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Belarus, Russia’s Smolensk Oblast agree on number of cooperation programs

MOSCOW, 27 February (BelTA) – Belarus and Russia’s Smolensk Oblast have outlined programs to boost cooperation in mechanical engineering, agriculture, and the flax industry, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Belarus to Russia Igor Petrishenko told the media after his meeting with a delegation from Smolensk Oblast led by Governor Alexey Ostrovsky in Moscow on 26 February, BelTA informs.

According to the ambassador, the volume of mutual trade between Belarus and Smolensk Oblast has a positive trend, exceeding $4 billion last year. The parties, however, agreed that the potential of bilateral cooperation is still hugely untapped. “We have discussed the whole range of our relations,” said Igor Petrishenko.

The talks focused special attention to the need to increase the supply of Belarusian farming, passenger, road construction and utilities equipment, food products, the development of cooperation in the transport and logistics sector. The parties discussed preparations for the Forum of Regions of Belarus and Russia, which is due to take place in Mogilev Oblast in September 2018.

“We are interested in localizing the production of Belarusian goods in Smolensk Oblast. The matter concerns first of all the Minsk Tractor Plant, because these products are in demand not only in our oblast, but also in the neighboring oblasts,” added Governor Alexey Ostrovsky.

Smolensk Oblast is ranked third in Belarus’ trade with Russian oblasts. In 2017, the mutual trade amounted to $4,161.8 million, 13.7% up from 2016. Belarusian exports increased by 31%, imports from Smolensk Oblast by 8.9%.

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