The Ambassador of Switzerland in Russia: “It is important for countries to unite their efforts in order aboriginal population and migrants would build up their future together”

Presentation of the scientific-practical collection “Social and economic problems of labor migration in RB” has taken place in Ufa today within the frames of a visit of the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Swiss Confederation in Russia to Bashkortostan.

The chairman of “The Society of refugees and forced migrants” RB Dmitry Pogorelsky says the collection represents a continuation of long-term cooperation of Swiss Government and Republic of Bashkortostan.

“The first collection “Migration processes in Republic of Bashkortostan” was issued in 2007, the second “Social-demographic factors of migration” – in 2009. The third collection is devoted to problems of migration in our Republic. All three collections represent the totals of systematic investigation of migration” – Dmitry Pogorelsky stated.

The coordinator of Swiss Embassy in Russia Dorothy Kolde has mentioned that cooperation with Bashkortostan started 10 years ago and these relations were always stable. The very first joint projects concerned the problem of forced migration. But later it was replaced by labor migration – very actual problem, peculiar not just for Russia but for the whole of Europe as well. One more project is compact settlements of migrants. In her opinion the investigation on labor migration, made in Bashkortostan, is important because on its base one can undertake certain measures on conducting competent migration policy. It is worth mentioning that according to the latest information more than 150 thousand migrants have arrived in Bashkiria since the 90s.

“The demographic situation will be changed soon because of substantial reduction of people at able-bodied age and because of the increase of the number of pensioners. This change will definitely affect the labor market conjuncture. Such situation will inevitably result in demand in additional labor force and in labor migrants in particular” - Dmitry Pogorelsky believes.

That’s why the authors of the third collection point to the necessity to attract foreign migrants in Bashkortostan.

The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Swiss Confederation in Russia Pierre Helge has appreciated high professionalism of the investigation, devoted to social and economic problems of labor migration in RB.

“It is important for countries to unite their efforts in order aboriginal population and migrants would build up their future together” – he stated.

The deputy Prime-Minister of the Government RB Fidus Yamaltdinov adheres to the same opinion: “It is clear for everybody that migration appeared in the world long ago. I am happy to have such partner as Switzerland on our way of search for solution of this problem. In my opinion if both parties – locals and migrants – behave themselves as partners, on equal terms, we will be able to work up good migration policy in any state”.