GOMEL, 22 September (BelTA) – Promising projects in the area of road infrastructure, ecology, and food industry were discussed as the deputy chairmen of the Gomel Oblast Executive Committee Andrei Konyushko and Andrei Baranovsky met with a delegation of the representative office of the Slovenian company Riko (Riko, industrijski, gradbeni inzeniring in leasing, d.o.o.) in Belarus on 22 September, BelTA has learned.
Zivorad Smiljkovic, head of the representative office in Belarus, noted that the Slovenian company has been developing contacts with Gomel Oblast for many years. As an example of cooperation he mentioned metalworking projects at the Belarusian harvester manufacturing company Gomselmash.
Several promising avenues of cooperation were mentioned during the meeting. Thus, Gomel Oblast is interested in the company's experience of implementation of major infrastructure projects – the construction of bridges, overpasses, the reconstruction of existing roads or the construction of new ones, Andrei Konyushko noted. In particular, the sides discussed the possibility of the Slovenian company participating in the construction of the eastern bypass road in Gomel.
Water purification and waste recycling were also mentioned among promising and important avenues of cooperation. “The problem of waste accumulation and recycling is topical for all countries. There are plans to build three regional waste recycling complexes in Gomel Oblast – in Gomel, Mozyr, and Zhlobin. We are ready to discuss variants of the concept that will reflect a full waste recycling process – from sorting to the end product. Technology is the main question,” Andrei Baranovsky said. He also drew attention to the problem of recycling toxic waste.
Logistics projects for food industry enterprises – the construction of logistics hubs and smart warehouses – were also mentioned.
Zivorad Smiljkovic added that the company he represents specializes in eight main areas of expertise. Those are metalworking, power engineering, ecology, logistics, particularly in food industry, hotel construction, woodworking, chemistry, project financing. The company has experience of working virtually in all these areas in Belarus. “Belarus is a very attractive partner. We've implemented many projects already,” the executive underlined. For instance, 15 power substations have been built using the turn-key principle. The first digital substation is being built.
After today's dialogue the sides will look into these matters in detail in order to make consequent decisions.
The Gomel Oblast administration told BelTA that in January-July 2020 trade between Gomel Oblast and Slovenia increased by 4.5% year on year. Five Gomel Oblast companies export their products to Slovenia: SvetlogorskKhimvolokno (polyester thread), Svetlogorsk Pulp and Board Mill (wood pulp), BMZ (wire), Belorusneft (acyclic hydrocarbons), Gomel Chemical Plant (aluminum fluorides). The main exported services are computer services, advertising, marketing, and transportation by road.
