Business news

MOSCOW, 28 June (BelTA) – The organizers of the fourth Forum of regions of Belarus and Russia expect that the participants will conclude new contracts in the area of innovations, Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of Russia Yuri Vorobyov told the media on 28 June, BelTA has learned.

“The forum will be a great opportunity to discuss all matters related to integration. We believe that the event will bring our regions, cities and towns even closer together. We would like to see new contracts signed in the field of innovations, the priority area of this year’s forum,” Yuri Vorobyov noted.

He pointed out that Russia is interested in stronger economic and cultural ties at the regional and local levels. “Many regions themselves express a desire to come, to hold meetings, interact and sign agreements,” the Russian MP emphasized.

Yuri Vorobyov said that the Belarus-Russia Union State should keep up with modern technology and new solutions. “To prevent lagging behind, we have chosen this theme in order to highlight the cooperation between our enterprises, identify areas that hold considerable cooperation potential, and consider areas where the potential is far from being exhausted. This is our task for the future,” the MP stressed.

Yuri Vorobyov also noted that the program for 29 June includes a session of the parliamentary commission of the upper houses of the Belarusian and Russian parliaments. The meeting will focus on legislative integration of the two countries. “Plans have been made to review the results of the experts’ work to assess the compatibility of our legal systems, evaluate progress in our integration effort, and identify areas for further improvement,” he added.

The Forum of Regions of Belarus and Russia will be held in Moscow on 29 and 30 June and will focus on the cooperation between the two countries in science, technology and innovation. The business program of the forum includes breakout sessions with the participation of businessmen and relevant ministries and agencies. The participants will discuss ways to advance the development of hi-tech competitive enterprises in Belarus and Russia, step up the cooperation in science and technology, and strengthen the role of information technology in the development of civil society institutions in the Belarus-Russia Union State. They will also consider problems and prospects associated with the harmonization of the laws in the integration context, and prospects for the cooperation between IT companies.

The exhibition showcasing the joint Belarusian-Russian projects in the field of innovation and high technology, youth projects will be co-located with the forum. It will also present the trade, economic and investment potential of the regions of the two countries. A fair of Belarusian products will feature about 60 organizations of Belarus.

The Forum of Regions is designed to promote direct contacts between Belarusian and Russian executive and legislative authorities, business communities and to work out the recommendations for improving the legal framework in order to boost economic growth. The event is powered by the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus and the Council of the Federation of Russia’s Federal Assembly.