Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 2 April (BelTA) - Belarus is ready to participate in the most important construction projects in Nizhny Novgorod Oblast, Belarusian Prime Minister Andrei Kobyakov said as he met with Governor of Nizhny Novgorod Oblast, Russian Federation, Valery Shantsev, BelTA has learned.

The most promising areas of cooperation are mutual deliveries of goods, further development of industrial cooperation, Andrei Kobyakov noted. “I think there are good prospects in the construction industry. We are ready to participate in a number of major projects in Nizhny Novgorod Oblast, and this is on a mutual basis,” said the Prime Minister

According to the Belarusian head of government, cooperation in tourism, culture and science is also of interest. He noted that the Business Cooperation Council will review the most interesting areas in more detail and this will help find new points of contact and increase trade.

For his part, Valery Shantsev said that the mutual cooperation between Belarus and Nizhny Novgorod Oblast has slowed down and the trade has declined due to a number of reasons. He said that in the past the parties were aiming for $1 billion in bilateral trade. Now it is about $600 million.

In this connection, he urged to use all available opportunities and to start cooperating under import replacement programs. He also suggested using financial schemes and possibilities, which would add competitiveness to the Belarusian companies participating in tenders in the field of construction and procurement, the Governor noted.