Mintimer Shaimiev met with World Bank Managing Director Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

Prospects of cooperation between the Republic of Tatarstan and the World Bank were in the highlight at the business lunch of the President of the Republic of Tatarstan and the Managing Director of the World Bank, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, on June 7. The meeting took place in the framework of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.

"We are pleased with the outcome of our cooperation," the head of the republic said in the beginning of the conversation, presenting Dr Okonjo-Iweala with a bouquet of flowers.

The former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nigeria and then the Vice-President of the World Bank, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala became one of the Bank's managing directors in October 2007. She said it was her first visit to Russia.

The Tatarstan President said the republic had been working with the World Bank fruitfully for many years. The relationship started under the previous director, Kristalina Georgieva in the uneasy 90s. "The situation was unstable, we were learning hard lessons on market economy and need assistance in a number of our large projects."

Dr Okonjo-Iweala expressed her gratitude to Mintimer Shaimiev for the opportunity to meet him in person and said she was informed about the prehistory of relations between the republic and the World Bank. "Together with you we learned a lot. I am aware that Tatarstan is the country's most developed region; it has significant economic and technical potential. But we are also aware that the republic needs our support," said Dr. Okonjo-Iweala.