Business news

MOSCOW, 2 June (BelTA) – Fifteen subjects of the Russian Federation have plans to sign cooperation agreements with Belarusian partners at the Third Belarus-Russia Forum of Regions, First Deputy Chairman of the Economic Policy Committee of Russia’s Federal Assembly Sergei Kalashnikov said at a press conference in Moscow on 2 June, BelTA has learned.

Sergei Kalashnikov recalled that the first edition of the Belarus-Russia Forum of Regions was held in 2014. It gave an impetus to the relations between the regions of the two countries. The Second Forum of Regions held in Sochi in autumn 2015 discussed agricultural cooperation. As many as thirteen Russian regions signed agreements with Belarusian partners during that forum. “The most modest projections expect that the third edition of the forum will bring together over a thousand participants,” the Russian MP said.

Sergei Kalashnikov pointed out that 80 Russian regions have cooperation agreements with Belarus or its regions. Fourteen regions have councils for business cooperation with Belarus. Besides, there are 73 Belarus-Russia intergovernmental agreements regulating the interregional cooperation.

The Belarusian capital of Minsk will host the Third Belarus-Russia Forum of Regions on 7 and 8 June. The event will discuss the social and humanitarian cooperation in the Belarus-Russia Union State, ways to strengthen trade and economic ties between regions and bolster industrial cooperation. Panel sessions will be held to discuss nine areas of focus. The third session of the Belarus-Russia interparliamentary commission for interregional cooperation will be held as part of the forum.