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Russian governor: Smolensk Oblast is interested in industrial cooperation with Belarus

MINSK, 18 November (BelTA) – Smolensk Oblast is particularly interested in cooperation in the manufacturing industry with Belarus, Smolensk Oblast Governor Vasily Anokhin told journalists following the meeting with Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko, BelTA has learned.

“Belarus and our region are interested primarily in the interaction in the manufacturing industry. We have a well-developed cooperation network. There are many enterprises in Belarus and Smolensk Oblast that build and maintain contacts with each other,” the governor remarked.

According to him, one of the issues raised at the meeting with the Belarusian head of state dealt with MAZ investment project to manufacture airport shuttle buses and the opening of a service center in Smolensk Oblast. According to the Russian side, over the past 1.5 years, the region has bought about 55 buses and about 60 units of MAZ road equipment.

“We also discussed a joint project with Bobruiskagromash to produce agricultural machinery. This is a very relevant and important project, as more than 70% of equipment used by our farmers is of the Belarusian make,” Vasily Anokhin informed.

In addition, a potential joint project with Belkommunmash to restore trams was also discussed. Smolensk Oblast is interested in Belarusian expertise in tram renovation, as the region is looking for ways to make tram renovation cheaper and more efficient. “Our region and neighboring regions badly need this. The implementation of a joint project at our enterprise will allow us to repair trams and smoothly proceed to their upgrade,” said the Smolensk Oblast governor.

There are also ambitious plans to expand cooperation in agriculture, which accounts for a significant share of joint trade. According to Vasily Anokhin, trade in agricultural products has already exceeded the RUB50 billion mark and continues to grow. “The key crops are flax and rapeseed,” the governor noted. He added that “there is something to learn” from Orsha Linen Mill and the Flax Institute. At the meeting with the president, the possibility of creating a joint seed breeding center by the Flax Institute (Orsha District) and Smolensk Agricultural Academy was discussed. This is expected to ease access of Russian farmers to Belarus-made seeds.

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