Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 13 November (BelTA) – Belarus intends to advance cooperation with Kaliningrad Oblast in logistics. Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus Mikhail Rusy made the statement during the session of the Belarusian-Russian council on long-term cooperation between Belarus and Kaliningrad Oblast on 13 November, BelTA has learned.

Mikhail Rusy drew attention to logistics opportunities in Belarus and Kaliningrad Oblast. “We can earn a great deal of money by using port infrastructure and the infrastructure near the ports. We should get down to concrete projects,” he noted. Bearing this in mind, the Kaliningrad Oblast delegation can get familiar with the China-Belarus industrial park Great Stone where a number of logistics hubs will be located.

Mikhail Rusy noted that Belarus attaches much significance to the development of cooperation with Russia at the regional level. It is a solid foundation for bilateral cooperation. Belarus’ trade with Kaliningrad Oblast has been on decline recently. In 2016 the volume totaled $190 million although it was over $300 million in 2014. It is necessary to change the situation soon and restore the maximum volume of mutual trade, stressed the deputy prime minister.

To reach the goal, Mikhail Rusy suggested stepping up cooperation in the production sector, including the production of agricultural machines, utility vehicles, and road construction machines. Cooperation in civil engineering also looks promising. Today there are all the prerequisites for increasing the shipments of construction materials. Belarusian lifts can be exported or their joint production can be started in Kaliningrad Oblast.

Belarus is ready to share its experience of working in agribusiness, including selective breeding and seed farming. Kaliningrad Oblast can also import more Belarusian potatoes.

There is a considerable potential in humanitarian cooperation. “The two countries have secured some serious headway into healthcare. We should wisely use it. Personnel training and retraining and technology exchange represent promising avenues, too,” believes Mikhail Rusy.