Trade with Tatarstan will grow says Turkish PM

By Diyar Guldogan

ANKARA

Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said Wednesday trade and investment with Tatarstan -- a republic in the Russian Federation -- will grow.

"With the recovery of relations between Turkey and Russia, investments in Tatarstan will increase and trade will grow," Yildirim said during an address to the Turk-Tatar Business Forum in Kazan, capital of the Russian autonomous region.

Yildirim said there were many Turkish investors in Tatarstan in the field of automotive, glass, wood and petro-chemical industries.

"For a long time, we have been the most active foreign investor country in the region," said Yildirim.

Yildirim said the trade volume between Turkey and Tatarstan was over $500 million in 2014, but this "unfortunately" decreased in 2015.

"Also, we want Tatar companies to come to Turkey and do business in any field they want. For this, any kind of opportunity and infrastructure is available," he added.

Yildirim also attended the unveiling of a monument dedicated to a Tatarstan scholar and statesman -- Sadri Maksudi Arsal – who later went on to become an advisor to Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, first president of the Republic of Turkey.

The premier is also expected to meet Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov.