Opinions & Interviews

NOVOSIBIRSK, 22 October (BelTA) – Belarus and Russia’s Siberia can increase the mutual trade turnover by two times or even three times. First Vice Prime Minister of Belarus Vladimir Semashko made the statement at the Belarus-Siberia business cooperation forum in Novosibirsk on 22 October, BelTA has learned.

Discussing possible avenues of developing mutually beneficial cooperation, the sides agreed that the present trade turnover between Belarus and Siberia (about $1.4 billion is the top record) is insufficient. “I believe it can be doubled or tripled,” noted Vladimir Semashko.

In his opinion, it can be done by exporting more Belarusian agricultural products. “Belarus resolved the problem of food security 5-6 years ago by raising the output to one tonne of grain per capita,” noted the First Vice Prime Minister of Belarus. Today the country is ready to export the excessive supply of food products, including to Siberia.

According to Vladimir Semashko, it is the simplest option for raising the trade turnover. The other ones include supplies of Belarusian machines. “We are ready to offer technologies to supply machines or assembly kits,” said the official. “We are ready to offer new financial instruments”. Those include supplies of Belarusian machines on leasing terms, lending support for supplies of Belarusian machines, and other instruments to encourage export.

Belarusian Days in Siberia are scheduled to take place on 19-23 October. The program is rather large and envisages a number of major events. Belarus’ national expo featuring products made by leading enterprises (Minsk Tractor Works, Minsk Automobile Plant, BelAZ, Amkodor, Gomselmash, Gomeldrev, Pinskdrev, Mogilevliftmash and other ones) opened in Novosibirsk on 21 October. Contracts to sell their products are expected to be signed during the expo. Roundtable sessions are also held these days to discuss various avenues of bilateral interaction. Conferences on scientific, technical, and innovative cooperation are held at premises of the Siberian branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences. A concert by Belarusian artists took place on 21 October.