Riga’s mayor invited Krasnodar citizens to visit World Olympiad of choirs in Latvia

Today Vladimir Evlanov had a meeting with Riga’s mayor and chairman of Riga Duma Nils Ušakovs within a framework of working visit in Krasnodar Region.

— I welcome you on behalf of citizens of our city. I’m excited with a provided possibility to meet with you face-to-face and discuss prospects for the development of cooperation between our cities. Krasnodar is an industrial, cultural and sports center of Southern Russia, investment-attractive city which develops international relations around the world. I’m sure that we’ll find out a lot of common points for mutually profitable effective cooperation, — Vladimir Evlanov said.

Reception of Riga delegation headed by Nils Ušakovs occurred in city administration. Also this meeting was participated by chairwoman of City Duma Vera Galushko, director of city department of economic development, investments and foreign affairs Elena Vasilchenko and deputy chief of administrative department, chief of the department of foreign relations and protocol Boris Staroselskiy.

Nils Ušakovs is in Krasnodar for the first time ever. But as he said, he knows about Krasnodar long beforehand because his grandmother has lived in this city in the middle of last century. During a walk around the city he even tried to find her house down the Krasnaya Street.

Aim of Riga delegation visit is the development in humanitarian and economic spheres. As according to mayor of Latvian capital, Riga has started to build up relationship with regions of Russia in the period of world economic crisis. First of all the city established cooperation with Moscow, St. Petersburg, the Pskov Region and Ural. Now Krasnodar and Yaroslavl Regions get into sphere of Riga’s interests.

Among prospective directions of cooperation Nils Ušakovs pointed out spheres of economy, tourism and culture. He said that Riga is declared to be cultural capital of Europe in 2014. The opening of European cultural capital will happen in January. As part of the program Riga will host World Olympiad of choirs in the beginning of June. The event will gather approximately 95 thousand guests and participators from almost 90 countries of the world.

— We know that there are some prominent choir collectives in Krasnodar and would be very glad if your city will be presented at this large-scale cultural event, — Nils Ušakovs said.

Separately chief of Latvian capital administration dwelled on an issue of cooperation in economic sphere. He remarked that over the last years business-community of Riga has actively applied to the Russian market. Particularly retail chain of Riga production is widely presented in shopping centres of Moscow, where you can buy best products from Riga — from ceramics to chocolate.

Warming up to the topic Vladimir Evlanov told colleagues from Riga that a large area in Krasnodar is allocated for Eastern industrial zone. About 450 hectares are proposed to investors for distribution of manufactures. As according to Krasnodar Head, the territory has been already started to reclaim, and probably, this site would be interesting for representatives from Latvia.

Nils Ušakovs marked that it may be possible especially for pharmaceutical companies which have been already developing their business in Russia.

Also they discussed implementation features of social policy in two cities, principles of formation of budget revenues and other topics.

Nils Ušakovs arrived in Kuban on October 14 and will stay here up to the end of this week. During this visit mayor of Riga will conduct series of meetings with Heads of Krasnodar Region administration, Sochi and Yeysk. Additionally, he is going to attend Olympic facilities in Sochi.