Rustem Khamitov discussed prospects of cooperation with Ambassador of Italy in Russia

The President of Bashkortostan Rustem Khamitov has held a meeting with the delegation of Italian Embassy in Russia today. Italian delegation was headed b the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Italy in Russia Antonia Dzanardi Landi.

Discussion of key directions for possible cooperation between Bashkortostan and Italy was the main theme of the negotiations.

“Bashkortostan is considered one of big, economically developed regions of Russia, which become more and more open every year. We steadily remove administrative obstacles for business. Thus, in the rating of Russian cities by openness for business, published yesterday, Ufa holds the second position and in 2011 the capital RB was standing just in the second dozen” – Rustem Kamitov reported.

“We remove administrative barriers for business, develop our infrastructure and try to make our towns more comfortable but this is just a beginning of our work and we’d like to perform a part of this work together with you” – the President of Bashkortostan said to Italian participants of the meeting.

In his opinion Italian colleagues have much to adopt fr om and the matter here is not just exchange of experience in high-tech sphere but first of all Russians have to study Italian spirit of business, optimism and living stability, inherent in Italians.

“Sure, we are looking at the processes, occurring in Greece now, with anxiety from the point of view of development of economic crisis. But I think that our biggest oil-chemical, machine building, woodworking and agrarian enterprises have managed to stand the crisis in 2009-2010. This fact demonstrates stability of Bashkir economics, so we invite foreign investors, including Italian ones, to our Republic” – Rustem Khamitov stated.

Cultural interaction can become one more point for establishment of cooperation between Bashkortostan and Italy as well as development of tourism – a very promising direction.

At present time about 20 places, wh ere Alpine skiing can be developed, are already determined in the region.

Two Alpine ski centers with artificial snow will be erected in Bashkortostan in 2012 but it is necessary to erect other 15-20 such centers, so assistance of Italian specialists would be useful.

The Ambassador of Italy has assured Rustem Khamitov in his turn that “those directions of cooperation, offered by you, will be undoubtedly approved by Italian authorities”.

According to the Ambassador at present moment Italian enterprises face high demand in further progress and the opportunity to widen mutual cooperation is an excellent chance to avoid economic crisis.

“We highly estimate the striving of Bashkortostan’s leadership for making all possible to support Italian businessmen in your Republic. I estimate the openness, demonstrated by the President of Bashkortostan personally, and hope that we shall move forward together, revealing the most important and promising directions in our mutual cooperation” – The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Italy in Russia stated.