Business news

21 May 2015

Belarus, Russia’s Bryansk Oblast to make bicycles together

MINSK, 21 May (BelTA) – Belarus and Russia’s Bryansk Oblast intend to start making bicycles together, BelTA learned from Bryansk Oblast Governor Alexander Bogomaz during the presentation of the Russian region’s economy capabilities in Minsk on 21 May.

“Today we are presenting our exhibition, top agricultural and industrial enterprises. It is important for us to let Belarusian partners learn more about our capabilities,” stressed Alexander Bogomaz.

The management of the Zhukovka bicycle and motorbike factory put forward the proposal to make merchandise together during the exhibition. Representatives of the Belarusian side were interested in the proposal since there is a similar factory in Belarus. Alexander Bogomaz said he thinks the project will be implemented.

Speaking about Bryansk Oblast agriculture, the Governor underlined that it develops rapidly, with the annual growth rate at 20-30%. “We now need machines with international-level performance standards. Our agricultural manufacturers understand that Belarus-made machines are as good as imports, yet they cost many times less,” said Alexander Bogomaz. “It is another chance for developing mutually beneficial cooperation with Belarus.”

Ambassador of Russia to Belarus Alexander Surikov noted that he was satisfied with integration processes between Bryansk Oblast enterprises and Belarusian enterprises in economy, production sector, and agriculture. “But we have to move on taking into account new reality of the Eurasian Economic Union. Bryansk Oblast is one of Russia’s top ten regions in terms of trade volume. We don’t rely in trade in raw materials. We don’t have gas or oil, we only offer industrial and agricultural goods. We have the potential for cooperation,” he concluded.

Head of the Smolensk office of the Embassy of Belarus in Russia Nikolai Kutsko remarked that in the last five years trade between Belarus and the ten Russian regions the Smolensk office is responsible for has increased by more than four times. “We have increased the figure from $2 billion to $8.5 billion. Our area of responsibility includes cities like Smolensk, Bryansk, Belgorod, Tula, Voronezh, Oryol, and Kaluga. We plan to arrange presentations like the one that took place today for all these regions,” he stressed.

On 21 May about 20 Bryansk Oblast enterprises presented their capabilities at the Bryansk Oblast economy exhibition. A session of the working group on cooperation between Belarus and Bryansk Oblast took place. An action plan to optimize cooperation in 2015-2016 was signed during the session. Apart from economic matters the document includes a large number of matters concerning the social sphere, healthcare, education, science, and tourism.