MINSK, 31 March (BelTA) – Mechanical engineering, agricultural industry and construction are the most promising avenues of cooperation between Belarus and Penza Oblast, Belarus' Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko said as he met with Penza Oblast Governor Oleg Melnichenko, BelTA has learned.
The head of government emphasized that Belarus has always attached great importance to cooperation with Russian regions. On 30 March the Belarusian delegation led by the prime minister returned from St. Petersburg where the delegation took part in a number of forums and meetings and signed a series of agreements and memorandums of cooperation.
At the meeting on 31 March Roman Golovchenko noted that Belarus and Penza Oblast are trying to promote cooperation despite the sanctions imposed by the collective West. “It is important to retain integrity and the sense of purpose and to defend our common economic interests. Last year, Belarus and Penza Oblast managed to increase trade by 26% despite the pandemic. Of course, we still have some untapped reserves,” he said.
The prime minister believes that it is necessary to identify the points of growth for bilateral cooperation. They could include the supply of engineering products (trucks, logging equipment, municipal vehicles, road construction machinery, agricultural equipment, buses, electric buses). “Belarusian equipment is in great demand in almost all regions of Russia - from Smolensk to Vladivostok,” he added.
"In the current situation it is important that we rely on our own strength and that Belarusian and Russian producers are able to meet all the priority needs of the regions," Roman Golovchenko emphasized.
The second point of growth is cooperation in the agricultural sector. Belarus is ready to play a bigger part in agricultural development programs in Penza Oblast, the prime minister noted. He also invited the region to the Belagro 2022 expo which will be held in early June.
The third point of growth is the construction sector. "The potential is great. Residential neighborhoods and social facilities built by Belarusian construction workers are the hallmark of our cooperation with many regions of Russia. We cooperate most actively with Kaluga Oblast, Voronezh Oblast and Kursk Oblast. We are willing to work on this front if there is interest on your part. We can also supply the widest range of building and finishing materials," Roman Golovchenko noted.
Among other promising areas are healthcare, education, science, and culture.
