Business news

GRODNO, 7 September (BelTA) - Businessmen from Smolensk are exploring the prospects for joint ventures in Grodno Oblast of Belarus, BelTA learned from Andrei Kostyuk, the head of the Grodno Office of the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The business delegation from Smolensk Oblast of Russia came to Grodno Oblast with the aim of finding business partners. The delegation includes representatives of the Smolensk Chamber of Commerce and Industry, retail and wholesale enterprises, manufacturers of textile, children’s apparel and work uniforms. “Belarus in general and Grodno Oblast in particular are promising partners for Smolensk in terms of developing interaction in trade, setting up joint ventures,” said Vladimir Zaitsev, the head of international and interregional relations at the Smolensk Chamber of Commerce and Industry. “Belarusians are reliable and long-term partners. Grodno Oblast, which is a frontier region, has good relations with Poland and Lithuania. Smolensk businesses are interested in expanding ties with Belarus.”

He stressed that the Russian region has been developing business contacts with the Vitebsk and Mogilev regions. “We organize visits to other regions. The programs of the visits depend on the capacities of a particular region,” he said.

According to the head of the Grodno Office of the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, such visits are organized on a regular basis. This is the third time a business delegation from Smolensk Oblast is visiting Grodno. The volume of trade between the regions retains a positive momentum. The choice of Belarusian goods in Smolensk Oblast is wide, with foodstuffs and building materials holding the largest shares.

Representatives of the Grodno and Smolensk business took part in a business matchmaking event. On 8 September the delegation will travel to Slonim District and visit the Energetik health farm and several businesses, and have a meeting in the Slonim District Executive Committee.