MOSCOW, 13 February (BelTA) - Belarus will increase exports of passenger transport vehicles, lifts, foodstuffs to Russia's Samara Oblast, the press service of the Belarusian Embassy in Russia told BelTA while commenting on a working visit of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Belarus to Russia Igor Petrishenko to the Russian region on 13 February.
During a meeting with Samara Oblast Acting Governor Dmitry Azarov the parties discussed the topical issues of bilateral cooperation, promising areas of interaction in the industrial field, setting up new joint enterprises, deliveries of Belarusian buses, trolleybuses and trams, modernization of the passenger fleet of Samara city. Special consideration was given to the cooperation in construction and agricultural sectors, design of highways, increasing the supply of Belarusian-made lifts and foodstuffs,” the press service informed.
Ambassador Igor Petrishenko noted that the cooperation in science and innovations is promising and welcomed the participation in the science programs within the framework of the Belarus-Russia Union State.
Belarus' export potential was presented during a meeting with representatives of the authorities and business community in the regional innovation center of Samara Oblast. The event was attended by representatives of Belarus' major industrial enterprises such as MAZ, Belkommunmash, Amkodor, BATE, Mogilevliftmash and others.
When taking to the media, Ambassador Igor Petrishenko noted that in 2017 the trade between Belarus and Samara Oblast surged by 31% over the previous year to exceed $390 million. Deliveries of Belarusian tires, tractors, truck tractors rose eightfold, those of household non-eletrical equipment by 40%. The export of ceramic tiles, non-condensed milk, cream went up five times. Belarus also supplies road and construction equipment, potash fertilizers, trucks to Samara Oblast.
During the visit, the diplomat laid flowers to the Grieving Mother memorial and attended a ceremony together with the acting governor to hand over the MAZ buses that will be used on the transport routes of the region as part of the preparation for the FIFA World Cup. In addition, the Ambassador visited the Korolev Samara National Research University, the construction site of the Belarus dealership center, the tram-trolleybus administration of Samara to talk over the supply of Belarusian passenger vehicles, including new electro-buses.
“An agreement was reached with the Samara Oblast authorities to coordinate the joint work on the preparations for the Fifth Forum of Regions of Belarus and Russia due in Belarus in September 2018,” the press service said.
