The world is turning its attention to Kazan, the capital of Tatarstan, for the 16th BRICS summit. The city’s rich history and its strategic importance have become trending topics. Its importance can be gauged from the fact that in 2009, Kazan was given the status of the third capital of Russia after Moscow and the cultural capital St. Petersburg. With leaders such as Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and host President Vladimir Putin gathering in Kazan, the event is highlighting the city’s growing global prominence. The summit is also being seen as a successful attempt by Putin to showcase Moscow’s allies.
homeland of the tatar people
Volga and Kazan, which is called Ganga of Russia, have a deep relationship. The city of Kazan, with a population of 1.2 million, is the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan, the homeland of the Tatar people.
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What makes Kazan strategically and economically important?
Kazan’s location and industrial prowess make it important to both Russia and its international partners. For PM Modi, his visit to Kazan is very important from diplomatic point of view. This not only strengthens India’s ties with Russia, but also opens the door to deeper government-to-government and people-to-people ties. In his last visit to Russia in July 2024, Modi had announced the opening of two new Indian consulates in Kazan and Yekaterinburg, highlighting Kazan’s growing role in India’s diplomatic outreach. Kazan is very close to India, as its distance of 3,750 km is much shorter than Moscow (4,340 km) or St. Petersburg (4,928 km), making it an ideal diplomatic hub for India. The Consulate General in Kazan is ready to promote economic and cultural relations between the two countries, taking advantage of Kazan’s industrial base.
Why does India want to invest in Kazan?
The Russian state Tatarstan plays a very important role in the oil sector. Its capital is Kazan, where international business forums are organized. Indians look for opportunities here in sectors like IT, pharmaceuticals and machinery. About 32 million tons of crude oil is produced every year in Tatarstan. India has also shown interest in increasing trade and investment in this area. Indian Consulate is also going to play in Kazan itself.
How modern is Kazan?
The city of Kazan is one of the largest industrial and financial centers of Russia. In 2011, the city’s regional output alone was 380 billion rubles. Russia also has the largest IT-park here. This is where the Tu-214 passenger airplane is made. Kazan Helicopter Plant is one of the world’s largest helicopter manufacturers. Modern Russian helicopters like Mil Mi-8 and Mil Mi-17 are manufactured here.
