RT Minister of Industry and Trade on results of the visit to Free State of Saxony

Tatarstan and Saxony are set to do systemic work in the field of machine building, science and implementing new technologies. The Tatarstan Industry and Trade Minister Ravil Zaripov has today summarised the results of the Tatarstan delegation’s visit to Saxony.

The visit took place on November 2 to 5, some memorandums were signed within it. The Tatarstan delegation included representatives from larger enterprises, associations and universities, including JSC KAPO Gorbunova, JSC KMPO, JSC Tupolev Design Bureau Kazan branch, Kazan Elektropribor Plant, JSC KVZ, JSC Kamaz and others.

Ravil Zaripov said the visit had been made within the communiqué in March 2007signed by the Republic of Tatarstan and State of Saxony. The parties then examined prospective areas for cooperation that included developing machine building, aircraft making, chemistry, petrochemistry, and implementing new resource-saving technologies. Later, a joint task force was set up, led by the Saxony Economy Minister and the Tatarstan Industry and Trade Ministry.

Within the latest visit to Saxony, on November 2, a meeting with the Department of Saxony Economy, Saxony energy agency, SAENA, and the network of associations Saxony Renewable Energy, EESA, where Saxony’s energy policy was presented. “The first day of the visit was dedicated to resource saving. For example, over 13 percent of energy consumption in Saxony today is backed by renewable energy sources. This means Germany has come close to implementing an energy efficiency programme. They have a solid experience in this field,” stressed Ravil Zaripov.

On November 3, an economic forum of Saxony and Tatarstan’s business circles was held, where the main areas of cooperation were discussed. On that day, a presentation of the Tatarstan’s economic and industrial potential was held, the results of the Saxony-Tatarstan task force performance summarised and issues pertaining to financing export and investment projects examined. Heads of some Saxony companies shared their working experience.

The minister said on the second day, the Tatarstan delegation had held over 60 direct meetings with about 20 Saxony companies and associations in the aircraft building, auto making, energy, research, light industry sectors. Ravil Zaripov had visited the Li-Tec Battery GmbH (design, production and sales of large-volume ion-lithium batteries for auto vehicles and battery systems for industrial and stationary use).

On November 4 and 5, the Tatar delegation toured companies engaged in aerospace industry, auto making and machine building, energy and light industry. “We visited a number of enterprises, institutes, and are now contemplating the possibility of further cooperation in terms of providing training for our specialists on applying advanced technologies that we saw there,” said Zaripov.

On November 5, the task force held its fifth session, summarised the results of joint efforts and signed a memorandum finalising the session and the visit. Later in the day, a cooperation agreement between the Tupolev Kazan Technical University and Chemnitz Technical University, Germany, was signed.

“We are finishing a business plan, devised by the Tatarstan Industry and Trade Ministry jointly with the Tupolev Kazan Technical University and colleagues from Saxony on setting up a Centre of Competence on machine building and production equipment. The centre will enable us train our specialists to use advanced technologies. We will be able to set up a state-of-the-art engineering centre allowing to implement new technologies at our companies and reduce costs through improved labour management and applying energy efficiency systems at companies. We plan to later launch a joint equipment production facility,” said the minister.

Ravil Zaripov went on to note that over 90 percent of machine building firms in Saxony were small and medium businesses. A system of government support for them is in use. “This working experience is very important to us,” he emphasised. A return visit of the Saxony delegation to Tatarstan is scheduled for August-September 2010. “We are set for systemic work in the field of machine building and implementing new technologies,” he emphasised.