Tatar-Slovenian business forum in Ljubljana

Slovenian businesses are interested in the Russian economy. Russia is the country Slovenia would like to cooperate with. These are what the participants of the Slovenian-Tatar business forum were discussing yesterday at the Slovenian Chamber of Commerce and Industry conference hall.

The following officials took part in the Slovenian-Tatar business forum: the President of the Republic of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov, the Russian Minister of Communications and Mass Media Nikolai Nikiforov, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Russia in the Republic of Slovenia Docku Zavgayev, as well as businessmen of the Republic of Slovenia and delegates of the Republic of Tatarstan.

“You are our business partners and we wish to develop further our cooperation with you”, said the moderator of the business forum. He also noted that the Slovenian Chamber of Commerce and Industry has an agreement on cooperation with the Tatarstan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, so Tatarstan businessmen have an access to the information concerning mutually beneficial business relationship with Slovenian entrepreneurs. The latter want business contacts between two countries to expand, as forum speakers said. It was also emphasized that the Slovenian Chamber of Commerce and Industry was a reliable partner for entrepreneurs.

Giving his speech, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Russia in the Republic of Slovenia Docku Zavgayev stated that the Russian-Slovenian relationship has a positive dynamics. He said that in 2013 they were able to achieve a trade turnover of 2 billion dollars for the first time, there is a tendency to increase it further. He also emphasized that both in Russia and in Slovenia small and medium-sized business has a great importance for economic development. A profound contractual legal framework was created for both countries, which makes it possible to speak about a high potential for further business relationship, he said.

The Russian Minister of Communications and Mass Media Nikolai Nikiforov said that the main task was to develop cooperation despite of the existing political and economic situation in the world.

Nikolai Nikiforov noted that the Republic of Tatarstan had a trade turnover of 1.2 billion dollars with Hungary and emphasized great prospects for further business cooperation with Slovenia. “I’m sure we should use this potential, - he said, - Your region has what to export, what to import and where to invest”. He wished the forum opened further business opportunities and the contacts became turned into real contracts.

In his turn, the President of the Republic of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov thanked Slovenian colleagues for the forum. He noted that despite the unstable political situation it was important to move on and be open. “We need to preserve what we have and develop further, - he said, - Tatarstan is ready for cooperation with you”. He stated that Tatarstan was ready to create all conditions for business development with everybody who wanted to start production.

Rustam Minnikhanov also noted that Slovenia was interested in Russian investments, which meant that it was open for cooperation, too. “I’m sure that the presentation of Tatarstan economic potential will let Slovenian businessmen get all the necessary information and aim at further mutually beneficial projects”, he said.

The Minister of Agriculture and Food of the Republic of Tatarstan Marat Akhmetov, the Minister of Industry and Commerce of the Republic of Tatarstan Ravil Zaripov, etc. gave a speech within the framework of the business forum.

With the participation of Rustam Minnikhanov and Nikolai Nikiforov some memorandums and agreements were signed between the Republic of Tatarstan and the Republic of Slovenia.

Namely, an agreement on cooperation between the Nova Goritsa University (Slovenia) and the Kazan State Agrarian University (Tatarstan) was signed.