Tatarstan President met with Singapore Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew

Tatarstan President Mintimer Shaimiev met with Singapore Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew – a legendary ex Prime Minister of Asian country.

Lee Kuan Yew is one of the founders of Singapore ruling Party of national activity. Since 1959 Singapore got a status of “self-governing state” under the patronage of England. Until 1990 he was a Prime Minister of Singapore; he was one if the creators of its economical policy, which lead the country into the row of the best industrial countries in the world. In 1990 within the frameworks of the process of the power handing in to the younger generations he handed in his post of Prime Minister to Go Chock Tong, taking the post of the chief Minister. In 2004 within the framework of planned changes in the Government he took the post of Minister Mentor, which was created specially for him. He still has influence on the Government; and the majority of the population considers him “the father of the nation”.

“I am very happy that I have a chance to meet you personally, - pointed out Tatarstan President, greeting a guest. – During you visit to Russia you found a time for Tatarstan. I think it is a good sign”. A special attention was paid to the discussion of consulting help, which Singapore side is ready to present for the development of SEZ Alabuga. Besides, they discussed the opportunity of potential residents’ integration to special economic zone and the development of cooperation in oil and chemistry complex.

Mintimer Shaimiev underlined that he read that ex Minister’s book very carefully; and it impressed him very much. “You are the person who not only successfully ruled the country, it is you who created this country, - expressed his opinion Tatarstan President. – In difficult conditions you managed to get independence without human blood”. According to Mintimer Shaimiev, “Singapore miracle” is a good example and development stimulus for some countries, including Malaysia, which part Singapore was.

After the meeting Lee Kuan Yew and Mintimer Shaimiev answered the questions of foreign and Russin journalists. “It is a man, whose experience has a big interest for the entire world”, characterized the former head of Singapore Government RT President. According to him, Russia and Tatarstan are interested in Singapore partners’ consultation in the development of SEZ. “As many other countries we are interested in Singapore’s experience. It is not by chance Tatarstan delegacy, headed by RT Prime Minister, visited this country twice, - pointed out Mintimer Shaimiev, having added that innovational achievement in the area of oil possessing has a special interest for Tatarstan. – Singapore doesn’t have even one tone of oil, and at the same time it is one of the biggest oil possessing countries. Now we develop this area in the republic, we build big oil possessing complexes. That’s why we want to gain this experience”. The head of the republic informed the journalists that Tatarstan is interested in Singapore experience in the areas of IT-technologies and bank affairs.

“For one and a half day what I spent here, I had an opportunity to make sure that Tatarstan has big potential”, - pointed out Singapore Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew. – You are known by the production of vans KAMAZ, you have developed aviation building, and in general you have good perspectives”.

The day before Lee Kuan Yew visited OEZ Alabuga. The program foresaw also the excursion in Kazan Kremlin with the visit to Mosque Kul-Sharif and Holy Cross Cathedral. It is planned that Lee Kuan Yew will take part in the “round table” with the members of RT Government and the heads of RT big enterprises.

Singapore extraordinary and preliminary ambassador in RF Michael Tei, RT Prime Minister Rustam Minnikhanov, RT Minister of trade and external economic cooperation Hafiz Salihov, RT President’s Councilor on international questions – director of RT President’s Department of external links Timur Akulov and other officials took part in the meeting.