25 March 1999
DAILY REVIEW FROM TATARSTAN
Tatarstan To Own Tatenergo Joint-Stock Company
Tatar Prime Minister Rustam Minnikhanov and Anatoly Chubais, the head of United Energy Systems of Russia (UES), signed an agreement in principle on cooperation between UES and Tatarstan's energy giant Tatenergo on 24 March in Kazan. Under the terms of the agreement, Tatenergo will become a joint stock company owned by the republic. UES obtained a 25 percent +1 share in the Tuben Kama hydroelectric power plant and transit power lines, apart from Tatenergo.
According to Russian legislation, 49 percent of Tatenergo, transit power lines, the Tuben Kama and Zey electric power plants were to become UES property. But Tatarstan's government made a reformed offer to UES of 10 percent of Tatenergo stock as a joint-stock company.
Anatoly Chubais said the compromise "restored the UES of Russia." Chubais admitted that the financial state of Tatenergo was "much worse than of the other regional energy suppliers in Russia," but acknowledging that its technical equipment was "among the best in Russia."
KamAZ Boosts Production
The KamAZ automotive works is to produce 1,850 trucks under contracts with partners in countries in the CIS, Eastern Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and Asia, the republican press reported. Estimated income from foreign trade for KamAZ in 1999 is projected to reach $4.1 million.
The Oka small-load vehicle plant at KamAZ has increased its sales by 37.5 percent in the first two months of 1999 compared to the same period last year, Tatarinform reported.
Algiers To Cooperate With Tatarstan In Oil Industry, Trade
President Mintimer Shaimiev met with the Algerian ambassador in Moscow, Ammar Makhlufi, on 24 March in Kazan, Tatarinform reported. Speaking with Shaimiev, Makhlufi assessed his visit to Tatarstan as "useful" because his delegation learned of true opportunities for bilateral cooperation. Makhlufi said Algiers would be "interested in sharing the experience of Tatarstan's oil industry" and seek a trade partnership with Tatarstan's aircraft and shipbuilding industry.
Trade And Industrial Chambers Unite Under "Bolshaya Volga" Association
The trade and industrial chambers of the "Bolshaya Volga" regions established a union on 24 March, the republican press reported. The union will reportedly help industries from the Volga region create common markets. The chairman of Tatarstan's Trade and Industry Chamber, Shamil Ageyev, was unanimously voted to be the first chairman of the Union.
Compiled by Iskender Nurmi