Business news

GOMEL, 31 August (BelTA) – Cooperation between the free economic zone Gomel-Raton and similar business structures in China’s Jiangsu Province may become the foundation for interaction between the two administrative subjects in economic affairs. The opinion was voiced by Chen Xiaodong, Director of the Foreign Investments Office of the Commerce Department of the Jiangsu Province government, during negotiations with representatives of the Gomel Oblast administration in Gomel on 31 August. Chen Xiaodong leads a delegation of 14 people on a visit to Gomel Oblast, BelTA has learned.

Chen Xiaodong said: “It is very interesting for us to learn about the operation of your free economic zone, to understand its structure and learn more about the projects scheduled for implementation in the zone. There are great prospects in this area of our joint work.” In his words, the Chinese side would also like to thoroughly discuss cooperation in petrochemical industry, production of construction materials, and agriculture.

During the negotiations Gomel Oblast Vice Governor Boleslav Pirshtuk noted that the oblast already had experience of working with China to implement major infrastructure projects and projects in the pulp and paper industry. “We are ready to advance this kind of cooperation because it is mutually profitable,” he stressed.

The visit of the Chinese delegation to Gomel Oblast serves fact-finding purposes to a large degree. The delegation is expected to visit the Gomel Oblast branch of the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, some Gomel-based enterprises, and meet with the administration of the free economic zone Gomel-Raton. The final goal is to find contact points that can be used to prepare joint investment projects that will be discussed when a Gomel Oblast delegation led by Governor Vladimir Dvornik visits China at the end of the year.