Business news

VITEBSK, 15 April (BelTA) – Woodworking industry in Vitebsk Oblast appeals to investors from Slovakia. The statement was made by Konstantin Cherny, Deputy Chairman of the Economy Committee of the Vitebsk Oblast Executive Committee, during the press conference held on 15 April in anticipation of the forthcoming international economic forum in Vitebsk, BelTA has learned.

The development of projects to make ready-made building structures with assistance of Slovakian companies in Vitebsk Oblast looks promising, the official said. “Slovakian partners confirm it. For instance, Vitebskdrev offers good joinery products. Our beams and profile wood are already compatible with standards and samples of the European Union. Why can’t we try selling kind of semi-finished products but with the largest degree of processing and top added value to Europe?” said Konstantin Cherny.

If it is done, then, for instance, Vitebskdrev would understand that it has stable orders for specific amounts of merchandise. And the foreign partners would know how the semi-finished product can be used and could distribute the end products without duties and taxes across the entirety of the European Union. “We would also like to present an investment project of the Postavy furniture center during the forum. The project provides for making hardwood blocks. Europe is now returning to natural materials. We will try to present such projects before our foreign partners because we have the raw materials but lack some technologies,” noted the official.

Individual itineraries will be offered to every guest of the forum this year. “If the ambassador of Germany arrives, we will offer a program of meetings and negotiations with representatives of the enterprises that can offer the largest return on investment. In other words, we practice a pragmatic approach to the organization of highly effective visits. We pay a lot of attention to the visit of our Russian partners. Those are Smolensk, Bryansk, Ivanovo, Saratov, and Volgograd. We have a track record of cooperation with these regions. Now we would like to talk business, choose 2-3 areas and try to solidify them with some documents where executors and deadlines are specified,” explained Konstantin Cherny.

The official also underlined that the forum’s focus will shift from presenting investment projects to the presentation of their innovative components — the production of new merchandise and the assimilation of new technologies. “These days it is important to learn how to present oneself not only in the home country but the entire world. This is why teaching enterprises and our regions how to do that is one of the goals of the forum,” added the Deputy Chairman of the Economy Committee of the Vitebsk Oblast Executive Committee.

The 5^th international economic forum Innovations. Investments. Prospects will take place in Vitebsk on 12-13 May. The forum will be organized by the Vitebsk Oblast administration and the city administration, the Vitebsk Oblast agency for overseeing the rational use of fuel and energy resources, the Vitebsk Oblast Marketing Center, the Vitebsk Oblast union of employers, and the administration of the free economic zone Vitebsk.