Opinions & Interviews

He noted that in January-September 2016, the trade between Belarus and Russia made up $18.8 billion, down by 8.2% as against the same period of 2015. Still, Belarus remains Russia’s main trading partner in the CIS and fourth largest trading partner worldwide.

In January-September 2016, Belarus received $4 billion worth of investments from Russia. Over 2,000 economic entities with Russian capital operate in Belarus. Belarusian investors have a share in almost a thousand companies in Russia. As many as 80 joint Belarusian-Russian ventures currently operate in the territory of the Russian Federation.

Igor Petrishenko presented economic and investment opportunities in Belarus to the Russian businessmen. He noted that systematic effort is made to intensify the ties between Belarus and Tula Oblast. For instance, the governments of Belarus and the Russian region signed an agreement on cooperation in economy, science and culture. Besides, there are cooperation agreements between Belarus’ Gomel Oblast and Mogilev Oblast and Russia’s Tula Oblast. Igor Petrishenko invited Tula partners to conclude similar agreements with other Belarusian regions and the city of Minsk.

“We are interested in expanding cooperation in such areas as supply of construction materials, exchange of building technologies, deliveries of Belarusian agricultural machinery, joint exhibition activities, supply of agricultural and municipal equipment. Belarus is ready to offer a wide range of high-quality products,” Igor Petrishenko said.