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MOSCOW, 13 February (BelTA) – Belarus will increase the supplies of its passenger transport, lifts and food products to Samara Oblast, Russia, BelTA learned from the press service of the Belarusian embassy in Russia following the working visit of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Belarus to Russia Igor Petrishenko to Samara Oblast on 13 February.

“At the meeting with Acting Governor of Samara Oblast Dmitry Azarov the parties discussed topical issues related to bilateral interaction, promising areas of cooperation in the industrial sector and the development of cooperation ties, the creation of new joint ventures, the supply of Belarusian buses, trolleybuses and trams to Samara Oblast, and the modernization of Samara's passenger park. Special attention was paid to cooperation in the sectors of construction, road design, an increase in the supply of the Belarusian elevator equipment, cooperation in the agro-industrial complex, expansion of supplies of Belarusian food products,” the diplomatic representation said.

Igor Petrishenko took note of the prospects to develop sci-tech and innovative cooperation, including joint implementation of sci-tech programs within the Union State. The parties also discussed the prospects for cooperation in IT medicine, the development of nanosatellites by Samara University in cooperation with the Belarusian Hi-Tech Park, the development of gas-powered vehicles.

Belarus and Russia are tied by most friendly, fraternal relations, Dmitry Azarov emphasized. “Traditionally, Belarus' products are in demand here. The relationship between the presidents of the two countries, which creates additional impulses for interaction between the states, the governments, and regions, is the key to stronger cooperation,” he said.

According to Dmitry Azarov, there are agreements to jointly work in the aerospace industry, machine building, agriculture, healthcare and other sectors. Samara Oblast is also interested in Belarus’ agro-town development practices. “This experience could be used in the course of the implementation of the federal program Sustainable Rural Development,” he said.

Belarus' export industrial potential was displayed at the Samara Oblast innovation center. The event was attended by the executive authorities and businessmen of the region. Taking part in the event were representatives of Belarus’ largest industrial companies: MAZ, Belkommunmash, Amkodor, BATE, Mogilevliftmash and others.

Talking to the media, Igor Petrishenko said that in 2017 the mutual trade between Belarus and Samara Oblast increased by 31% as compared to 2016 to exceed $390 million. Belarus considerably increased the deliveries of its tires, tractors, truck tractors, household non-electric equipment, ceramic tiles, and dairy products to the Russian region. Belarus also sells its road and construction machinery, potash fertilizers, and trucks there.

“Our machine-building leaders MAZ and Belkommunmash have been actively participating in the renewal of Samara's passenger transport fleet of buses, trams, trolleybuses. Belarus is ready to cooperate on the replacement of elevator equipment, the improvement and construction of the roads. We can provide the region with necessary cargo, road, and construction equipment, including building materials,” said Igor Petrishenko.

The ambassador also noted that Belarusian builders have already showed their worth in Kaluga, Smolensk, Kursk, Sakhalin, St. Petersburg, Kaliningrad and many other Russian cities and regions.

During the visit, the diplomat laid flowers at the Grieving Mother memorial complex. Together with the Samara Oblast acting governor, he took part in a ceremony to hand over MAZ buses as part of the 2018 FIFA World Cup preparation program. The ambassador also visited Samara National Research University named after academician S.P. Korolev, the construction site of the Belarus dealer center in Krutye Kluchi, the Samara tram and trolleybus department to discuss deliveries of Belarusian passenger vehicles, including new electric buses, to the region.

An agreement has also been reached with the Samara Oblast authorities to coordinate joint work in the preparation for the V Forum of the Regions of Belarus and Russia, which is scheduled for September 2018. Dmitry Azarov added that the work is almost completed on an action plan for the implementation of the Belarus-Samara Oblast intergovernmental agreement on trade, economic, sci-technical and cultural cooperation through 2020. “We are absolutely interested in bringing our all-round cooperation with Samara Oblast onto a qualitatively new level. I hope we will be able to do this,” Igor Petrishenko said.