Closer cooperation with German companies is necessary for Tatarstan, Mintimer Shaimiev considers

«The structure of our economy is such that we not only are interested, but also we require closer cooperation with German companies», - President of Tatarstan Mintimer Shaimiev stated during a meeting held today in the Kazan Kremlin with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Federal Republic Germany to the Russian Federation Walter Jurgen Schmid.

The legal foundation of modern mutual relations between Germany and Russia is based on the Treaty on good neighborhood, partnership and cooperation concluded in 1990. Germany is a leading economic partner of our country. The volume of mutual trade in 2005 has grown in relation to 2004 by 38 percent and reached a record point 33 billion US dollars. In Russia about 3,5 thousand enterprises with the German participation are operating , out of them about 800 - with 100-percent German capital, more than 1000 representations of industrial and trading firms and banks of Germany are functioning. Priority directions of cooperation of two countries are aerospace branch, mechanical engineering, motor industry, electro - technical and chemical industry.

«It is possible to ascertain, that Russian - German cooperation - consecutive and mutually responsible», - Mintimer Shaimiev noted in conversation with Ambassador of Germany. The head of republic also expressed confidence, that negotiations with the German diplomat would serve the further strengthening of partner relations between Tatarstan and Germany and the Russian - German cooperation as a whole. « I think, that such chances are available, and it would be inexcusable not to take advantage of them” - RT President emphasized, having noted, that the parties should be more active and with even greater efficiency to work in this direction. «If to proceed from interests of Tatarstan, - the head of republic continued, - then the structure of our economy is such that we not only are interested, but we also require closer cooperation with German enterprises». Concretizing this statement, Mintimer Shaimiev noted, that Tatarstan, being oil-extracting republic, some time back defined petrochemistry branch as a priority of its economy development «In this connection experience of the German petrochemical companies deserve a close attention», - RT President emphasized. As to business rivalry of Tatarstan enterprises with a number of Germany companies working in the field of petrochemistry, in Mintimer Shaimiev's opinion, is phenomenon which should be considered as « a healthy competition».

Upon end of a meeting the Ambassador of Germany informed journalists, that the parties in detail had discussed a modern condition and prospects of mutual relations between Russia and Germany, first of all in the field of economy which the German diplomat characterized as "very good". The important subject of dialogue became also the issue of deepening cooperation between Germany and Tatarstan. Walter Jurgen Shmid also informed representatives of mass-media that in 10 days Tatarstan would be visited by representative of business delegation led by prime minister of the Land Saxony, and about the arrangement achieved during today's meeting on holding at the end of this year scale presentation of Republic Tatarstan in Germany.

One more prominent aspect, which head of republic and the German diplomat discussed today, was a youth exchange. The intensive exchange between Russia and Germany is carried out not only at the state level - like visits of governmental and parliamentary delegations, but also at a level of a civil society, the Ambassador noted. «In this connection we have agreed that we would use our best efforts for the further development of contacts between young generations since corresponding organizational conditions have been created both from Russian and from the German side . Now it is important to move all these projects to practical aspect, having given, including Tatarstan youth, the opportunity for active participation in this process», - the German diplomat stated.

Prospects of trade and economic interaction between Tatarstan and Germany in interview to journalists were depicted by state adviser to RT President on international affairs - director of Department of external communications of RT President Timur Akulov. Notwithstanding that Germany traditionally is one of the main investment partners of our republic (for example, in 2005, 15,8 million US dollars of investments arrived in Tatarstan from Germany that by 4,1 times is more, than in 2004), and a lot of successful joint projects is realized in the field of petrochemistry, motor industry, last years a level of economic cooperation between the parties, by T.Akulov's estimation, has a little decreased. In this sphere, in his opinion, there is a significant potential for activization of mutually advantageous connections. Perspective directions of deepening cooperation, by T.Akulov's words, can become petrochemistry, aircraft construction, and such perspective platform, like SEZ "Alabuga".