Russian Republic of Tatarstan wants to forge strong trade ties with Maharashtra

MUMBAI: Russian Republic of Tatarstan today expressed keen desire to develop a strong partnership with Maharashtra in the areas of commerce, industry and cultural exchange.

President of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov, who is on a visit to India and accompanied by a high-level delegation, said cooperation with Maharashtra would benefit both sides.

"Tatarstan wants to sign Memorandum of Understanding with Maharashtra in certain specific areas during the forthcoming visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to India," he said during a meeting with Governor Vidyasagar Rao and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at Raj Bhavan here.

Tatarstan is a leader in production of crude oil. It is also a leading industrial player and has units in sectors like chemicals, petrochemicals, machine building, truck making, aircraft manufacturing, power engineering, car tyres and fertilisers, among others, he said.

Cooperation between Tatarstan and Maharashtra, India's top industrialised state, would prove mutually beneficial, a Raj Bhavan spokesperson quoted Minnikhanov as saying.

Thanking the visiting leader for bringing a high-level delegation comprising Ministers, entrepreneurs and captains of industry to Maharashtra, the Governor informed him that the State has manufacturing hubs in Mumbai, Nagpur, Aurangabad, Pune and other places.

Rao apprised Minnikhanov about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's `Make in India' initiative on manufacturing and called for exploring areas of cooperation between Maharashtra and Tatarstan.

Fadnavis told the visiting President that Maharashtra receives 40 per cent of the foreign direct investment coming to India.

The Chief Minister suggested that an official delegation from the republic visit Maharashtra ahead of Putin's trip next month to identify specific areas for cooperation between the two regions.