BREST, 22 June (BelTA) - Brest Oblast of Belarus and Kemerovo Oblast of the Russian Federation are showing interest in developing cooperation in the processing industry, agriculture, tourism and patriotic education. The matter was discussed at the meeting of Brest Oblast Governor PIotr Parkhomchik with the delegation of Kemerovo Oblast - Kuzbass led by Governor Ilya Seredyuk in Brest on 22 June, BelTA has learned.
The meeting took place after the commemorative events in the Brest Fortress. The visit of the Russian delegation serves to strengthen interregional cooperation, jointly preserve historical memory and develop humanitarian ties.
According to Brest Oblast Governor Piotr Parkhomchik, he has been familiar with Kemerovo Oblast for a long time, working as the Director General of BelAZ. “At that time, we succeeded in building a unique BelAZ center, which today provides repair and maintenance services, supplies spare parts. Now this center is being transformed into a multi-brand center for manufactured products of the Republic of Belarus. The topic is very interesting. There are other manufacturers, including Minsk Tractor Plant, combine harvesters and other types of industrial products that are widely known beyond our country’s borders,” Piotr Parkhomchik said.
According to the Brest Oblast governor, there is an interest of the region in the agricultural sector, namely, in the cultivation of rapeseed for loading local processing enterprises. There was also a proposal to transfer Brest bison to Kemerovo Oblast.
“We have many areas that we agreed to develop. There is an invitation to visit Kemerovo Oblast in October, when we will try to make a roadmap out of our agreements in the roadmap so that we, as leaders, can control all the issues and direct [our efforts] to develop our relations,” said Piotr Parkhomchik. “I think we had a good, trusting and constructive conversation that will have a positive effect on our relations.”
Governor of Kemerovo Oblast - Kuzbass Ilya Seredyuk confirmed mutual interest. “Negotiations were quite easy, because Piotr Aleksandrovich [Parkhomchik] knows Kuzbass well, knows the economy, structure, and our needs. Moreover, he implemented joint Kuzbass-Belarus projects in the region. There are concrete practical examples. We have outlined several areas where we should intensify joint activities,” said Ilya Seredyuk. “Processing of agricultural products is one of such activities. We know how to grow it, but we do not know (I am talking about Kuzbass) how to make it a high-margin product.”
The head of the region added: “The production of equipment for the food industry is developed here, and we can produce some components, some equipment at home.”
According to the head of the Russian region, another area of cooperation is the exchange in sports: “Our athletes have repeatedly visited Brest Oblast and Minsk to participate in competitions. Kuzbass has also hosted competitions, and welcomed prominent athletes from Belarus. We just need to increase coordination here. Moreover, we are waiting in our tourist destinations, unique in the Russian Federation, children and everyone who wishes to relax and enjoy our ski slopes.
Ilya Seredyuk stressed that tourism and culture are an important sector. “There is such a cultural heritage, such beautiful monuments of architecture, here it is so clean, such fresh air, such greenery,” he said, emphasizing Brest Fortress – a sacred and memorial place as one of the major landmarks of the region.
“Patriotic education is one more area where we can make exchanges. This area is well-developed in both Kuzbass and Brest Oblast. We should simply complement each other,” said Ilya Seredyuk.
Piotr Parkhomchik said that the first stage of the construction of the national patriotic center has been completed: “There are plans to make it international, so that it can serve not only children of the Republic of Belarus, but also children from the Russian Federation.”
“There are a number of areas to develop other industries as well, and we agreed that our specialists will work closely on them. We will meet more often and be on the phone in order to update the implementation of each project,” said the head of Kemerovo Oblast - Kuzbass.
Following this meeting, the Brest Oblast authorities also held a dialogue with the leadership of Russia’s Oryol Oblast.
Follow us on:
