MINSK, 20 April (BelTA) - Belarus and Nizhny Novgorod Oblast of Russia are set to raise the trade to $1 billion. This goal was set following the talks between Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko and Governor of Nizhny Novgorod Oblast of Russia Valery Shantsev, BelTA has learned.
“Our interaction gives good results. In the economically difficult 2016 our trade increased by 7.3% and exceeded the $0.5 billion. Taking into account the opportunities, we believe we can increase mutual trade to the level of 2012. Back then we had trade at $800 million,” Alexander Lukashenko said.
Belarus and Nizhny Novgorod Oblast have created a solid foundation for industrial cooperation. For example, the Russian region has facilities to assemble Belarusian elevators, Belshina's trading house and dealerships of Belarus' major engineering companies: Gomselmash, MTZ, MAZ and Amkodor. In turn, Belarus actively buys steel products, trucks, products of chemical industry from the Russian region.
In view of the Russian region's ambitious housing and transport infrastructure plans, involving Belarusian specialists is seen as beneficial. Belarus can also provide high-quality building materials and equipment.
“We support your region in the intent to increase the capacities of the agricultural sector. We are ready to assist, as we did before, with the upgrade of husbandry farms, and can supply agricultural machinery and units. We are ready to work on a turnkey basis, if necessary. There are good prospects in the field of transport. The Belarusian side can help your region update the fleet of passenger equipment and offer advanced buses and trolleybuses of various modifications,” the Belarusian president said.
The parties have developed strong humanitarian relations and collaborate in education, science, culture, healthcare, sports and tourism.
“I hope that the Nizhny Novgorod Oblast Administration will support all Belarus' initiatives,” Alexander Lukashenko said. “Our ties set an example for other regions. Belarus-Russia relations will be just as strong as our interregional ties.”
For his part, Valery Shantsev stressed that Belarus is Nizhny Novgorod Oblast's biggest foreign economic partner among 143 countries. “Our trade and economic ties are incomparable,” Valery Shantsev underlined. Taking into account the fact that Belarus and Nizhny Novgorod Oblast cooperate indirectly in some fields, the bilateral trade exceeds $750 million.
The parties agreed that the bilateral trade should reach $1 billion. This task is real and feasible.
Russia's Nizhny Novgorod Oblast delegation led by the governor is in Belarus on a visit on 19-21 April. On 20 April, Valery Shantsev is also expected to meet with Belarus' Prime Minister Andrei Kobyakov, visit Belkommunmash, and take part in the session of the Council of Business Cooperation between Belarus and Nizhny Novgorod Oblast.
On 21 April, Valery Shantsev is scheduled to visit Saleo Company specializing in the manufacture of components for road construction, agricultural, forestry, municipal, lifting and other equipment.
