MINSK, 21 October (BelTA) – Belarusian Deputy Prime Minister Igor Petrishenko told the media about the results of the discussion of the key integration cooperation issues following the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council meeting in Yerevan on 21 October, BelTA has learned.
“A one third increase in mutual trade within the EAEU is a huge achievement, especially amid the current sanctions. We have survived, and will go further supporting each other, including within the framework of cooperation projects,” the deputy prime minister said.
The key issue discussed by the heads of government was the practical launch of the mechanism to finance cooperation projects with use of the EAEU institutional structure. “It will act as a kind of a moderator to determine whether the cooperation project is Eurasian, whether it involves at least three EAEU countries. The work will involve national institutions of development, support and financing, as well as the so-called EAEU budget interest rate subsidy fund,” Igor Petrishenko explained.
In addition, Belarus proposed the development of a Eurasian electric bus as part of the climate agenda. “We have made the relevant proposals. Experts have already held a series of consultations at Belkommunmash. We are looking into the capabilities of the EAEU enterprises in order to be independent from foreign electric transport markets. The proposal was actively supported, and we are ready to develop it further,” the deputy prime minister said.
An important issue raised by the intergovernmental council was the removal of barriers. “We keep saying that we need to remove barriers and increase the speed of movement of goods and services, capital and workforce. As part of the agenda for the council, we looked in detail at how these barriers are being removed,” the deputy prime minister noted.
The heads of governments also considered in detail digitalization issues. “We discussed the movement of so-called technological information platforms that ensure the integration process. Funds are allocated for this, and there is progress in terms of digitization, including subcontracting of our goods, electronic platforms. We are launching a pilot project, which is envisaged as part of the signing of an agreement on the use of navigation seals to track shipments. We will test it to remove barriers for timber exports to third countries via Russia,” said Igor Petrishenko.
According to the deputy prime minister, Belarus received additional budget revenues at the expense of export duties in 2021.
The Eurasian Intergovernmental Council in Yerevan considered the state of mutual trade of the EAEU member states, joint import substitution projects, the first package of EAEU measures as part of the climate agenda, distribution of paid customs duties between the budgets of the EAEU states.
