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Belarusian ambassador visits Russia’s Kalmykia
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MOSCOW, 24 August (BelTA) – Ambassador of Belarus to Russia Yuri Seliverstov and Head of Russia’s Republic of Kalmykia Batu Khasikov discussed expanding industrial cooperation alongside interaction in agriculture, construction, education, culture, sports, and tourism. The head of the Belarusian diplomatic mission is in Elista on a working trip on Monday, August 24, BelTA has learned.
“Belarus is one of Kalmykia’s top trading partners, accounting for nearly 18% of all Kalmyk exports in 2024 – ranking second among our buying nations. Furthermore, trade with Belarus increased 1.6 times in 2026. On this solid foundation, we are building open and trusting relations,” Batu Khasikov said.
According to the governor, partnership between Belarus and Kalmykia is gaining strong momentum, with major joint initiatives already under their belt. Among them is the launch of a Minsk Tractor Works (MTZ) dealership in Elista.
The center opened less than six months ago, in March, but the head of Kalmykia noted that the region’s farmers have already purchased more than 100 machines and various spare parts. “The total amount exceeded RUB 500 million,” he specified. “This has allowed many farms to upgrade their machinery and noticeably boost their operational efficiency. Speaking with our farmers, I often hear words of gratitude, primarily directed at the leadership of Belarus. This has made life much easier for our farmers: there’s no need to travel anywhere, everything is right here on-site. Besides, the center turned out beautifully, and it truly adorns our capital. Thank you so much for such dedicated cooperation.”
Yuri Seliverstov mentioned that he had visited the dealership just before his meeting with the head of Kalmykia. “It looks very impressive and modern, but in our talks with the enterprises, we concluded that the center still has plenty of room to grow. We need to partner with educational institutions to train people to operate the machinery, as the technology is becoming increasingly complex. Therefore, we shouldn’t just sell a good tractor, we must also teach people how to use it,” the ambassador said. He also suggested that the MTZ dealership in Kalmykia could be transformed into a multifunctional hub, providing a full range of equipment servicing.
Yuri Seliverstov invited the Kalmyk delegation to visit the upcoming exhibition INNOPROM. Belarus and tour a number of Belarusian industrial enterprises to get to know the manufactured products on-site. Furthermore, according to the ambassador, the Kalmyk side would find the Belarusian experience in organizing social services for rural residents of interest. He specifically focused on the biotechnology cluster established in Belarus, whose products could also be supplied to Kalmykia.
“Kalmykia is demonstrating strong and impressive development. Belarus is genuinely interested in fostering growth and collaboration with Kalmykia as part of our bilateral relations and our broader partnership within the Union State,” Yuri Seliverstov emphasized.
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