Business news

9 Dec 2024

Belarus, Russia's Irkutsk Oblast outline new cooperation prospects

BREST, 9 December (BelTA) – Belarus and Russia's Irkutsk Oblast have outlined new prospects for cooperation, Chairman of the Brest Oblast Executive Committee Piotr Parkhomchik said following the 9^th meeting of the working group on cooperation between Belarus and Irkutsk Oblast, BelTA has learned.

The meeting was held in Irkutsk on 9 December. The working group on the Belarusian side was headed by Brest Oblast Governor Piotr Parkhomchik. He emphasized that the parties have established close ties in various areas and industries. There is plenty of common ground in industry, education, culture, sport. "It is very important that every time when holding such a meeting, we find new points of growth so that our economies develop together and reach new heights. This meeting was no exception," Piotr Parkhomchik said. He is responsible for coordinating cooperation between the Republic of Belarus and Irkutsk Oblast.

According to him, the parties outlined new points of growth. In particular, it concerned cooperation in aircraft construction. "We want to deal with this very closely. Belarus wants to produce airplanes. We have already established cooperation with the Yakovlev aircraft manufacturer; the range of products and competencies are expanding," the governor stressed. Belarus is investing in new competencies, working together with Russian partners. Its goal is to set up airplane production at the aircraft repair enterprises.

Belarus and Irkutsk Oblast also seek closer cooperation in pharmaceutics. "Belarus produces a large number of medicines. We provide ourselves with over 60% of them. At this meeting it was said that we can expand a certain range of products, add another 30 items manufactured by our Irkutsk friends. They are willing to set up such an enterprise in Brest Oblast. Certainly, we support this initiative," Piotr Parkhomchik noted. He added that Belarus is eager to supply passenger vehicles to Irkutsk Oblast. Belarus demonstrated new samples of machinery for agriculture and timber processing.

The Russian side was headed by First Deputy Governor of Irkutsk Oblast Roman Kolesov. "We see great interest of the Belarusian side in continuing such economic and business cooperation and in selling their products in Irkutsk Oblast," he said. "A huge amount of Belarus-made machinery is already in use in Irkutsk Oblast: in forestry, agriculture, and road construction. There are prospects for increasing such cooperation, developing of logistics and maintenance centers, which could promptly repair machinery," he said.

During the meeting, the parties summarized the interim results of cooperation and outlined plans for the future. The agreements were signed by the Brest Oblast Council of Deputies and the Legislative Assembly of Irkutsk Oblast, Motol village council of Ivanovo District, Brest Oblast, and Turgenevka of Bayandai District, Irkutsk Oblast. The Belarusian delegation is set to tour a number of enterprises and attend a business matchmaking event.