Opinions & Interviews

VITEBSK, 5 March (BelTA) - The term “domestic product” should be equally applicable to Belarusian and Russian goods in both countries, Belarus Prime Minister Andrei Kobyakov said when commenting on the joint intergovernmental anti-crisis action plan signed by the Prime Ministers of Belarus and Russia in Moscow on 3 March. The Prime Minister is in Vitebsk Oblast on a working visit on 5 March, BelTA has learned.

The main point of the anti-crisis plan, according to Andrei Kobyakov, is that the concept "domestic product" should be equally applicable to Belarusian and Russian goods on the territory of the two countries, that the products made in Russia and Belarus should have equal rights and opportunities in procurement programs, tenders and competitions.

The anti-crisis plan includes a number of measures to create additional conditions for the development of trade and economic cooperation. "These measures will enable us to eliminate mutual restrictions and improve the market access for products in each other's markets. The main interest of the Belarusian side is that the market of the Russian Federation is much bigger. The Russian partners also want to work on the Belarusian market,” said the Prime Minister

The anti-crisis plan also has the points related to the implementation of government programs to stimulate and subsidize sales, to promote sales of domestic goods. “According to the document, the decisions to create more favorable conditions for domestic participants should be extended to Belarus- and Russia-made goods on a reciprocal basis, "said Andrei Kobyakov.

The issue of using national currencies in mutual settlements is also reflected in the document. According to the Prime Minister, the mutual trade which has somewhat shrunk recently needs to recover growth. The program should be largely implemented within six months.

Andrei Kobyakov visited several industrial enterprises in Vitebsk Oblast and held a meeting at the Vitebsk Oblast Executive Committee to discuss the development of the industrial complex of the region.