Business news

15 Jul 2024

Belarusian vice premier outlines cooperation areas with Russia’s Chuvashia

MINSK, 15 July (BelTA) - Belarus and Chuvashia should step up bilateral relations through deepening industrial cooperation, Belarusian Deputy Prime Minister Piotr Parkhomchik said as he met with Head of Russia’s Chuvash Republic Oleg Nikolayev on 15 July, BelTA has learned.

Intensive development of regional cooperation with Russia is a priority for Belarus, Piotr Parkhomchik said. “We are always happy to welcome Russian specialists in Belarus, with whom we maintain close cooperative and friendly ties,” he said. “The Chuvash Republic is an important and promising trade partner for us. In the past three years our mutual trade has been showing stable upward trends. I think this visit will give another impetus to the development of bilateral relations.”

Industrial cooperation is a major point of bilateral interaction, the deputy prime minister said. Not a single visit of delegations from Russian regions go without discussing the matter. The issue has become especially relevant given the sanctions pressure that is exerted on the two countries.

“We need to be actively engaged in import substitution efforts, and our country has everything necessary for this. We have preserved our industry, which is currently under wide modernization as part of a loan program agreed with the Russian Federation. The capacities developed as part of investment projects with Russia are designed to go beyond the domestic market of Belarus to also meet Russia’s needs. Here, we need to think over further actions in this respect as well; the portfolio of these projects is still open. There is an agreement with the Russian government to expand overall capacities, which may interest both the parties,” Piotr Parkhomchik said.

The deputy prime minister also called the agricultural sector a traditional area for the development of trade and economic relations with Russian regions. “One needs to feed their people, and we addressed this issues long time ago. We export a large volume of food products, including to St. Petersburg, Moscow, Yekaterinburg and other Russian regions. If Chuvashia needs any support in this area, we are ready to provide it and solve all the emerging issues,” he said.

All the necessary equipment for agriculture has already been developed in Belarus, and it covers about 90% of the demand for the machinery that is currently used in the country's fields. All the Chuvash Republic’s requests can also be met. Piotr Parkhomchik added that the country can help the Russian region to cover its needs for seed production and farm construction.

The deputy prime minister also mentioned cooperation in science and education. “This is also a very important segment. Our educational institutions are ready to train specialists. We have recently increased the frequency of internships at our industrial enterprises representing high technologies. A large number of students come to us to get familiar with our work. This gives a serious impetus to the development of relations with many Russian universities. Conclusion of such agreements is already becoming systematic. Students go to BelAZ, Minsk Tractor Plant, Gomselmash, and Minsk Automobile Plant,” the deputy prime minister said.

Belarus has made significant progress in healthcare. “A big number of people come to our medical centers for various surgeries. We are always ready to provide help,” Piotr Parkhomchik said.

“Construction industry is a new business card of the country. In many regions of Russia we have implemented successful construction projects in many Russian regions. A huge school in Voronezh is among such projects. Our builders work in the Far East and other regions of Russia. Our prices are always acceptable to those who hold tenders,” the deputy prime minister added.

Piotr Parkhomchik also mentioned the need to provide the region with passenger transport. “The public transport fleet in Chuvashia needs to be renewed. We supply a large number of vehicles to Russian regions. Last year there was a slight delay in deliveries, but this year we are on schedule with the supplies of our vehicles to the Russian regions. There are two ways of solving the issue: it is possible to buy vehicles in Belarus and also at the relevant production facilities that we have set up in Russia and that use our kits to assemble passenger vehicles. We are open for multifaceted cooperation,” the deputy prime minister said.



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