MOSCOW, 26 February (BelTA) – Belarus’ Ambassador to Russia Dmitry Krutoi is on a visit to Russia’s Omsk Oblast on 26 February. The key point of the trip was the meeting with Omsk Oblast Governor Vitaly Khotsenko, BelTA has learned.
Dmitry Krutoi told reporters after the meeting that work is underway to arrange a visit of the Omsk Oblast governor to Belarus. “We hope that this visit will give a strong impetus to our relations,” he said.
According to the ambassador, the trade between Belarus and Omsk Oblast has doubled to reach an all-time high. “The assortment of trade has expanded; many new enterprises have started trading with each other, including as part of efforts to counteract the sanctions,” he noted.
Dmitry Krutoi spoke in-depth about mutual investments. According to him, such interaction has already got underway, but it should be scaled up. “As far as I understand, the Omsk Oblast government seeks to transform the region’s economy using a cluster-based model, when industrial parks and priority development zones will set the tone in key, traditional sectors of industry and agriculture. Such clusters will include resident companies operating along the entire production chain - from science to the production of finished import-substituting products. There are plans to hold a business forum for Omsk enterprises in Minsk. This forum is expected to help find new avenues of cooperation. Our presidents defined microelectronics, drones, and radio electronics as key areas for import substitution,” the diplomat emphasized.
The ambassador also touched on the governor’s initiative to revive flax processing in Omsk Oblast. Belarus is ready to provide scientific and technological support and share advanced technologies in flax growing. Omsk Oblast would like to invite Belarusian specialists to build roads, housing, industrial and social facilities in the region.
Prior to the talks with the governor, Dmitry Krutoi visited the Victory Memorial Complex to commemorate Omsk residents who died during the Great Patriotic War. Omsk Oblast Deputy Governor Andrei Shpilenko also took part in the ceremony.
A mandatory part of the ambassador’s visits to Russian regions is meetings with dealers of Belarusian vehicles and machinery. The visit to Omsk Oblast was no exception: the diplomat visited VelCom Holding, a dealer for leading Belarusian manufacturers: MTZ, Gomselmash, Amkodor, Atlanta, Brestgazoapparat and Gefest-Technika. The ambassador discussed Belarusian exports to the region and called for expanding the product range to include products by Minsk Automobile Plant.
In addition to that, Dmitry Krutoi met with Alyona Bondarenko, Head of Busly, the Belarusian diaspora organization of Omsk Oblast.
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