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UAVs, microelectronics among staple avenues of Belarus’ cooperation with Russia’s Tomsk Oblast
Dmitry Krutoi
MOSCOW, 17 January (BelTA) – Belarus and Tomsk Oblast have undertaken to double or triple trade turnover in the medium term, BelTA learned from Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Belarus to Russia Dmitry Krutoi after negotiations with Governor of Russia’s Tomsk Oblast Vladimir Mazur. The negotiations took place as the head of the Belarusian diplomatic mission visited the Russian region.
Cooperation in manufacturing was high on the agenda of the talks. “Tomsk Oblast is famous for its universities, scientific schools and the areas of cooperation, which we have identified as staple ones today – unmanned aerial vehicles and microelectronics – match our agreements on import substitution between the governments of Belarus and Russia,” Dmitry Krutoi said. “This is why the larger part of my visit is dedicated to these topics. I need to better understand peculiarities and accomplishments of Tomsk universities and industrial sites. Certainly, it would be ideal to come up with some medium-term program on unmanned aviation so that we would not do the same work but combine the R&D products Belarus and Tomsk Oblast have. Including within the framework of development and realization of a Union State project on fast transistors for the aerospace industry and the aviation industry.”
The negotiations also touched upon sales of Belarusian agricultural machines and their aftersales service. “A transport reform is the next important component. The governor wants Tomsk Oblast’s passenger fleet licked into shape by 2030. He wants a serious upgrade of all kinds of passenger vehicles,” the ambassador added. “It absolutely matches the message behind the instructions the Russian president gave during a State Council session on transport. Tomsk will participate in the program the Russian Transport Ministry is now working out. Since the Belarusian manufacturer Belkommunmash was a strategic partner of Tomsk in trolleybus deliveries (renewing the trolleybus fleet is quite a pressing problem today), our company is ready to participate in it. The relevant applications have been formed. We only look forward to the allocation of financing and to the definition of the financial tools the region will use for these new deliveries.”
The negotiations also touched upon possible deliveries of Belarusian forestry industry machines and vehicles to Tomsk Oblast. “Absolutely every segment of the forestry industry and the timber harvesting industry shows interest in our republic,” Dmitry Krutoi stressed. He noted that a number of models of Belarusian-Russian machines, which are jointly made by a factory in Russia’s Republic of Karelia, are already going through field trials in Tomsk Oblast. In his words, the Belarusian side hopes to organize deliveries of the entire lineup of forestry industry machines by the end of the year.
The matter of fighting wildlife fires was also raised. “Belarus now has a number of innovative modern enterprises, which use very interesting solutions, including composite materials among other things. And today they successfully sell firefighting vehicles and special-purpose vehicles for dealing with emergencies in other regions of Russia. Governor Vladimir Mazur watched their presentation, saw these new vehicles in action, and promised that Tomsk organizations, primarily forestry enterprises, will use these Belarusian products as well,” Dmitry Krutoi said.
Speaking about interaction in agribusiness, the ambassador noted that initially Tomsk Oblast was interested only in deliveries of Belarusian milk trucks with specific modifications. The scope of cooperation has grown larger since then. Tomsk Oblast intends to build dairy complexes for the deep processing of milk using Belarusian solutions, Belarusian equipment and technologies.
“There is another important area we are just starting to explore – manufacturing cooperation between medical enterprises that make rehabilitation products, implants, and other medical goods. At present we take care of partners on the Belarusian side. We have the relevant technopark and a number of companies specializing in this area. It is important to take care of these elements of cooperation and mutual manufacturing cooperation in healthcare,” Dmitry Krutoi added.
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