Meeting Prime Minister of Sweden

The most important event of the second day of the working visit to Sweden was the meeting of Tatarstan President Mintimer Shaimiev with Prime Minister of Sweden Mr. Joran Persson. They discussed a broad circle of political and economic issues, M.Shaimiev shared his vision of the development of federal relations in Russia.

A new impetus to the development of mutually advantageous trade, economic and cultural contacts with Sweden is an important objective of the visit of the Tatarstan delegation. The more so as the scientists proved that there were contacts between our ancestors 10-11 centuries ago. And a few years ago the Swedish archival service even handed the Tatarstan Government documents on history of the Tatar and other Turkic peoples of 16-18 centuries. The East was connected with the North of Europe through the Great Volga Way. Revival of this trading way is a strategic direction without which it is difficult to imagine the well-being of all Russia. Tatarstan may play a positive role here.

On March 26, the State Swedish investment company SWEDFUND and TATFONDBANK signed a letter of intentions on creation of the joint leasing company BARS LEASING for business development. The company will be mostly engaged in leasing of the production of mechanical engineering of our republic.

The same day the delegation visited the concern Skania to discuss prospects for cooperation between KamAZ and Skania.

Later President M.Shaimiev left for the city of Lund - an administrative centre of Skone, where he will have several working meetings on March 27.