President of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov met with Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif at a local hotel here on Saturday. During the meeting, matters of mutual interest including the promotion of bilateral relations in different sectors came under discussion.
The chief minister welcomed the president him upon his arrival in Lahore and said that the visit would promote bilateral relations between Pakistan and Tatarstan. The president said that he was happy to visit Lahore and agreed to work together to promote bilateral relations.
Minnikhanov said that the Russian Federation and Pakistan enjoy cordial relations and that they would work jointly to further promote them. He invited Shehbaz Sharif to visit the republic and the chief minister said that he would visit Tatarstan in June.
Provincial Ministers Sheikh Alla-ud-Din, Ayesha Ghaus Pasha, Ch Sher Ali, Jehangir Khanzada, and Naeem Akhtar Bhaba, Advisor Umer Saif, as well as the deputy prime minister of Tatarstan and other members of the delegation were also present on the occasion.
Later, CM Shehbaz Sharif addressed the Punjab-Tatarstan Business Forum, with President of the Republic of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov as the chief guest.
Addressing the business forum, the chief minister said Pakistan and the Russian Federation have had economic relations for many decades and trade is also carried out through barter system between the two countries.
President of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov said that he was pleased to see progress in Punjab and appreciated the hospitality of the provincial government. He said that Tatarstan and Pakistan ought to promote their economic relations.
Provincial Finance Minister Ayesha Ghous Pasha briefed the forum regarding investment opportunities in Punjab. The head of Tatarstan’s Trade Agency, Ms Taliya Minullina spoke about prospects of cooperation in different fields between Tatarstan and the Punjab Government.
An agreement was signed between the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and the Tatarstan Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Similarly, a memorandum of understanding was signed for cooperation in the IT sector.
Pakistani and Tatarstani provincial ministers, parliamentarian, investors, and officials of the provincial government were also present on the occasion.
