Business news

MINSK, 17 May (BelTA) – Contracts worth $300 million may be signed during the Fourth Forum of Regions of Belarus and Russia, Chairman of the Council of the Republic Mikhail Myasnikovich said during the meeting to discuss the status of preparations for the forum which was held via videoconferencing on 17 May, BelTA has learned.

“The forum is a very important event. This is the platform for considering issues of the Belarus-Russia Union State development and maintaining a direct dialogue between regional authorities,” Mikhail Myasnikovich is convinced. According to him, particular attention will be paid to economic cooperation, and the agreements and relevant trade, economic and investment contracts should be prepared for signing by due date.

The chairman of the upper house of parliament recalled that during the Second Forum of Regions of Belarus and Russia the economic entities signed contracts to the tune of more than $230 million. The result of the third forum of regions was $300 million in contracts. “We need to make sure the fourth forum is at least as good as the previous ones in terms of numbers. The preliminary estimates show that this is feasible and that there are vast reserves of regional cooperation,” Mikhail Myasnikovich noted.

The upcoming event will be co-located with a session of the Supreme State Council of the Belarus-Russia Union State. Besides, Russia will host the Days of Belarusian Science in the run-up to the forum. “The forum of regions will be preceded by a series of scientific activities. The Days of Science must be considered as an integral part of the forum,” the speaker noted.

He drew attention to the fact that the plenary meeting will be attended by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The speaker stressed it was important to fully execute the direct instructions given by the leaders of the two countries during the third forum a year ago,.

The meeting was attended by members of the Presidium of the Council of the Republic, members of the organizing committee for the fourth Forum of Regions, representatives of the government bodies and organizations concerned. The heads of regional executive committees and the councils of deputies took part in the meeting via videoconferencing.

The participants reviewed the draft program of the plenary and break-out sessions. Particular attention was paid to the organizational aspects of the specialized exhibitions and fairs selling Belarusian products, the signing of agreements on cooperation.

Mikhail Myasnikovich noted the need to take specific decisions regarding the agendas of the plenary and break-out sessions aimed at promoting the Belarusian-Russian collaboration, especially in high technology, innovations, the information society, and joint projects.

The Fourth Forum of Regions “Integration of the regions of Russia and Belarus in high technology, innovation and the information society” will be held in Moscow on 29-30 June.