Mintimer Shaimiev met with president of Islamic Development Bank Ahmet Muhammad Ali

On June 11th, President of the Republic of Tatarstan Mintimer Shaimiev met in Kazan Kremlin with President of the Islamic Development Bank Ahmad Muhammad Ali.

The meeting was attended by adviser to RT President on international relations – head of the department of foreign affairs of the Office of RT President Mr.Timur Akulov, RT minister of economy Mr.Marat Safiullin, RT minister for trade and industryТР Mr.Aleksandr Kogogin, mayor of Kazan Mr.Ilsur Metshin; on the part of the Islamic Development Bank – Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Embassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the Russian Federation Mr.Ali Jaafar, advisor to IDB President Mr.Bashir Fadlallah, directors of businesses, Kazan Representative of the Russian Federation Ministry of foreign affairs Mr.Radik Vakhitov and others.

Opening the meeting, Mintimer Shaimiev expressed his joy to welcome high guests to Kazan Kremlin, the historic monument of Tatarstan. He stated that both the form and the content of the International Investments Conference continuing in Kazan is very successful. "This forum is raising our hopes that relationships and business ties between Russia and the Islamic world will be growing stronger". The President considers that yesterday’s presentation of scientific & technical potential of Tatarstan will also serve to stimulate further cooperation. "In recent years, Russia managed to strengthen its relationships with many countries. At present, our level of contacts with the Arab world is not at all satisfying, though we share common religion and many historic links. We must find ways of strengthening our cooperation", - said Mintimer Shaimiev. He underlined that the high forum taking place in Kazan should help in opening ways for this, stressing he is looking forward to joint work on interesting proposals. "After that we could define the direction for cooperation of large companies, small and medium enterprises", - said the President of the Republic.

Ahmet Muhammad Ali thanked Mintimer Shaimiev for his presentation at the conference. "Yesterday’s presentation of Tatarstan’s industrial potential provided investors from Muslim world with a possibility to learn more about the Republic. I believe the conference will bring to strengthening of mutual relationships", - he said at press-conference.

In the words of the President of The Islamic Development Bank, representatives of their delegation are interested to learn about the state of city construction, agriculture and real estate in the Republic. In the course of presentation, business circles of the Arab World better understood the achievements of the Republic of Tatarstan. "Lack of sufficient transport infrastructure was preventing strengthening joint projects. Among other things, business visit to Tatarstan will help in overcoming transport problems, thus further strengthening trade relationships", - said Ahmad Mohammad Ali, mentioning their interest in ship-building.