Business news

GRODNO, 13 July (BelTA) – The free economic zone Grodnoinvest and the Department of Commerce of China’s Gansu Province signed a memorandum of cooperation at the 22nd China Lanzhou Investment and Trade Fair, Chairman of the Grodno Oblast Executive Committee Vladimir Kravtsov told reporters on 13 July, BelTA has learned.

A delegation of Grodno Oblast paid an official visit to Gansu Province from 6 to 9 July to take part in the Investment and Trade Fair in Lanzhou. The companies of the Belarusian region showcased their products at the expo. One of the sections of the business forum was devoted to cooperation with Grodno Oblast. Presentations of the region and its enterprises were held as part of the expo. Prospective Chinese partners were invited to implement projects in the context of the project to build the Silk Road Economic Belt. Representatives of the administration of the free economic zone Grodnoinvest held negotiations with a number of companies in Beijing and Lanzhou.

“We would like to find our place in this project that aims to facilitate the movement of goods and services between China, Europe and Central Asia and use new opportunities to bolster the economic development of the region. Given the proximity to the EU border, Grodno Oblast has good prospects in this area. We have invited Chinese partners to establish investment cooperation and set up enterprises and logistics facilities. Negotiations are underway,” Vladimir Kravtsov said.

Chinese companies were offered specific investment projects to build logistics centers in Auls near Grodno and in the neighborhood of Grodno Airport, Andrei Sviridov, Chairman of the Economy Committee at the Grodno Oblast Executive Committee, specified. Apart from that, the representatives of the free economic zone Grodnoinvest invited Chinese businessmen to implement projects in machine-building, metalworking, production of parts for alternative energy equipment and presented 57 sites for projects at the Augustow Canal. A memorandum of cooperation between the free economic zone Grodnoinvest and the Department of Commerce of Gansu Province was signed at the forum.

Chinese companies currently implement two projects in Grodno Oblast, to build a center for traditional Chinese medicine and to renovate Grodno Hotel.