Rustem Khamitov: "Bashkortostan's interaction with Iran is on the rise"

UFA, 7 July 2017. /Bashinform News Agency/. The Head of Bashkortostan Rustem Khamitov met with the Special Assistant to the President of Iran for the Ethnic and Religious Minorities Affairs Ali Younesi and the head of Federal Agency for National Affairs RF Igor Barinov.

The meeting was held within the framework of the Russian-Iranian Socio-Cultural Forum in Ufa. It was attended by the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Islamic Republic of Iran Mehdi Sanai and the head of the Federal Agency for Tourism Oleg Safonov.

The sides discussed prospects for expanding Russian-Iranian cooperation and strengthening interregional cooperation.

"The interaction of Bashkortostan with Iran is on the rise. We constantly exchange delegations, conduct joint cultural and educational projects", said Rustem Khamitov. "Last year we welcomed a representative delegation of the province of Merkezi. We have prepared a draft agreement with this province, and now this document is under consideration of our Iranian colleagues. "

The Head of the Republic invited creative teams of Iran to participate in the World Folklore Festival, which would be held in Bashkortostan in 2020, and also offered to support the Ufa’s bid to hold the World Congress on Beekeeping in 2021.

The Special Assistant to the President of Iran invited the Head of the Region to visit the Islamic Republic, including the province of Merkezi, to assess personally the industrial potential and outline the prospects for cooperation.

The volume of foreign trade turnover of Bashkortostan with the Islamic Republic of Iran in 2016 amounted to 4.2 million dollars and exports consisted almost 90 percent of it.

Among the products exported from Bashkortostan to Iran are agricultural products, as well as polyvinyl chloride, glued plywood, screw springs, baking soda, meteorological equipment, passenger vehicles, hydraulic presses, surfactants, etc. The main imports are parts of rolling mills.

There are two enterprises with participation of Iranian capital operating in the territory of our republic, engaged in education and production of equipment.

In 2012, the Days of Iranian Culture in Bashkortostan were held in Ufa. Since 2010, the Centre for Iranian Culture has been functioning in the republic at M. Akmulla Bashkir State Pedagogical University. Creative collectives, artists and culture of Iran take an active part in competitions and festivals held in Bashkortostan.

Last year an agreement was signed on scientific cooperation between the Institute of the History of Language and Literature of Ufa Research Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the University of Religions and Theological Schools.