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Forum with participation of the President of the Republic of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov, Prime Minister of the Republic of Tatarstan Ildar Khalikov, businessmen, foreign investors, managers of international companies, federal and regional agencies representatives was held at the Kazan Ski Resort.

Forum with participation of the President of the Republic of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov, Prime Minister of the Republic of Tatarstan Ildar Khalikov, businessmen, foreign investors, managers of international companies, federal and regional agencies representatives was held at the Kazan Ski Resort.

The two-day forum was attended by over 470 people. They includes representatives of 16 foreign countries: Great Britain, India, Italy, Qatar, China, UAE, USA, Singapore, Switzerland, Turkey, Syria, Czech Republic, Germany, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, as well as 11 regions of Russia: Moscow, Kaluga, Nizhny Novgorod, Samara, Leningrad, Sverdlovsk, Ulyanovsk regions, Kamchatka, Republic of Sakha and also over 60 members of the media.

Among the guests and participants of the forum were the Chairman and Managing Director of Qatar Al Khaliji Bank Sheikh Hamad bin Faisal bin Thani Al Thani, Executive Director of the World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (WAIPA) Carlos Bronzatto, «Invest in Russia» Executive Director Yuriy Wojciechowski, President of the Union of Chinese businessmen in Russia Tsai Guyzhu.

«Invest in Tatarstan» was organized by Tatarstan Investment Development Agency with the participation of Tatarstan Development Corporation and Tatarstan Export Corporation.

II International Winter forum «Invest in Tatarstan» - also called «Tatarstan’s Davos in central Russia» – opened with the plenary session «Tatarstan - is different», where Tatarstan Investment Development Agency Chief Executive Linar Yakupov told about the investment attractiveness of the region. The session’s presidium included ANCOR Chairman Pavel Ignatiev, «Ecolab» Director of Business Development in Russia and CIS countries Matthew Blong, Sberbank of Russia "Bank of Tatarstan" Deputy CEO Maryam Davletshina. Discussion was moderated by «Business New Europe» Chief Editor Ben Aris.

Discussions of region’s attractiveness for the foreign companies and business development in the first half of the day continued with several round tables: «Localization of automotive components», «Health care», «Real estate market», «Service industry» and «halal» industry».

Discussion on the localization of automotive components led the National Association of Automotive Components CEO Michail Blokhin. Topics for discussion here became a key factor of the development strategy in the localization of automotive components, evaluation of existing procedures in procurement of components, opportunities, necessary conditions and risks in the process of project implementation. Experts also shared with the automotive industry forecasts and the best practices of Russian and international companies.

Practical aspects of the republic’s health sector were discussed with the Tatarstan Minister of Health Adel Vafin. Head of regional Ministry of Health presented the results of healthcare modernization program in 2013 and noted the potential investment areas of the Republic of Tatarstan. The Minister spoke about the future medicine strategy of the Republic of Tatarstan, underscoring the attracting investment and encouraging foreign and Russian investors for an «open dialogue». Adel Vafin underscored the readiness of Tatarstan for dialogue with investors, and to consider various proposals for cooperation.

The discussion was also attended by LLC «Corporate Information Routine» CEO Rustam Sungatov, «Delrus» President Yulai Magadeev, Educational center of high medical technologies CEO Leonid Galinsky and Head of the PFD on the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).

In parallel with these discussions took place «Kazan real estate market» roundtable, where presented an overview of the convention and exhibition centers, determined new formats of housing and popular segments of residential real estate, as well as effective implemented examples of office and retail properties. As a moderator of the roundtable presented Elena Stryukova from Cushman & Wakefield company. The discussion was attended by Head of Hospitality and Tourism of Cushman & Wakefield Marina Smirnova, Head of research of Cushman & Wakefield Denis Sokolov, JSC «AK BARS Development» Deputy CEO Sergey Urakov. JSC «Tatarstan Development Corporation» Deputy CEO in discussions spoke about investment opportunities in real estate in the framework of the Kazan Smart City project.

«Service industry and business process outsourcing» roundtable was moderated by Head of Investment Promotion of Tatarstan Investment Development Agency Wyatt Ford. Key speakers here have become Vice-President of JSC «CREDIT EUROPE BANK» Mete Zhanbolat, Courtyard Marriott Kazan Kremlin CEO Alex Nurok, Creative Project CEO Serkan Gezer, ICL-KME CS Deputy CEO Evgeniy Stepanov and Zest-Personal CEO Nadia Kayumova.

Preparations to the discussions on the development of the «Halal» industry were held together with the Tatarstan Export Corporation and the Tatarstan «Halal" Standard Committee. Roundtable moderated by Tatarstan Export Corporation First Deputy CEO Ildar Abdrahmanov. With the participation of Tatarstan «Halal" Standard Committee Chairman Marat Nizamov, President of the Association of Russian Muslim entrepreneurs Radhik Gafurov, «Agroinnovatsiya» Director Marat Dusaev discussed the history of the «Halal" industry, «Halal» falsification markets (illegal «Halal» logo using), a system of «Halal» certification standards, registered in Russian standard and food quality problems.

About the borderline between «Halal» and «not Halal» told Radik Gafurov, who called not to associate «Halal» with food only. He noted that it is a broader concept, providing examples and work plans in this area and giving ideas on the development of Islamic business in Russia. Radik Gafurov also told about the prospects of «Halal» industry, doing business in Russia according to the canons of Islam. One of the key discussions was the activities of creation the «Trading House» Tatarstan - Nizhny Novgorod». Its Director Shamil Mansurov presented the organizational structure, focused on the potential of the region and the Muslim community, expressed particular interest in the development of construction industry enterprises and noted the high demand in the region for production with «Halal» standards.

With companies - participants of the forum met Prime Minister of Tatarstan Ildar Khalikov. Their interest in cooperation with Tatarstan region presented Schneider Electric President in Russia and the CIS countries Jean-Louis Stasi, Union of Chinese businessmen President in Russia Tsai Guyzhu, the Indorama company, the delegation of the XYBASE Malaysian company. The work of the forum’s first day ended by gala dinner with the participation of Ildar Khalikov.

The key events of the «Invest in Tatarstan» second day was meeting of Tatarstan Investors Club and the Final Board of Tatarstan Investment Development Agency with the participation of President of the Republic of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov. Within the forum Rustam Minnikhanov also met with leaders of Radiance Hospitality Group, Qatar Bank Al Khaliji Chairman and Managing Director Sheikh Hamad Bin Faisal Bin Thani Al-Thani.

During the winter forum actively held B2B meetings, during which interested in finding partners international and Russian companies have been negotiating on opportunities for cooperation and development of joint projects. «Invest in Tatarstan» also became a pilot area for the participants of «Invest in Tatarstan» Youth Ambassadors» program, who actively participated in the plenary session of the forum, roundtables, B2B meetings and Board of Tatarstan Investment Development Agency. On «Invest in Tatarstan – 2014» site was signed five agreements. Four of them - is in terms of the Kazan Smart City. The fifth agreement is due to the entrance to the territory of the Republic one of the biggest players on the world market of household appliances in China - the Haier company. Chinese manufacturer has decided to locate its production in «KIP «Master».

II International Winter Forum «Invest in Tatarstan» became a major tool in the terms of efforts in attracting investors in Tatarstan. Forum demonstrates not only investment opportunities of the region, but also gives an opportunity to discuss specific issues directly with the leadership of the republic.

Source: Invest in Tatarstan Press Service