UFA, 25 October 2018. /Bashinform News Agency/ translated by Tatiana Aksyutina/. The authorities of the republic will provide full support in holding the Swiss Film Festival in Ufa during the week of foreign films. This, in particular, was discussed during the yesterday’s meeting of the Acting Head of Bashkortostan Radiy Khabirov with the delegation of the Swiss Confederation led by the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Switzerland to the Russian Federation Yves Rossier. The parties discussed prospects for cooperation in the industrial, trade, economic and cultural areas, the press service of the Acting Head RB informs.
Radiy Khabirov noted that friendly, partnership relations had historically been maintained between Bashkortostan and Switzerland. Bashkortostan is also intended to contribute to the further development of this cooperation, which became particularly active in the 2000-s through the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation.
A year ago, a presentation of Bashkortostan was held at the Embassy of Switzerland. A delegation of the Commerce Chambers Union of Switzerland - CIS countries visited Bashkortostan.
Also, the Acting Head of the Republic stressed that the republican Institute of Oil and Gas Processing and “Bashgiproneftekhim” company are interested in cooperation with Switzerland. They offer projects in the field of creating new petrochemical products. Besides, Bashkir Soda Company is also ready for cooperation.
Radiy Khabirov expressed his confidence that the trade turnover between Bashkortostan and Switzerland, which last year fell by 14 percent and amounted to a modest $ 15 million, would be able to increase in the coming years.
Bashkortostan is also ready to expand cooperation in the field of culture, education, and sports. The republic traditionally hosts weeks of foreign films, thus the city of Ufa will take a baton in holding the Swiss Film Festival, and the authorities of the republic will provide it with all necessary support.
Five years ago, in 2013, the 6th International Winter Children's Games took place in Ufa, in which children's sports organizations from Lausanne and Delemont, Yves Rossier’s native city, took part. Next year, Ufa will host the Summer International Children's Games. Athletes from 60-70 countries of the world will arrive in Bashkortostan. Radiy Khabirov invited a team from Switzerland to these competitions.
Yves Rossier, in turn, stressed that the main purpose of the Swiss delegation visit was to develop the investment cooperation. At the same time, foreign partners are not so interested in tax benefits as in the investment climate of the region as a whole - transparency in business, openness, readiness for dialogue, and absence of bureaucratic barriers.
The Swiss Ambassador supported the proposal of Radiy Khabirov to hold a Swiss Film Festival in Ufa, having marked that he would definitely discuss the issue with the federal cultural agency.
