Business news

MOGILEV, 31 March (BelTA) – Belarus maintains trade and economic cooperation with 80 Russian regions, Chairman of the Belarusian public organization Twin Cities Boris Batura said at the 9th meeting of Belarusian and Russian sister cities on 31 March, BelTA has learned.

In his words, over 300 agreements between the Belarusian oblasts, Minsk and subjects of the Russian Federation, and also between the Belarusian and Russian cities, districts and municipal entities have been signed as part of the interregional cooperation program.

“Among the leaders of our business and trade relations are Moscow Oblast, Smolensk Oblast, Bryansk Oblast, Nizhny Novgorod Oblast, Leningrad Oblast and Rostov Oblast, Moscow, St Petersburg which account for more than 70% of trade turnover. Twinning ties unite 49 cities and regional centers of Belarus and 67 Russian cities. A big number of Belarusian and Russian cities have cooperation agreements,” noted Boris Batura.

Boris Batura stressed that twinning and partner relations between the cities of the two countries make a considerable contribution to interstate relations, promote development of trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian ties between the two countries. There are examples of successful cooperation.

Mogilev was not randomly chosen for the 9^th meeting of the sister cities. Jointly with the Russian sister cities of Tula, Penza and Moscow’s Sokolinaya Gora District, Mogilev seeks and finds opportunities for new mutually beneficial projects that are successfully implemented. Mytishchi cooperates of a regular basis with its sister cities of Borisov, Baranovichi and Smolevichi.

There are a lot of other examples of successful cooperation: Grodno and its Russian partners Vologda, Veliky Novgorod, Khimki, Vitebsk and Smolensk, Bryansk, Novopolotsk and Pushkin District of St Petersburg, Gomel and Kursk, Rostov-on-Don, Brest and Orel, Nesvizh and Gatchina.

“I would place city twining in one line with effective instruments to change the world to the better. I would call it an important part in the fulfillment of the majority tasks on improving the level and quality of life. The interest in the successful development of cities and districts helps forward-looking heads find mutually beneficial contacts, domestic and foreign resources. This means consolidated cooperation between local forces, including business, educational institutions, mass media and, of course, the opportunities of partners from other regions and countries,” Boris Batura said.