Opinions & Interviews

SAINT PETERSBURG, 2 October (BelTA) – Belarus and Saint Petersburg should switch from mere trade to innovative cooperation, Belarusian Prime Minister Mikhail Myasnikovich said at the opening of the international forum in Saint Petersburg on 2 October, BelTA has learnt.

The Belarusian head of government noted that a powerful manufacturing and intellectual potential is concentrated in Saint Petersburg, which enables Belarus and this Russian city to look for new cooperation forms. Mikhail Myasnikovich believes that the sides should upgrade their cooperation and advance from trade to innovative cooperation. “Belarus is ready for that,” the Premier underlined. The world is going to change dramatically in the forthcoming decade and new goods and technologies will be needed. “Therefore we should start to analyze whether we are ready for this competition,” Mikhail Myasnikovich said.

A variety of joint programs (space, biotechnologies, nanotechnologies, etc) is successfully implemented within the framework of the Union State. New programs of the fifth and sixth technological paradigms are in the pipeline. These programs have great prospects, the Prime Minister believes.

“It should not be otherwise. Our presidents made an important political decision within the framework of the Customs Union – to launch the single market (without exemptions and restrictions) – the Eurasian Economic Union - on 1 January 2015. While protecting the domestic market of the three states we should not forget that we should be competitive on overseas markets,” the Belarusian Premier underlined.

Mikhail Myasnikovich studied the exposition of the forum. He paid a particular attention to the polymer cluster, airspace instrument-making as well as the tool-making industry cluster. Mikhail Myasnikovich noted that Belarus and Russia lag behind other countries in terms of the development of the tool-making industry. To rectify the situation, the Belarusian head of government suggested considering joint programs. Another important task facing the tool-making industry is expanding import-substitution.

As was informed earlier, Mikhail Myasnikovich is on a working visit to St Petersburg on 1-2 October. During the visit he attended the 17^th international forum “Russian Manufacturer” and the Belarusian trade fair. He is set to take part in the meeting of the Belarus-Saint Petersburg Business Cooperation Council. The participants of the meeting will discuss joint projects in manufacturing cooperation, supplies of Belarusian passenger and municipal vehicles and elevators to Saint Petersburg, cooperation in the food industry, construction and science. The Belarusian Premier will also hold talks with Saint Petersburg Governor Georgy Poltavchenko.