VITEBSK, 12 May (BelTA) – Cooperation between municipal self-government agencies opens new prospects for interaction between Belarus and Russia, BelTA learned from Vladimir Goncharov, head of the Rostov District administration of Russia's Yaroslavl Oblast, in Vitebsk on 12 May.
An agreement on cooperation in social and economic affairs was signed between the Vitebsk District Executive Committee and the Rostov District administration of Yaroslavl Oblast on 12 May during the fifth international economic forum Innovations. Investments. Prospects.
Vladimir Goncharov said that Yaroslavl Oblast has maintained partnership with Belarus for a long time. “Today we are going to advance this cooperation to a new level by getting municipal self-government agencies involved. Our ties should become tighter. In essence we are opening up new interaction prospects. Friendship from below will bolster interstate ties. We expect to enhance economic cooperation. In particular, we are interested in tight cooperation in pharmaceutics. Apart from that, tourism industry has a great potential for developing cooperation.”
Vladimir Goncharov explained that establishing cooperation with a veterinary preparations factory in Vitebsk District was the idea. “The veterinary preparations you make are underrepresented in our region but Rostov District alone has two major dairy factories with 2,000 and 5,000 head of cattle respectively. Besides, Vitebsk District has an investment proposal in favor of starting the production of medications for humans. In Yaroslavl Oblast there is an entire pharmaceutical cluster and there is a factory to make substances, raw materials for vaccines in Rostov District itself. We are going to find the relevant contact points for advancing mutually beneficial cooperation,” noted the head of the Rostov District administration.
“We are confident that tourist exchange holds a lot of promise. We have a very large potential particularly with regard to educational tourism. Although Belarus is not that far off, few of our school students have been here. Those, who have, always share their impressions with delight. We have something worth seeing, too – a city, which is more than 1,000 years old. Fortunately, the war has not affected us, this is why many things still stand including the local kremlin,” stated the Russian guest.
The fifth international economic forum Innovations. Investments. Prospects is scheduled to take place in Vitebsk on 12-13 May. The forum features an extensive business program including a business matchmaking session, an international conference, a seminar, panel sessions, and exhibition events. The forum has been organized by the Vitebsk Oblast administration and the Vitebsk city administration, the Vitebsk Oblast agency for overseeing the rational use of fuel and energy resources, the Vitebsk Oblast Marketing Center, the Vitebsk Oblast union of employers, and the administration of the free economic zone Vitebsk. The Vitebsk Oblast electrical company Vitebskenergo is the general partner of the forum.
