Business news

GOMEL, 8 December (BelTA) – Belarus and Russia will continue dismantling barriers and reducing the number of restrictions in mutual trade. Prime Minister of Belarus Andrei Kobyakov made the statement after the session of the Council of Ministers of the Union State of Belarus and Russia on 8 December, BelTA has learned.

Participants of the session passed the resolution on priority directions and top-priority tasks in further development of the Union State of Belarus and Russia in the medium term (2018-2022). The document stipulates priority avenues of cooperation such as the pursuance of the coordinated macroeconomic policy, industrial policy, and budget policy in addition to efforts meant to advance trade and economic relations.

Plans have been made to work out joint measures to further reduce the number of barriers, exemptions, and restrictions in mutual trade in addition to liberalizing business operation terms, said Andrei Kobyakov.

Participants of the session analyzed the fulfillment of the plan on putting together and implementing a universal structural industrial policy within the framework of the Union State of Belarus and Russia. The measures the plan stipulates have been fulfilled on the whole. “However, considering the importance of the matter, we’ve instructed the relevant ministries to continue working together in the production sector and regularly arrange sessions of the interagency working group on import substitution and industry,” specified the Belarusian head of government.

Besides, participants of the session discussed the formation of the common migration space. As part of the new plan to form this space the Belarusian and Russian interior ministries will sign a protocol on sharing information about Belarusian and Russian citizens, whose interstate travels are restricted. An intergovernmental agreement on information interaction will be signed as well.

A number of documents were adopted to improve fight against terrorism, border security, and the operation of the regional military force for the sake of security and defensive ability of the Union State of Belarus and Russia.

Cooperation in humanitarian affairs was discussed as well. There are plans to use the Union State budget to reconstruct the Brest Fortress memorial and create a memorial in Rzhev, Russia’s Tver Oblast to honor deeds of Soviet soldiers.

Andrei Kobyakov concluded: “The scope of the matters we’ve discussed today was very broad. The relevant decisions have been made. I am convinced that the agreements reached during the session will contribute to the development of our countries and to the stronger Union State.”