GRODNO, 3 June (BelTA) – Plans are place to sign agreements worth more than $1 billion at the Forum of Regions of Belarus and Russia in Grodno, Chairman of the Standing Commission on Regional Policy and Local Self-Government of the Council of the Republic Mikhail Rusy told reporters before the meeting of the organizing committee of the forum, BelTA has learned.
"Interest in the forum has been growing. This year's edition will see a particularly large number of regions. We expect that more than 55 agreements on interregional cooperation will be signed, and we are continuing to receive applications. Everybody wants to pitch in to help implement the 28 Union State roadmaps. This is a kind of motivation for them to get involved in the work both at the legislative level and at the level of practical work. We expect that we will sign contracts worth more than $1 billion," Mikhail Rusy said.
A proposal was made to reformat the work of the inter-parliamentary commission, Mikhail Rusy informed. "A call has been made to vest the commission with a watchdog function so that it should monitor the status pf implementation of the decisions adopted at the forums of regions, and especially this one. This will help us to audit and analyze why this or that issue is not being resolved and this is important for the implementation of the 28 roadmaps. This is about import substitution, new jobs, stable economy. For ten years, the head of state has been saying that we can do a lot together and solve a lot together. Why do we keep importing some things from third countries investing in them instead of own people and economy. These approaches are wrong and merit serious consideration. The Forum of Regions of Belarus and Russia will give a serious impetus in this direction," Mikhail Rusy said.
According to Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council of Russia Yury Vorobyov, the Russian side attaches great importance to the Forum of Regions of Belarus and Russia. "On behalf of Russia the forum will be attended by about 250 people. 47 regions will be represented. 41 governors and about 20 representatives of legislative assemblies will be in attendance. These are inaccurate figures, perhaps there will be more participants. During the forums we sign a large number of agreements, contracts, agreements, protocols of intent between the regions and economic entities. This year will be no exception. There will be at least 20 major agreements and even more," Yury Vorobyov said.
The Forum of Regions of Belarus and Russia will be held in Grodno from 30 June to 1 July.
