MINSK, 21 October (BelTA) – Belarus and Sverdlovsk Oblast of Russia want to develop joint solutions for digital economies, Sverdlovsk Oblast Governor Evgeny Kuivashev told reporters after meeting with Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko on 21 October, BelTA has learned.
The Russian governor called the high tech industry one of the most promising avenues of cooperation. The Sverdlovsk Oblast delegation includes representatives of SKB Kontur, one of Russia's industry leaders in developing smart web-services for business. “We have brought our specialists here to put our economies on the digital track together,” Evgeny Kuivashev said.
The parties also seek to deepen cooperation in the manufacturing industry. According to Aleksandr Lukashenko, there are good prospects in mechanical engineering, too. Sverdlovsk Oblast upholds this proposal. “In our view, cooperation between Belarusian and Russian companies will benefit them both. Naturally, this cooperation will focus on mechanical engineering, among other things. BelAZ haulers fitted with an engine made in the Urals already passed the trials and were sent to work in a quarry. We have plans to step up cooperation,” the governor said. Sverdlovsk Oblast is ready to purchase Belarus-made farm machines and vehicles for the housing and utilities sector.
Yekaterinburg will host the Summer Universiade in 2023. The municipal authorities and construction companies are interested in Belarus' expertise and knowledge in conducting big events, Evgeny Kuivashev said.
Russia's ambassador to Belarus Dmitry Mezentsev was also present at the meeting. He emphasized that the parties confirmed their earlier arrangements to scale up cooperation in the mechanical engineering industry, housing and utilities sector, construction, food production, tourism and culture. “Cooperation prospects are far-reaching. This chimes in with the spirit of the Union State. It is very important in the build-up to 8 December [when Belarus and Russia will mark the 20th anniversary of the Union State Treaty],” he said.
