Trade turnover between Bashkiria and Asia has tripled - Radiy Khabirov

Over the previous five years, the authorities of Bashkiria have given severe impetus to developing foreign economic relations with foreign partners in the region. The Head of the Republic, Radiy Khabirov, stated this while answering questions from journalists during the presentation of Bashkortostan's economic, investment, and tourism potential at the Russian Foreign Ministry.

“We have created deeper cooperation with new partners. For a long time, a particular emphasis has been directed towards Western states; now, we work more with those ready to work with us and show interest and desire. During this time, we have streamlined the infrastructure of foreign economic activity. We have opened representative offices of the Republic of Bashkortostan in five countries, which work on the staff of the embassies of the Russian Federation.

We have achieved severe volumes regarding trade turnover and deep cooperation with Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan. We began to work very seriously with the People's Republic of China. Trade turnover with Asian countries has tripled. And trade turnover with African countries, mainly, of course, the countries of North Africa, has increased sixfold. The numbers show that we are indeed looking for and opening new markets. Today, we trade, work, and cooperate with more than 100 countries.

In addition to foreign economic relations, we are actively developing social, cultural, and humanitarian relations. Bashkortostan is attractive to many countries because we have a very high level of universities that train specialists in the field of oil production and oil refining. It is an influential medical university with five thousand international students. The number of international students studying in the Republic of Bashkortostan is approaching 10 thousand, which is not a ceiling. Our task is for people to come to us for knowledge. We are looking for cooperation in the scientific field; tourism development is essential. We are actively working to expand flights directly from Ufa to foreign countries,” said the Head of Bashkiria.

Author: Azat Gizzatullin