MOSCOW, 17 July (BelTA) – Belarus is ready to sell commuter trains, road construction machines, general construction machines, municipal vehicles, and other products to Leningrad Oblast. The relevant proposal was put forward as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Belarus to Russia Vladimir Semashko met with Leningrad Oblast Governor Aleksandr Drozdenko during the 6th Forum of Regions of Belarus and Russia in St Petersburg on 17 July, BelTA has learned.
Vladimir Semashko thanked Aleksandr Drozdenko for assistance with advancing bilateral cooperation in all spheres. The ambassador confirmed Belarus' interest in implementing more projects of mutual interest. He stressed Belarus' intention to increase trade turnover by invigorating mutual shipments of products and implementing joint projects in agribusiness, civil engineering, and utilities industry in Leningrad Oblast. The region of Russia was described as a key economic partner of Belarus in Russia's Northwestern Federal District.
Belarusian Industry Minister Pavel Utyupin, Agriculture and Food Minister Anatoly Khotko, and Mogilev Oblast Governor Leonid Zayats also took part in the meeting. It was noted that Belarus is not only ready to sell more agricultural machines and agricultural products to Leningrad Oblast. The country is also ready to get involved in implementing the Leningrad Oblast government program on building vegetable and grain storage facilities, dairy farms, and animal farms, other kinds of agribusiness infrastructure, and fitting them with the necessary modern equipment.
Belarus' readiness to build symmetric city blocks in Belarus and Leningrad Oblast similarly to projects in St Petersburg was confirmed. Belarus can also satisfy Leningrad Oblast's demand for road construction machines, municipal vehicles, and construction materials. The Russian side was invited to consider buying commuter trains from ZAO Stadler using flexible financial schemes, including international financial leasing. The interest of Belarusian companies was mentioned in participating in infrastructure projects and investment ones in Leningrad Oblast by means of supplying the necessary equipment and machines.
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Belarus to Russia Vladimir Semashko also noted that the demand for affordable lifts in St Petersburg and the region can be fully satisfied taking into account the fact that an enterprise to assemble Belarusian lifts at premises of the company OAO MLM Nevsky Lift was opened on 16 July.
