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MINSK, 15 February (BelTA) – Belarus offers Russia to set up a flax production cluster. The matter was discussed at a joint session of the Belarusian and Russian organizing committees for the fifth Forum of Regions of Belarus and Russia on 15 February, BelTA has learned.

Russia is drafting a very ambitious program to develop light industry, stressed Alexander Popkov, Chairman of the Permanent Commission of Belarus’ Council of the Republic on Regional Policy and Local Self-Government. In this context, prospects of flax production are under consideration. Belarus is also paying great attention to this sector. According to the Belarusian senator, Orsha Linen Mill could join the cluster.

Cooperation in flax production came into the spotlight of the previous forum of regions, Alexander Popkov recalled. This time, he offered to discuss a common Union State agrarian market as an economic basis for the formation and development of integrated Belarusian-Russian agribusiness structures. “This is a very important avenue of cooperation that needs to be discussed. We are working on these matters to come up with relevant proposals at the forum,” he said. Belarus’ National Academy of Sciences has already considered the matter, he added. Support has also been obtained from the Russian Academy of Sciences.

The forum is expected to consider the development of innovative livestock systems in Belarus and Russia, setting up interconnected breeding and genetic centers.

The forum participants will discuss the design of the equipment for agricultural uses in the Union State, which would serve as the basis for promoting resource-and energy-saving technologies in the agricultural industry. Consideration will be also given to the development of professional and higher agricultural education in the Union State. “We need to unite our efforts. We can build up effective cooperation in the agrarian area,” Alexander Popkov believes.

On 15 February Minsk played host to the join Belarusian-Russian session of the organizing committees for the Fifth Forum of Regions of Belarus and Russia. The events of the forum will be held in Mogilev, Shklov and Gorki on 26-28 September. The program includes a plenary session to discuss the priorities for the development of regional cooperation as a key factor in integration and the Union State development, break-out sessions on economic security, agricultural policy, alignment of legislation, and the youth policy of the Union State.

The events to be held ahead of the forum will include a week of integration and cooperation in Mogilev Oblast, the joint Belarusian-Russian plein air “The Image of the Motherland in Fine Arts”, an ice hockey tournament of the Union State spartakiade for children and youth, the youth forum of Belarus and Russia and other events.