Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 15 October (BelTA) – Belarus and Russia signed $500 million worth of contracts at the 5^th Forum of Regions in Mogilev, Chairman of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus Mikhail Myasnikovich said in an interview to the Belarus 1 TV channel, BelTA has learned.

“We have reached the sum of more than $500 million. The bulk is the Belarusian export to the Russian Federation. I took a look at these contracts: two thirds of them are investment goods: machinery, tools, equipment, electronics,” the speaker said.

According to him, Russian governors asked the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation, Chairwoman of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of Russia Valentina Matviyenko to secure Belarusian-Russian enterprises that are residents of the Russian Federation with the same state support as Russian companies. “Valentina Matviyenko instructed to write her letters. We know that if she undertakes something, she would push the matter through,” Mikhail Myasnikovich said.

The chairman of the Council of the Republic spoke about the supply of Belarusian food products to the Russian market. He added that at the forum Belarus and Russia signed an agreement on the balance of food supplies for 2019. “This is not only $2.5 billion. The agreement envisages a mechanism for resolving controversial issues. Sometimes, the Russian relevant agencies make decisions unilaterally. The mechanism will allow us to work jointly towards agreements,” the speaker said.

Mikhail Myasnikovich added that the next forum will be held in Russia and, at the suggestion of the president of Belarus, will celebrate the youth. “The plenary meeting supported the proposal to hold a congress of creative intelligentsia at the same time as the forum. In my opinion, when we talk about young people, St. Petersburg is the best option for this,” he said.