President of Tatarstan: "It was decided to give an impetus to further development of relations on the basis of the previously signed agreements between Tatarstan and Azerbaijan"

"I would like to welcome the delegation of brother Azerbaijan Republic in Tatarstan. We value and highly appreciate cooperation with Azerbaijan. We should further expand and deepen our economic and cultural ties", said the Tatarstan President.

He stressed similarities in the economies of the two countries.

Once, when oil fields of Tatarstan started to be developed, our oilmen learned much from the oilmen of Azerbaijan. Now the Tatarstan oilmen have become "fashion makers" in most technologies. In order to develop old oil fields, it is necessary to have high technologies and skills and in this sphere the two countries can establish mutually profitable exchange of experience.

Azerbaijan was represented by first deputy Prime Minister of Azerbaijan Yaqub Abdulla oghlu Eyubov, chief of the administration of Azerbaijan's Cabinet of Ministers Agha Bala Shamkhal oghlu Hajiyev, ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of Azerbaijan to Russia Polad BulBul oghlu, Tatarstan was represented by Prime Minister of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov, deputy Prime Minister of Tatarstan-Minister of Culture Zilya Valeyeva, state adviser under the Tatarstan President on Economic issues Eugeni Qrishin, Minister of Industry and Trade Alexander Koroqin.

The ties between the two countries are developing on the basis of the agreement on trade-economic, scientific-technical and cultural cooperation, signed by the Presidents of Tatarstan and Azerbaijan in 1996. In 2007 Azerbaijan took the 25th position among the countries-trade partners of Tatarstan, the commodity turnover made $66 mln. In the first quarter of 2008 the trade turnover between the republics rose 45% as compared to the same period of the previous year.

By results of the meeting Shaymiyev told reporters that it was decided to give an impetus to further expansion of comprehensive ties on the basis of the previously signed agreements between Tatarstan and Azerbaijan.

"Tatarstan and Azerbaijan have long maintained economic and cultural ties and we intend to develop them more intensively. Tatarstan's economy is multi-directional and has much in common with that of Azerbaijan.

This ensures wide activity for mutually profitable cooperation. Your countries has attained great achievements through the past years", noted Rasizade.

According to President of Tatarstan, technologies are changing rapidly in modern world and exchange of experience is important, especially in the sphere of oil production and refining and oil engineering.

In particular, Tatarstan may propose to Azerbaijan powerful gas pumping stations (operated by Gazprom) on the basis of new generation avia-engines, which is urgent considering the planned rise in gas extraction in Azerbaijan. Another perspective project is assembly of KAMAZ in the territory of Azerbaijan (445 Kamaz lorries were delivered to Azerbaijan in 2007).

"Tatastan and Azerbaijan are interested in mutual cooperation and we will boost it", noted Shaymiyev.

In turn, Azerbaijani Prime Minister noted that within 30 years since his last visit to Kazan, the capital of Tatarstan has sustained positive changes. He stressed great achievements in town-building and Kazan's victory in the contest for 2013 Student Games.

/Tatar-inform/