Business news

18 Feb 2020

Belarus seeks to increase export of vehicles, foodstuffs to Russia’s Arkhangelsk Oblast

During the meeting

MINSK, 18 February (BelTA) - Belarus is interested in increasing the supply of vehicles and food to Arkhangelsk Oblast of Russia, Belarusian Prime Minister Sergei Rumas said as he met with Arkhangelsk Oblast Governor Igor Orlov in Minsk on 18 February, BelTA has learned.

“Direct contacts with the subjects of the Russian Federation are the basis of trade and economic cooperation between Belarus and Russia. Arkhangelsk Oblast is our reliable, time-tested trading partner. Last year, our mutual trade decreased slightly, but in general it is balanced, although it does not correspond to the potential of our economies,” Sergei Rumas noted.

The Belarusian head of government offered to discuss measures to increase the trade to the record high of 2014.

Sergei Rumas

“We have several proposals how we can build our work. First of all, we can step up cooperation in the supply of quarry, cargo and road-building equipment,” the prime minister said. He noted that there are six large enterprises in Arkhangelsk Oblast that mine minerals and employ more than 100 BelAZ trucks. “The vehicles have proved their worth in your climatic conditions. We hope that the process of replacing the vehicle fleet with new trucks will continue. Here we are ready to offer our financially opportunities to promote the supplies of BelAZ trucks,” Sergei Rumas noted.

Belarus also produces a wide range of cargo and special-purpose vehicles and is also interested in increasing deliveries of vehicles for the needs of the road-building services and utilities.

Another promising area for cooperation is the delivery of passenger vehicles. MAZ can supply its products to Arkhangelsk Oblast. Its passenger vehicles are in demand in the regions of the Russian Federation. According to the prime minister, this is due to the quality of the vehicles and closeness to climatic conditions. “In 2020, we signed a contract to supply more than 100 vehicles to St. Petersburg. We believe that MAZ vehicles can also work in the conditions of Arkhangelsk Oblast," he said. In addition, Belarus is ready to supply electric vehicles.

Igor Orlov

Sergei Rumas noted that Belarus has already accumulated considerable experience in the construction of infrastructure and residential construction in the regions of the Russian Federation. “We believe that our experience could be useful for Arkhangelsk Oblast. We could design Belarusian neighborhoods in a comprehensive way, as we did in Kaluga Oblast. This method of interaction can be employed in Arkhangelsk or Severodvinsk,” the Belarusian prime minister said.

Belarus is also interested in developing cooperation in the agricultural sector. “Today, Belarus’ major export item to Arkhangelsk Oblast is food products, and we are ready to expand supplies. This applies to both meat, dairy products and other sectors of Belarusian agriculture,” Sergei Rumas explained.

Tourism may be a promising area for cooperation, too. “Our health resorts are of great interest to Russian citizens, and every year the number of tourists from Russia is growing,” the prime minister said.



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