MINSK, 21 February (BelTA) - Belarus is ready to increase supplies of equipment and foodstuffs to Russia’s Tyumen Oblast, Belarusian Energy Minister Viktor Karankevich told the media on 21 February, BelTA has learned.
A meeting of the working group on trade, economic and sci-tech cooperation between Belarus and Russia’s Tyumen Oblast took place in Minsk. “The Tyumen Oblast is an important trade and economic partner for Belarus. The region holds leading positions among the subjects of the Russian Federation in terms of mutual trade with our country. Last year's mutual trade amounted to $3.3 billion. The figure is significant, but we are sure that the potential of our cooperation is still hugely untapped, and there is still much to be done,” Viktor Karankevich said.
The talks held in Minsk over the past days at the level of ministries, agencies and business circles confirmed mutual interest in further expansion of both areas of cooperation and the number of joint projects. Among the priority areas of cooperation are machine building, agriculture, light industry, petrochemical complex, and energy.
“Belarus is ready to increase supplies of passenger, agricultural, municipal and special equipment to Tyumen Oblast, increase exports of food products and also light industry goods. There are agreements to strengthen humanitarian and cultural ties, develop bilateral relations in science, education, and sports. Regional cooperation is an important area. Today new partnership agreements will be signed between the cities and districts of Belarus and Tyumen Oblast. I am confident that this will contribute to the further development of mutually beneficial Belarusian-Russian cooperation, strengthening of friendship between the peoples of our countries,” the minister said.
Tyumen Oblast Vice Governor Vladimir Cheymetov, in turn, noted that the delegation visited a number of industrial enterprises of Belarus and held business meetings. The parties discussed issues of deepening trade and economic cooperation. “We have a lot of plans, including business interaction, development of regional and cultural cooperation,” he said.
