Prospects for cooperation between Tatarstan and Turkey were discussed at the Kazan Agro 2026 exhibition.
A working meeting with a delegation from the Republic of Turkey was held today during the Kazan Agro 2026 specialized agricultural exhibition. Participants included Lenar Garipov, First Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food of the Republic of Tatarstan; Niyaz Khuramshin, Deputy Minister; and Milyausha Zagidullina, Chairperson of the regional public organization "Agrarian Youth Association of the Republic of Tatarstan."
The Turkish delegation was led by Yasemin Güngör Engin, Director of the Izmir Union of Agricultural Cooperatives. The delegation also included representatives of the Union of Agricultural Cooperatives: Mustafa Kocatas, Hüseyin Çoşkun, Ali Güzel, and Arif Yılmaz.
The Izmir Union of Agricultural Cooperatives is an association of rural and agricultural cooperatives in Izmir. The organization works to support farmers and develop agriculture through cooperation. The union's main areas of work include supporting farmers' cooperatives, assisting with the sale of products on domestic and foreign markets, training in cooperative management, promoting local products through exhibitions and events, organizing supplies and procurement for members, consulting, and monitoring the sustainable operation of cooperatives.
Lenar Garipov noted that, in the context of developing Russian-Turkish relations, the Republic of Tatarstan is also steadily developing friendly relations with the Republic of Turkey.
"We see enormous potential for cooperation with our Turkish colleagues. Turkey is a recognized leader in the development of the cooperative movement, particularly in the areas of horticulture and fruit processing, organic production, and cooperative marketing models through large retail chains and export channels," the First Deputy Minister added.
According to him, the agricultural sector faces major challenges: improving food security, introducing innovative technologies, developing cooperation, and strengthening interregional ties. And it is the cooperative movement that can become a powerful driver of these processes – by pooling the resources, knowledge, and experience of thousands of farmers.
During the meeting, participants discussed agricultural cooperation, as well as the possibility of supplying olive oil from the Republic of Turkey to the Republic of Tatarstan. "We are ready to study your cooperation models, adapt successful practices to Tatarstan's conditions, and propose mutually beneficial solutions," emphasized Lenar Garipov.
The parties emphasized the importance of strengthening trade and economic ties in the agricultural sector and noted the prospects for joint collaboration in support of the national "Export" project.