Tatar industry minister meets with UK ambassador to Russia

The Tatarstans’ Industry and Economy Minister Ravil Zaripov has today met with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the UK to Russia Anna Pringle.

The Tatar minister told the guest of Tatarstan’s industrial, science and investment potential, as well as of cooperation between UK-based and local companies.

Tatarstan has 13 companies with British participation, 5 of which are with 100-percent British equity. Progressive cooperation has been seen in the oil, petrochemical, machine building, instrument making and banking sectors. In 2008, bilateral trade totalled over $443 million, reports the Industry Ministry’s press service.

Speaking of prospective cooperation, the minister named the areas of energy, information technologies, biotechnologies, auto making and machine building.

The ambassador shared her first impressions from Tatarstan and from the Idea technology park and the ICL-KME CS firm she toured earlier in the day. “I was impressed by how innovative, modern and dynamic you are,” enhanced the ambassador.

Speaking of relations between the two states, Ms Pringle emhpasised that the UK was the biggest investor in Russia’s economy. In terms of bilateral trade, Russia ranks 12th among the UK’s trading partners. The ambassador went on to say that staff members at the UK embassy in Russia’s department of commerce were planning to visit Tatarstan, to explore possibilities for cooperation.

Mr Zaripov answered questions from the guest, related to the local investment climate, the impact of the ongoing global crisis on the local economy , relations with the federal authorities, and the Tatarstan’s national policies.

In conclusion, Anna Pringle made a memorial note in the ministry’s book of distinguished guests.