Opinions & Interviews

Russia to introduce super favored nation regime for Belarusian enterprises

MOSCOW, 14 March (BelTA) – Russia will introduce a super favored nation regime for Belarusian enterprises. Prime Minister of Belarus Roman Golovchenko made the statement after negotiations with his Russian counterpart Mikhail Mishustin in Moscow on 14 March, BelTA has learned.

Roman Golovchenko said: “One can say that today the prime minister of Russia said that as of today Belarus will get super favored nation treatment instead of simply most favored nation treatment.”

He went on saying: “Certainly, a very important block of items on the agenda focused on changes in our relations in the manufacturing sector, in the sphere of manufacturing cooperation in view of Western sanctions against Belarus and Russia. The effect is absolutely understandable. I am convinced that those, who have abandoned the market, particularly the Russian one, will regret it. Because we’ve decided in favor of substituting imports as much as possible. I cannot say we can do it 100%. But the situation has changed with regard to many products particularly where our Russian colleagues relied on Western components and rejected other offers. We now have strong understanding that we should secure our own technological independence.”

The prime minister specified he was primarily referring to mechanical engineering, including automobile engineering, agricultural machinery manufacturing, and the sphere of microelectronics.

According to Roman Golovchenko, the sides intend to work out mutual shipment schedules soon. “We are not going back to the centrally planned economy. But it is absolutely necessary in these turbulent times. We have to at least ensure guaranteed mutual deliveries,” he explained.

“In the past we competed to decide where a product should go, whether it should be exported or sold in Belarus. Now we’ve agreed that both Belarus and Russia will do everything to satisfy the domestic demand. Anything extra could be exported,” the prime minister said.

Speaking about import substitution, Roman Golovchenko said: “Every little detail will be specified. We’ve determined who will make things, at what expense, and in what time. It is important to note that Russian colleagues understand that we will be eligible to the funding Russia allocates within the framework of import substitution. We are going to practice this mechanism.”

Roman Golovchenko also said that the Russian side had promised to get rid of any remaining legal prohibitions against importing Belarusian goods.

“We will help and support each other. It is a two-way road: everything Belarus can do for Russia’s economic security will be done,” the prime minister stated.

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