstan to the republic. In 1993, the Agreement on trade, economic, scientific, technical and cultural cooperation was signed between the republics. Last autumn, Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov paid a three-day working visit to Uzbekistan, where he took part in the Uzbek-Tatarstan forum.