Business news

MINSK, 13 November (BelTA) – Russia’s Kaliningrad will launch direct flights to all Belarus’ oblast centers, Belarus’ Deputy Prime Minister Mikhail Rusy told the media following the meeting of the Belarus-Kaliningrad Oblast council on long-term cooperation, BelTA has learned.

According to Mikhail Rusy, in summer 2017 direct flights were launched between Kaliningrad and Minsk, and also other Belarusian cities. “There is a task to launch direct flights from every oblast center,” the vice premier said. In his words, it is in the interests of both business and tourists of Belarus and Russia.

As for winter holidays in Belarus, residents of Kaliningrad Oblast can be interested in the ski resorts Silichi and Logoisk, Mikhail Rusy believes. Recuperation in Belarusian spa resorts is popular with Russians. At the meeting of the council on long-term cooperation Kaliningrad representatives suggested considering the possibility of building a Belarusian spa resort and a children’s camp in the Russian region.

The council agreed to advance the bilateral trade to $500 million by the end of 2018. “We have everything necessary for it. We have expanded significantly our construction services in Kaliningrad Oblast and take an active part in the development of the region. First of all, this is the construction of a stadium, infrastructure development, and road construction,” Mikhail Rusy added. Belarus will continue expanding cooperation in industry, agriculture and healthcare.

A goal has also been set to establish an efficient joint use of the port and port-based infrastructure of Kaliningrad Oblast. “Belarus will act as a supplier of goods and as a transit region,” the vice premier said.

The sides signed an agreement on the delivery of Belarusian building materials to Kaliningrad Oblast in 2017-2018.