1 February 2002
DAILY REVIEW FROM TATARSTAN
Kazan, Hosting Airbus Executives, Courts Major Contract
Senior managers from European Airbus, led by the aircraft consortium's director of international cooperation and development, Xavier Tierni, arrived in Kazan on 31 January for talks on the joint production of new-generation airbuses with Kazan Aircraft Plant. Before the closed-door meeting, Tierni told reporters that Tatarstan's government paid special attention to the aircraft industry. Tierni expressed a "positive" opinion about the Kazan plant, but he added that a decision would be made in one month at Airbus headquarters in Toulouse, France.
Tatarstan Minister of Economy and Industry Sergei Kogogin told Airbus representatives that modern "aviation cannot be developed within one country, because worldwide economic integration is necessary." According to the Airbus delegation, a number of Russian plants will be offered production of different parts of new high-capacity aircraft as part of Airbus' race to compete with American rival Boeing. Before arriving in Tatarstan's capital, Kazan, the delegation met with the captains of aerospace in Irkutsk, Samara, Ulyanovsk, and Nizhnii Novgorod for similar negotiations.
Korean Drug Company Looking Into Tatar Remedy
South Korea's Doosan pharmaceuticals has appealed to Tatkhimfarmpreparati of Tatarstan, proposing cooperation in clinical testing of an agent extracted from birch-tree fungus by the Tatar company. Primary tests show that the agent could ease the condition of cancer patients and diabetics.
Tatarstan And Gorky Railroads To Join Forces To Improve Railways
Tatarstan Deputy Prime Minister and Transportation Minister Vladimir Shvetsov met the chief of Gorky Railways, Khasyan Zyabirov, in Nizhnii Novgorod on 31 January to sign a joint agreement on repairing railway stations in Shemordan and Agryz, in Tatarstan. The deal also includes the construction of railway lines, Tatarstan State TV reported. Tatarstan's government and Gorky Railways agreed to split the cost of the station repairs, while the extra lines will be built at the republic's expense.
Tatarstan, Azerbaijan Academies Of Science To Cooperate
Tatarstan's Academy of Sciences and the Azerbaijani National Academy of Sciences signed an accord on scientific cooperation on 31 January in Kazan. The academies plan to exchange information on various disciplines and promote the use of high-technology in intellectual integration.
Compiled by Iskender Nurmi
DAILY REVIEW FROM BASHKORTOSTAN
Republic Taps New, Non-Renewable Resources
Bashkortostan's government board on geology and non-renewable resources announced on 31 January that the discovery of some 5.1 million tons of new oil deposits in 2001. The capacity of prospected copper and gold deposits increased by 30,000 tons and 178 kilograms, respectively, the board said.
Operating At One-Third Capacity, Publishing Industry Shows Growth
Press and Information Minister Zufar Timerbulatov told a government meeting on 31 January that, together with a lack of modern equipment, the republic's publishing industry faces a dearth of orders. It is operating at 34 percent of capacity, he added. Republican publishing ventures reported 23 percent growth in year-on-year statistics.
Food Additives Approved, Reportedly Help Combat Cancer
Bashkortostan's Science Academy and the Bashkir State Medical Institute have approved the sale of a range of food products containing antioxidant agents aimed at fighting cancer in the republic, the daily "Vechernaya Ufa" reported on 31 January. Tests performed in Sterlitamaq reportedly resulted in lower cancer figures than in neighboring regions, the paper added.
State Stems Commercial Shipments From China, Uzbekistan, And Iran
Bashkortostan's Standardization Center on 31 January expressed concerns over goods imported from China, Uzbekistan, and Iran, especially toys and auxiliaries for babies, republican media reported. Some 1.5 million rubles ($50,000) in goods from these countries were prevented from entering the republic after being deemed to contain harmful components.
Compiled by Iskender Nurmi