News & Events in Belarus

Belarus ready to offer goods, services to Russia’s Rostov Oblast on excellent terms

An archive photo

MINSK, 17 November (BelTA) – Belarus is ready to offer a complex of goods and services to Russia’s Rostov Oblast on terms better than those foreigners offer. Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko made the statement as he met with Governor of Russia’s Rostov Oblast Yury Slyusar on 17 November, BelTA has learned.

Aleksandr Lukashenko remarked it was his first meeting with Yury Slyusar in the capacity of the Rostov Oblast governor but the two had met earlier. The Belarus president went to Russia’s Irkutsk Oblast in June 2024. Aleksandr Lukashenko visited Irkutsk Aviation Plant and Yury Slyusar was the head of PAO United Aircraft Corporation.

“Literally a very brief conversation with you. Not even about a specific topic… Back then you raised a very important matter relating to the manufacturing sector, to mechanical engineering. You made a good point by saying if there are no machine tools, what mechanical engineering or aircraft engineering can one talk about then?” the head of state recalled. Aleksandr Lukashenko remarked he absolutely agrees with this point of view.

The president pointed out that back in the time of the Soviet Union the production of machine tools was actively developed in Belarus. “We’ve preserved all the enterprises that operated in the days of the Union. And we have even moved forward as much as we could,” the head of state stated. And now the country’s machine tools industry makes quality products that are in demand and are necessary on the markets. “Mass media increasingly often enthusiastically report about numerically controlled machine tools, machine tools with technologies on par with those of the outer space industry that we have only seen and cannot make. Only one or two countries make them. Be that as it may, not many machine tools like that are necessary, after all. We know how to make everything else. Russia and particularly Belarus do. I know it for sure,” Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed. The president is convinced that this direction should be developed and Belarus is ready for it.

Another direction of joint work identified by Aleksandr Lukashenko is the industrial block that includes both joint projects and product deliveries. Cooperation in this field is interesting for both sides. Particularly taking into account Russia’s geographical location and the proximity to Russia’s new regions that will need rebuilding in the future. “Russia and Russia’s leadership will not avoid having to develop this region. Taking into account the fact that a great deal will have to be invested in these eastern regions after the war,” the Belarusian leader remarked.

“We have made a straightforward decision that we should be present over there with all the products of ours that you and the neighbors [the regions closest to Rostov Oblast] will need and do need,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

He recalled the decision in favor of building a multibrand hub for Belarusian machines, vehicles, and equipment in this region. “We should think about making everything available in one location and as closely as possible. So that we could sell our machines, vehicles, and equipment, our spare parts at profitable competitive prices,” the head of state noted.

“We are ready to go there and offer terms that are better than those foreigners offer. It is up to you. We have made the decision and we will act in this direction,” the president stressed.

He also spoke in positive terms about progress in implementing joint projects, including in the field of aircraft engineering, power engineering, and manufacturing cooperation. And this tight cooperation produces results. For instance, trade turnover has doubled in the last five years. “We pass the technologies we’ve preserved and augmented, the technologies we’ve collected from the entire world to you without problems. We will work together over there. And it is not charity. We don’t work for free,” Aleksandr Lukashenko remarked.

Belarus is ready to act in a similar manner in order to advance cooperation in agribusiness. All the more so because Belarusian foods have already earned good reputation on the Russian market thanks to their excellent quality. “Without feeding people, without clothing them (it can be cold in winter at times even in warm Rostov Oblast), it is useless to talk about some politics. We are ready to get involved [in providing the population with foods] if you wish so,” the head of state assured. “Everything we can [make in this field] can be made by Russia as well. But Russia is huge and Rostov is nearby [within a comparatively short distance from Belarus]. We are ready to cooperate with you in every field. The key is to come to terms.”

There is no doubt that shipments of products are important for Belarus as a country with an export-oriented economy. Primarily shipments to traditional markets, including the Russian one. “Economy is a number one priority. It plays the most important role everywhere,” the head of state stated. “If you provide support, we are ready to provide a complex of the services and goods that both you and your neighbors need very much.”

In turn, Yury Slyusar remarked that it was a great joy for him and for members of the Rostov Oblast delegation to be in Belarus. “I am in my new capacity. I guess it is my first international visit of the kind,” he said.

The Rostov Oblast governor explained that he had been to Belarus many times in previous jobs. He expressed respect and gratitude for the period of cooperation with partners from Belarus, including cooperation with enterprises and ministries. “The always truly high manufacturing culture, discipline, and responsibility made our Belarusian partners stand out from the crowd. I am very grateful for the opportunity to work and cooperate in that period,” the governor noted.

Speaking about his previous job of the president of PAO United Aircraft Corporation, Yury Slyusar said he was confident that colleagues would continue implementing the launched projects, including within the framework of cooperation with Belarusian enterprises: “I am talking about repairs and the product range. Aviation will continue developing successfully. In military and civilian [fields]. We have no other option. I hope and I am confident that Russia will never switch to Boeings and Airbuses.”

Yury Slyusar stressed that the more projects are in progress in the field of aviation, the larger the demand for the factories, for the capabilities, and competences that exist in Belarus will be.

“Including things concerning machine tool production. You and I have talked about it. We have indeed let it get away from us a bit. Good German, Japanese, and Swiss machine tools that we used to buy. But certainly without mastering their production domestically one cannot say that the mechanical engineering industry is firm on its feet,” the governor stressed.

print version

make home page

add to bookmarks