NEW DELHI: The Republic of Tatarstan, a region in Russia, is keen to have Indian film artistes.

Tatarstan also hosts one week of Indian films every year, according to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Culture Zilya Valeeva.

She told Tourism and Culture Minister Ambika Soni that the Indian artistes could help promote further understanding about Hindi cinema.

Soni said India had signed a Cultural Exchange Programme (CEP) with Russia in 2007 and exchange of cultural delegations including film personalities to Tatarstan would be taken up soon. She exchanged views about the status of women, libraries and museums and cinema in India with the visiting dignitary.