MINSK, 23 November (BelTA) – A protocol of the meeting of the Belarus-St. Petersburg working group on industrial cooperation and joint innovative projects was signed in Minsk on 23 November, BelTA learned from the press service of the Industry Ministry.
The document was signed by Belarus' First Deputy Industry Minister - deputy head of the Belarusian part of the working group Aleksandr Ogorodnikov and St. Petersburg Vice Governor - head of the St. Petersburg part of the working group Kirill Polyakov.
The parties agreed to explore possibilities to localize production of highly efficient and advanced MAZ, Belkommunmash, MTZ, Amkodor equipment in St. Petersburg.
The parties emphasized the great importance of joint projects in the field of urban passenger transport. A large batch of MAZ gas buses and Belkommunmash trolleybuses has already been delivered to St. Petersburg. Currently, these enterprises are working on new contracts to supply buses and trolleybuses for the needs of the city.
Interaction in production of medical vehicles in St. Petersburg was called promising.
St. Petersburg and Belarus will also cooperate within the framework of existing programs to supply elevators for new homes and for replacing elevators in old buildings.
Aleksandr Ogorodnikov have a positive assessment of the trade and economic cooperation between Belarus and St. Petersburg. In January-September 2022, bilateral trade between the enterprises affiliated with the Industry Ministry and St. Petersburg (excluding supplies of products by Belarusian industrial enterprises within the framework of the commodity distribution network) skyrocketed by 70% year-on-year and exceeded $205 million.
"For Belarus, St. Petersburg is a major trading partner. The protocol of the meeting of the working group will lay the foundation for 2023 and new growth opportunities for industrial cooperation and joint innovative projects," he said.
For his part, the vice governor of St. Petersburg called import substitution an important area of cooperation in the face of external challenges. The St. Petersburg delegation plans to tour the Belarusian engineering companies MTZ, MAZ, Belkommunmash, Amkodor and discuss plans to expand joint contacts, to setup a joint venture in St. Petersburg with the use of components from Belarusian manufacturers.
"We are always happy to visit Minsk. Our cooperation is robust and will be growing stronger. Now is the time to act," Kirill Polyakov said as he described the prospects for joint projects.
