Business news

VITEBSK, 18 August (BelTA) – Direct contacts between enterprises can advance the cooperation between Belarusian and Russian regions to a new level, First Deputy Chairman of the Vitebsk City Hall Valentin Tsvetkov told journalists on 18 August, BelTA has learned.

He emphasized that given today's economic conditions the enterprises should be more aggressive in promoting their products. The government provides them with assistance. “The Vitebsk city and regional authorities signed cooperation agreements with several regions of Russia,” Valentin Tsvetkov noted.

These efforts have already brought results. “We have recently visited Russia’s Kaluga. The visit showed that face-to-face interaction between heads of enterprises helps solve many issues and agree on concrete forms of cooperation,” Valentin Tsvetkov said. He also expects that the visit of a business delegation of Tver Oblast to Vitebsk will also yield positive results. “I think the contacts that will be established during the visit will give an additional impetus to the development of mutually beneficial cooperation,” Valentin Tsvetkov stressed.

However, he complained that Belarusian enterprises are not active enough in promoting their interests and solving emerging problems. In his view, cooperation problems are solved only through direct personal contact, and via meetings at the negotiating table. “We can sign as many agreements at the level of the administrations of cities and regions as we want. But if this process does not involve economic entities, the result will be close to zero,” Valentin Tsvetkov said.

Vitebsk is hosting a delegation of businessmen from Tver Oblast. The delegation comprises representatives of manufacturing, trading, IT and other companies. The two-day visit will include a plenary session and visits to companies of Vitebsk Oblast (the Institute of Applied Acoustics of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, the Vitebsk State Technological University, Vitebskkhlebprom, Moloko, Vitebsk Confectionary Vitba, Vitebsk Meat Packing Plant, Vasilina Factory, KIS and Rudakovo companies).