Head of Bashkortostan and President of Abkhazia assessed potential for cooperation

On August 30, a working meeting between the President of Abkhazia, Aslan Bzhania, and the Head of Bashkortostan, Radiy Khabirov, took place in the House of the Republic. The agenda included issues of strengthening international cooperation and implementing joint projects.

The Head of Bashkortostan noted the high potential for cooperation and announced the preparation of a roadmap for expanding cooperation in the coming years.

“One of the main areas of cooperation is tourism. Last year, a pilot group of pensioners from Bashkortostan went to Abkhazia. There were excellent reviews. Therefore, we are now really looking forward to the completion of the construction of the Sukhumi airport and the opening of a direct flight from Ufa to Abkhazia to increase the flow of tourists in both directions. Our mutual trade is also expanding. Sales of Abkhazian wine and fruit are growing. Bashkir enterprises are successfully operating in the Abkhazian market. They sell a wide range of consumer goods. There are also good opportunities for deliveries of meat products, sunflower, butter, rapeseed, sugar, biopreparations, and fertilizers to Abkhazia,” said the head of the region, Radiy Khabirov.

Aslan Bzhania congratulated the residents of Bashkortostan on the 450th anniversary of Ufa and expressed interest in expanding joint initiatives.

“Relations between Abkhazia and Russia are close, and strengthening ties with your country is our number one task. We have long had friendly relations with Bashkortostan. Today, our delegation visited the Ufa Situation Center, where everything is very technological and interesting. This increases the city leadership's level of service to the population. And we will certainly try to adopt such examples. And the large and majestic Colonnade built in Ufa will become a monument to the friendship between our peoples and a good place to relax,” said Aslan Bzhania. At the end of the meeting, the Head of Bashkortostan, Radiy Khabirov, invited the President of Abkhazia to the grand opening of the Colonnade in honor of the friendship of the peoples of Bashkortostan and Abkhazia on the Republic Day on October 11, 2024.

It is worth noting that the arrival of various international official delegations in Ufa recognizes Bashkortostan as a reliable partner with severe economic potential. Multiple experts have repeatedly emphasized this. Bashkiria is developing foreign economic relations with more than 100 countries. Due to its active position in developing external relations, Bashkiria is one of the largest export-oriented regions.

Ufa, in turn, has become the largest logistics center linking the European and Asian parts of Russia, Europe, and Asia, a large-scale event platform for holding federal forums and pilot projects. Russian President Vladimir Putin especially noted this, congratulating Ufa on its 450th anniversary and emphasizing that "...all conditions have been created in Ufa for holding large-scale international forums and prestigious sports tournaments."

Author: Azat Gizzatullin