MINSK, 18 October (BelTA) – Belarus is ready to participate in construction projects and sell vehicles, machines, and equipment to Novgorod Oblast. Prime Minister of Belarus Sergei Rumas made the relevant statement as he met with Governor of Russia's Novgorod Oblast Andrei Nikitin, BelTA has learned.
Sergei Rumas said: “The participation of our civil engineering companies in construction projects in Novgorod Oblast is worth discussing. We've received certain experience of participation in tenders in Kaluga Oblast. We've built financial tools to support our contractors. We are ready to participate in your tenders. We feel the competitive ability of our contractors and vendors of machines, vehicles, and equipment.”
The Belarusian side does not rule out the possibility of accomplishing more significant projects than simple trade either. This is why the prime minister wondered about possible proposals on setting up joint manufacturing enterprises, enterprises to assemble machines and vehicles.
The Belarusian head of government also noted that Novgorod Oblast develops dynamically and is highly rated among regions of the Russian Federation. “Construction is in full swing and investments keep flowing in. All of it creates fertile ground for Novgorod Oblast and Belarus to find ways to accomplish joint projects,” Sergei Rumas believes. “Belarus also has something to offer: we have a well-developed mechanical engineering industry and have accomplished a lot in the sphere of agriculture. This experience and products, of course, can certainly come in handy in Novgorod Oblast.”
Belarusian Architecture and Construction Minister Dmitry Mikulenok noted that a constructive session of the working group on cooperation between Belarus and Novgorod Oblast had taken place the day before. “An action program, which we are going to sign today, was prepared as well as an action plan to fulfill the program in 2020-2022,” Sergei Rumas added.
In turn, Novgorod Oblast Governor Andrei Nikitin said he is convinced that Belarus and the Russian region have some basis for cooperation and this cooperation should be expanded and should become systemic. “Relations are most developed in the sphere of agriculture. Work also proceeds in food industry. Cooperation proceeds with research institutions with regard to potato seed production and pedigree dairy cattle husbandry,” he noted. “Our agricultural companies swear by Belarusian machines and vehicles. According to the data colleagues have shared with us, over 50% of the agricultural machines we have are of Belarusian make. In other words, people prefer the products that offer the best quality and can last long.” Apart from that, good headway has been made into cooperation in civil engineering.
