MINSK, 11 May (BelTA) – Belarusian and Russian enterprises should not compete with each other but act like partners on the market, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko said as he met with Governor of Russia's Rostov Oblast Vasily Golubev on 11 May, BelTA has learned.
“Let's compete fairly. If we produce harvesters in Gomel, and Russia has the Rostselmash producer, we need to agree as partners. This is our common market. There is no need to squeeze each other out. If Rostselmash sees no possibility of reaching an agreement, then what can we do... We will have to compete not only in our markets but also in foreign markets too. Where will this take us? Let's take MAZ and KaMAZ for example. The Belarusian producer is struggling, the Russian producer has its problems too. This is where this competition has led us. And I have not even started talking about the foreign markets,” the president said.
“This is why we are in favor of partner-like behavior. We can reach an agreement, and we are ready for this,” the Belarusian leader said.
Alexander Lukashenko noted that Belarus offers Rostov Oblast its farm machines and invites the region to develop tractor assembly plants.
As was noted during the meeting, the relevant agencies of Belarus and Russia agreed to submit, by 5 June, a joint program of cooperation between Gomselmash and Rostselmash.
“We should move in this direction. Why compete with each other? The market is huge. We must keep the foothold we already have,” Alexander Lukashenko said.
