News & Events in Belarus

MINSK, 16 March (BelTA) – Belarus and Russia’s Stavropol Krai have a huge potential for boosting bilateral trade and launching new promising projects, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko said as he met with Governor of Russia’s Stavropol Krai Vladimir Vladimirov on 16 March, BelTA has learned.

The head of state remarked that Stavropol Krai is one of the most promising economic partners of Belarus in Russia. The bilateral trade turnover made up $140 million last year. It went up 9% after two years of decline.

“However, it is not enough. The trade turnover was $100 million bigger several years ago. We still need to do a lot to restore the previous volume and then increase it. I am absolutely convinced that having big potentials and well-developed agriculture, Belarus and Stavropol Krai are not satisfied with the current situation. Therefore, we view your arrival as a resolution to ensure a significant increase in the bilateral trade and launch new promising projects in the areas of mutual interest,” Alexander Lukashenko said.

According to the President, it is needed to develop cooperation ties in the manufacturing industry. “We are aware of your plans to assemble cars with Chinese and European companies. We should think about the establishment of joint ventures in Stavropol Krai and Belarus. In the future, I hope, we will be able to organize joint enterprises, the production of machines and aggregates, all equipment that is made in Belarus and that you need,” the head of state remarked. “Alongside with the development of cooperation, our joint-stock companies MAZ, MTZ, Amkodor, Belkommunmash, and others are ready to provide a wide rage of products, namely passenger, freight, municipal transport, road construction equipment, to Stavropol Krai.”

To raise the efficiency of agribusiness, Belarus can provide modern equipment for the renovation of dairy farms to the Russian region. “We have already upgraded them, therefore, our experience could be interesting for you. We are currently doing al lot in this field in various regions of Russia, even in Sakhalin,” Alexander Lukashenko said. “The upgrade of the fleet of agricultural equipment can be accelerated thanks to the increase in the purchase of the entire range of our vehicles (tractors and harvesters) using various financing schemes. Taking into account all the plans of Stavropol Krai to develop winegrowing in the region, there are good prospects for the delivery of specialized equipment, including of Minsk Tractor Works (MTZ trademark).”

Belarus also offers designing and turn-key construction services to Stavropol Krai. “We are interested in it because it will be a good display of Belarus’ potential in the construction industry. We are ready to compete with Russians and your foreign partners in this field,” the President said.

In the context of the development of the recuperation infrastructure of the Caucasus Mineral Waters, Alexander Lukashenko suggested using Belarusian building and decoration materials for the construction and renovation of recuperation facilities. Belarusian specialists can also take part in these projects.

“Another promising area is innovation. Belarusian scientists are ready to take part in the projects of their colleagues from Stavropol Krai in robotic science and resource saving, geoinformatics and geophysics, microbiology and biotechnology,” the head of state said. “We are open for the comprehensive dialogue.”

The governor of Stavropol Krai thanked the President for the warm welcome and remarked that he had visited various Belarusian enterprises and Brest Fortress before.

Vladimir Vladimirov spoke about the vigorous development of agriculture in the region and emphasized that Belarusian tractors account for 60% of all tractors used in Stavropol Krai. “There are more than 11,000 tractors in Stavropol Krai. The annual demand for new tractors is estimated at 1,500,” he said.

The region wants to resume the assembly and service maintenance of Belarusian equipment. These issues have been already discussed, and the administration of the region is ready to enhance cooperation in this field.