Embassy of Canada in Russia delegation visits Tatarstan Industry and Trade Ministry

The Tatarstan Industry and Trade Ministry has today hosted a meeting with the delegation of the Embassy of Canada in Russia, led by Advisor on Economic Affairs Steven Basadur. The meeting was chaired by Tatarstan First Deputy Industry and Trade Minister Vladimir Soloviev.

The parties exchanged information and defined areas for further cooperation, said the ministry’s press service.

Attendees at the meeting from the Canadian side were Advisor on Business Development Lydia Panova, manager at the CAN-K company Rafael Khabirov and TESCO representative Yuri Bredelev. The Tatarstan representatives included the head of secretariat at the Academy of Sciences presidium Ismagil Khousnoutdinov, deputy general director of JSC Tatneftekhiminvest Holding Ilgizar Yakushev and heads of some departments at the ministry.

At the outset of the meeting, Steven Basadur identified the purpose of the visit to Tatarstan. “Canada and Tatarstan have a wide scope for cooperation that should to be expanded. First of all, in the field of oil and gas. Our purpose is to contribute to making business contacts between Canada and Tatarstan companies,” he stated.

Vladimir Soloviev briefed the meeting on Tatarstan’s industrial and investment potential, focusing on the oil producing branch. He reported other priority areas aimed to develop the local economy, including the Alabuga special economic zone and the energy and resource efficiency programme.

The CAN-K and TESCO representatives present at the meeting presented their companies’s business and interests in Tatarstan. They expressed willingness to open assembly facilities in Tatarstan. The CAN-K group manufactures mining equipment and spare parts, positive displacement pumps, high-pressure pumps, tandem-rotor oil-filled compressors, forged and cast, as well as machinery components for oil and gas industry. TESCO is the leading developer and implementer of drilling technologies and services.

“Even a short exchange of information allows finding potential partners in Tatarstan. We are willing to consider any proposals you make and help you establish business contacts with our enterprises,” noted Vladimir Solovies in conclusion of the meeting. The programme of the visit includes meetings with the Yelaz and Tatneft executives.

In 2008, Canada ranked 23rd among Tatarstan’s trading partners. The trade between Tatarstan and Canada reached its maximum, totalling $138.8 million. In the 9 months in 2009, bilateral trade was $30.8 million, including exports of $4.1, imports of $26.7 million.

In 2008, Republic of Tatarstan’s exports to Canada increased 2.6-fold versus the same period of 2007, totalling $50.8 million. In the 9 months of 2009, exports totalled $4.1 million. The key export items, according to data provided by the Tatarsatn’s customs, were plastics and plastic products, inorganic chemistry products, equipment and mechanical devices, their parts, instruments and optical devices.

In 2008, imports to Tatarstan from Canada were $88 million, having versus the same period of 2007 increased 5.6-fold.

In the 9 months of this year, imports have totalled $26.7 million. The main imported items were, according to data provided by the Tatarstan customs, nuclear reactors, boilers, equipment and mechanical devices, their components, mineral fuel, oil and refinery products, instruments and devices from non-precious metals.