Business news

MINSK, 23 August (BelTA) – Belarus and Russia plan to sign $500 million worth of contracts at the 5^th Forum of Regions, Deputy Chairwoman of the Council of the Republic, Chairwoman of the Organizing Committee of the 5^th Forum of Regions of Belarus and Russia Marianna Shchetkina told the media on 23 August, BelTA has learned.

“We plan to sign contracts worth more than $500 million. We are working in all the areas,” she said.

About 50 agreements are currently under consideration, including 20 between the government of Belarus and the governments of the Russian regions and 29 interregional agreements.

This year’s forum will feature the first meeting of the Business Cooperation Council. Marianna Shchetkina is confident that the dialogue will make a considerable contribution to the development of bilateral cooperation. “We plan to discuss problematic issues. These are equal rights of economic entities, markets free of exemptions and restrictions, and other matters,” the vice speaker said.

According to Marianna Shchetkina, the participants of the forum plan to discuss joint projects in science, youth policy. Belarus hopes that new proposals regarding joint projects and programs in the Union State will be voiced during the forum.

The 5^th Forum of Regions of Belarus and Russia is due to take place in Mogilev on 11-12 October. The event will be organized by the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus and the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of Russia in cooperation with the Mogilev Oblast Executive Committee. On 23 August Minsk played host to a meeting of the organizing committee of the forum.