The upcoming SCO and BRICS summits have brought positive changes in Ufa

The city of Ufa has benefited from many improvements as a result of the upcoming the SCO Heads of State Council Meeting and the BRICS Summit to be held there, Minister of the Republic of Bashkortostan Ruslan Mirsayapov told in an interview with Federal News 24 website.

The city's improvements include completion of the Ufa International Airport rebuilding project; the opening of the Bashkortostan State Concert Hall; preparations for the opening of the restored Bashkir State Opera and Ballet Theatre; and repairs on the Congress Hall building. By April 2015, several restored hotels and six new hotels will be opened. Tourist companies have developed new city excursions.

According to the minister, the summits will help attract more investment to the region. "Experts expect investment growth in the republic. Although this might take 5 or 10 years, what matters is that mechanisms are being created to provide extra financial flows," he said. This will also be promoted by including certain events that involve representatives of the business community in the summits: the SCO and BRICS Business and Interbank Councils meetings and the BRICS Financial Forum.

A number of projects have been launched in the Republic of Bashkortostan involving partners from SCO and BRICS countries. "These are cooperation projects with equipment manufacturing companies; there are interesting projects to create logistics facilities involving companies and goods suppliers from SCO and BRICS countries," the minister said.