Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 6 December (BelTA) - Belarus offers Russia’s Irkutsk Oblast to bolster ties in science, Belarus’ Prime Minister Andrei Kobyakov said as he met with Irkutsk Oblast Governor Sergei Levchenko in Minsk on 6 December.

Andrei Kobyakov noted that the cooperation between Belarus and Russia relies on direct ties with the constituent entities of the Russian Federation, trade and economic, cultural and other relations. In 2015 the trade with Irkutsk Oblast reached $115 million, but this year it has been falling. We believe that your visit will help us restore the previous positions and reach the level of interaction that corresponds to our potential,” the Belarusian Prime Minister said.

Cooperation in science and manufacturing ties seem promising. “You are in the middle of developing the aviation cluster. We are ready to lend you a helping hand, if necessary,” Andrei Kobyakov noted.

Belarus expects that Irkutsk Oblast, being one of the leaders in mining, will continue to purchase BelAZ rock haulers. MAZ can offer a wide range of passenger vehicles, including with hybrid engines. Belarus offers different payment schemes, including leasing, lax lending, and subsidized interest rates.

With regard to the development of agriculture, Belarus is ready to increase shipments of Gomselmash machinery. “Irkutsk Oblast can also examine the Belarusian experience in building agro-towns and production facilities in rural areas, including the construction of dairy and livestock farms.

Irkutsk Oblast has big plans for the development of public utilities. In this connection, Belarus can offer virtually the entire range of modern municipal equipment. Given the ambitious plans for the construction and renovation of housing stock, the Russian region may be interested in the products made by Mogilevliftmash. “I think that we could think over setting up a joint assembly plant, since it is not very rational to bring elevators due to the remoteness of the region. We could ensure a certain degree of localization of the production in the Russian region,” Andrei Kobyakov said. Irkutsk Oblast can also buy Belarusian electrobuses and logging equipment.

Following the meeting, an agreement was signed between the governments of Belarus and Irkutsk Oblast of Russia on cooperation in trade, economy, science, culture and humanitarian field.