“Bavaria and Tatarstan have a lot in common: both regions are aimed at the development of high technologies”
The business delegation of Bavaria from representatives of two dozen German companies has visited Tatarstan
A large delegation of the Free State of Bavaria arrived in Tatarstan on 22 October. More than 40 people representing more than 25 leading German companies: manufacturers and exporters in the field of information technology, industry and agriculture, headed by Deputy Prime Minister of Bavaria and Bavarian Minister of Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy Hubert Aiwanger. After a personal meeting of the German side with Prime Minister of Tatarstan Aleksey Pesoshin, a bilateral economic forum was opened. During the hour-and-a-half session, the parties presented their investment and industrial potential and outlined the most relevant areas of cooperation for the coming years. Read more in the material of Realnoe Vremya.
“Our economy is working in difficult times — Brexit, crisis...”
Taking the floor, Deputy Prime Minister of Bavaria Hubert Aiwanger highlighted a particularly warm welcome that was given to the delegation at the airport of Kazan — together with the top officials, the German businessmen and diplomats were met by artists in Tatar national costumes, entertained to chak-chak, bread and salt. “This once again proves the warm relations between our regions,” he stressed, reminding that this time the German side gathered a group of more than forty delegates to visit Tatarstan.
Among them — the representatives of BAUCH Engineering, specializing in the planning and implementation of production, assembly, measurement and testing systems for the automotive industry, aerospace, railway and wind power; Hurco — designing of interactive computer control systems and software for CNC metalworking machines; Siemens concern.
“Bavaria and Tatarstan have a lot in common: both regions are aimed at the development of high technologies, have a low unemployment rate: according to the latest estimates, in Bavaria it has been equal to 2,76%. Our economies need qualified personnel, and we focus on attracting specialists not only with higher but also with secondary vocational education. Finally, we also, like you, are being at the stage of transformation of the automotive industry, and we are facing the dilemma: the rejection of internal combustion engines, the switchover to batteries or gas engines,” said Hubert Aiwanger.
The deputy prime minister of Bavaria reminded the guests of the forum that Minister of Industry and Trade of Tatarstan Albert Karimov, who was also present in the audience, was a frequent visitor to Germany and invited the delegation of the republic to visit the region in 2020. Tatarstan and Bavaria definitely have prospects for cooperation in the field of robotics, artificial intelligence — those areas that will help make regional economies more efficient, Hubert Aiwanger said.
“Our economy is working in difficult times — Brexit, crisis, which gives pause for reflexion. We need to look for new ways of development and solutions. We have heard your wishes, the wishes of your prime minister on the joint development of medical equipment production and export of agricultural products. I am myself close to agriculture and very much respect your achievements in this area,” added the head of the delegation of Bavaria, addressing to Albert Karimov.
“We are trying to build pragmatic relations”
For Tatarstan, Germany is one of the most important foreign trade partners: the foreign trade turnover of the republic with the German side is more than 2 billion dollars annually, in the first half of 2019 — 774,2 million dollars, Minister of Industry and Trade of Tatarstan Albert Karimov reminded. As an example, he spoke about a number of landmark projects with Siemens and additional contracts to the projects that the concern is already implementing in Tatarstan: agreements were signed for the construction of a 250 megawatt plant with Kazanorgsintez at Russian Energy Week in early October this year, as well as service contracts with TAIF.
“These are literally the examples that say that we have developed cooperation. I would like to emphasize to our German colleagues that, despite the possible difficulties that exist in the ‘high’ spheres, we, for our part, always try to build pragmatic mutually beneficial relations at the regional level, and if there is the mutual interest of the companies for such cooperation, we, for our part, are ready and will continue to support it.”
Albert Karimov illustrated his statement with the history of the development of relations with the manufacturer of industrial robots — KUKA company, which equipped the recently launched in Naberezhnye Chelny plant for the production of cabins with the most advanced robots. In the near future, the company is going to establish production not only for the Tatarstan manufacturer KAMAZ but also for the German manufacturer Mercedes.
“More than 50 companies of Tatarstan are represented at the forum, and its task is to find and develop new projects, initiatives on possible localization of German production here, mutual supplies of goods, especially since the specializations of the economies of Tatarstan and Bavaria largely coincide. We see a huge potential for expanding cooperation in the sphere of trade and economic cooperation, and other areas, including exhibition activities,” the minister concluded.
“We are interested in developing cooperation”
Tatarstan Prime Minister Aleksey Pesoshin noted that Germany in general and Bavaria in particular are the most important strategic partners of the republic.
“Our republic is visited by official and business circles of Germany. Representatives of Tatarstan during visits to your country meet with the management of enterprises, study best practices. In August, the trade and economic representation of the Republic of Tatarstan in Germany was opened. The flight Kazan-Frankfurt am Main has operated since 2016,” said Pesoshin.
The prime minister also reminded about the Tatarstan's cooperation with German companies. For example, Siemens actively cooperates with regional enterprises, has implemented a large number of projects in different areas. Linde Group successfully cooperates with TAIF Group.
“Tatarstan has an advantageous geographic location in the east of the European part of Russia, being at the intersection of major highways. On the territory of the republic, oil is extracted and processed, petrochemistry is developed, cars, planes, helicopters, vessels, machine-building products are produced. More than 50% of industrial goods are exported,” said the prime minister of Tatarstan.
According to the head of the Tatarstan government, the two regions have promising areas of cooperation. “It is worth noting the attraction of potential residents to SEZ Alabuga and Innopolis, to other investment sites of Tatarstan. The promotion to Bavaria of our export-oriented products. We are interested in developing cooperation in agriculture, construction, energy-saving technologies, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, culture, science, education, sports and tourism,” Aleksey Pesoshin concluded.
The visit of German businessmen was timed to the economic forum Tatarstan-Bavaria. The programme included the presentation of investment and industrial potential of Tatarstan, examples of successful experience of cooperation with German partners, as well as speeches by representatives of business circles of Bavaria.
