Business news

MOGILEV, 22 November (BelTA) – Mogilev Oblast and Brazil’s Ceara State are intent on advancing regional cooperation. The interest was expressed during the meeting of Chairman of the Economy Committee of the Mogilev Oblast Executive Committee Ruslan Strakhar and Head of the International Affairs Secretariat of the government of Ceara State Antonio Balman in Mogilev on 22 November, BelTA has learned.

According to Antonio Balman, Ceara State and Mogilev Oblast have quite a high potential for advancing mutually beneficial cooperation. “We are ready to export tropical fruits, leather, coffee, and other products to Mogilev Oblast and Belarus. We are also interested in importing Belarusian tractors, tires, and some foods,” he said.

The sides discussed prospects of investment cooperation to create new and joint ventures. In particular, Antonio Balman suggested considering starting the production of leather footwear in the free economic zone Mogilev. Exporting the merchandise to third countries is a possibility. He also spoke in favor of assembling Bobruisk-made compact tractors Belarus in Brazil.

In turn, Ruslan Strakhar suggested considering the idea to set up in an enterprise in Mogilev Oblast to process tropical fruits. He also suggested manufacturing cooperation between a Brazilian company and an existing company that operates in Mogilev Oblast and has experience and equipment to process fruits as an option. “Our region is open to cooperation and the implementation of any investment projects. Most favorable conditions for doing business have been enabled in the oblast. We have over 200 spare land plots for implementing investment projects. The investment portfolio of the projects that can be implemented in the region is estimated at $1 billion,” noted the Chairman of the Economy Committee of the Mogilev Oblast Executive Committee.

Ruslan Strakhar also spoke in favor of directing attention towards areas other than economy. “In order to get to know each other better and bolster friendship between our nations, we should step up cooperation in culture, education, sport, and tourism. We would like to establish tighter cooperation ties between the capital cities of our regions — Mogilev and Fortaleza,” said the official.

The sides also agreed to get the chambers of commerce and industry of the two regions to arrange a meeting of Belarusian and Brazilian businessmen for the sake of discussing possibilities for advancing economic cooperation and for earmarking specific projects for implementation.

On 22 November the Brazilian delegation visited the tire making company OAO Belshina and the mechanical engineering company OAO Bobruisk Plant of Tractor Parts and Units.