MINSK, 28 September (BelTA) – Belarus is interested in expanding manufacturing cooperation ties with Russia's Omsk Oblast. Prime Minister of Belarus Roman Golovchenko made the statement as he met with Omsk Oblast Governor Aleksandr Burkov, BelTA has learned.
Roman Golovchenko noted that the sides could advance cooperation in the sphere of mechanical engineering. He mentioned positive experience of merchandise trade and more advanced forms of cooperation such as investments in joint manufacturing. “We have examples of manufacturing or certain technological conversions of Belarusian products in Omsk Oblast such as the assembly of parts for harvesters out of Belarusian components. In Belarus Omsk Carbon Group is implementing an investment project to set up an innovative enterprise to make various kinds of technical carbon, which is the main raw material for making automobile tires,” he said.
The Belarusian companies Gomselmash, Amkodor, and Bobruiskagromash are also interested in expanding manufacturing cooperation programs. Roman Golovchenko mentioned Belarus is interested in selling agricultural machines to Omsk Oblast. “We could satisfy virtually all demands of Omsk Oblast for trucks, road construction machines, municipal vehicles, machines, and equipment. We are building up our mechanical engineering capabilities with a focus on the Russian market,” he noted. Belarus could also sell urban transport solutions ranging from buses to high-speed electric trains made by Stadler Minsk.
Roman Golovchenko also suggested advancing cooperation in agriculture, in enhancing food security, including supplies of ready food, in setting up dairy enterprises, poultry farms, in accomplishing populated localities in rural areas with assistance of Belarusian specialists. The Belarusian side is ready to step up cooperation in civil engineering, including construction and design of housing, infrastructure facilities, social facilities, and sport ones.
Belarus and Omsk have maintained strong ties for a long time. The relevant agreement between the Belarusian government and the Omsk Oblast administration has been in effect since 1998. In 2018 the bilateral trade peaked at $105 million. The trade volume dropped to $90 million in 2019. “We intended to overcome the small decline this year but crisis phenomena in the world economy resulted in a lower trade volume, which amounted to only $35 million in January-July,” the prime minister said.
Roman Golovchenko attributed the decline to objective reasons. However, there are reserves the sides could not have tapped into. “I think we have to at least achieve results on par with 2019. We should do better than that if we can. There is enough time. The economy and ties are recovering,” he added.
In turn, Aleksandr Burkov suggested working out a program to guide Belarus-Omsk Oblast cooperation for at least three years and put together a plan on cooperation in various industries. In his opinion, the document can be signed during a Belarusian delegation visit to Omsk Oblast this year. He mentioned traditional cooperation in manufacturing sector and in agriculture as growth points of the future program. The governor noted that Omsk Oblast is already stimulating sales of Belarusian agricultural machines.
As for manufacturing cooperation, threshing machines made by Belarusian Gomselmash are assembled in Omsk Oblast. Aleksandr Burkov suggested discussing the localization of this manufacturing project. “In these conditions we guarantee higher production and sales in Omsk Oblast. Moreover, for Gomselmash we will act as another window to access Kazakhstan where there is also a strong demand for agricultural machines,” he explained.
