PM Anwar Says Tatarstan Has Enormous Potential, Ready To Develop Ties With It
BUSINESS
KAZAN, May 15 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the Republic of Tatarstan has enormous potential and that Malaysia is ready to discuss trade and economic issues with it, such as Islamic banking and the halal industry in Kazan, the capital of the republic.
As of 2022, the population of Tatarstan stood at 3.9 million people, comprising more than 70 ethnic groups, with more than 50 per cent of the population being Muslim.
The prime minister said Malaysia is ready to work and develop ties with the republic, which is part of the Russian Federation. "I believe that Tatarstan has enormous potential, (there is) a large number of proposals. We are ready to work and develop our ties," Anwar said during a meeting with the Rais (Head) of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov.
The meeting was held in the Kazan Kremlin and was attended by the Prime Minister of Tatarstan Alexey Pesoshin, the Deputy Minister of Energy of the Russian Federation Roman Marshavin, representatives of ministries and departments and heads of major machine-building enterprises.
Anwar led a delegation that comprises Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu; Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Chang Li Kang; Minister of Higher Education Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir; and Minister of Plantation and Commodities Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani as well as Malaysia's Ambassador to Russia Datuk Cheong Loon Lai.
Meanwhile, Rustam, in a media statement, said that Anwar's visit to Kazan was a significant event.
"We are very glad to see you. Your visit encourages us to work even more actively. Our contacts should be more intensive," he said, thanking Anwar for visiting Tatarstan and his participation in the Kazan Forum 2025.
"It is gratifying that a solid delegation of business circles is participating in the forum with you. The Kazan Forum has been held with federal status for three years now and is the main platform for establishing cooperation between Russia and the countries of the Muslim world.
'It is also a great honour for us that you participate in the meeting of the strategic vision group of the Russia-Islamic World (of the forum)", said Rustam.
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