MINSK, 25 March (BelTA) – Minsk Oblast and Russia’s Omsk Oblast have many points of interest, therefore there will be even more meetings and visits between the regions, Minsk Oblast Governor Aleksandr Turchin told reporters following his negotiations with Omsk Oblast Governor Vitaly Khotsenko, BelTA has learned.
“There are many points of interest with Omsk Oblast, and the more we communicate, the more areas of common interest we discover. This includes the entire economic agenda, from agricultural and engineering products, to other areas. Yet, we will be able to say whether our cooperation is successful only when we achieve something. The first task that we have set for ourselves, and the president of the Republic of Belarus has upheld it today, is to establish a multi-brand center to sell Belarusian machinery and equipment. We have set a deadline for opening this center - two months. If this project comes into being, it means that our efforts are bearing fruit. The opening of this center will be the first step. Other projects will be considered. There are many plans, and I am sure that most of them will be implemented,” noted Aleksandr Turchin.
He emphasized that the exchange of visits between the regions will intensify. “It makes absolute sense to focus on economy, but human relations must come first. After all, everything happens much faster when there is mutual understanding and mutual interest. Our meeting has showed that both sides are ready for constructive cooperation. We have scheduled a number of visits; some of them are co-located with various events that are taking place this year. I think that by the end of 2024 we will see the first results that we can be proud of,” said Aleksandr Turchin.
Sociocultural exchange between the two regions is another promising avenue of interaction. It is known that Omsk Oblast is home to many ethnic Belarusians. An interesting fact was mentioned at the meeting: there is a settlement named Vileika in distant Siberia; the town of the same name is located in Minsk Oblast. The Minsk Oblast governor also noted that even the outline maps of the regions have a similar shape.
“There are many points of interest with Omsk Oblast, and the more we communicate, the more areas of common interest we discover. This includes the entire economic agenda, from agricultural and engineering products, to other areas. Yet, we will be able to say whether our cooperation is successful only when we achieve something. The first task that we have set for ourselves, and the president of the Republic of Belarus has upheld it today, is to establish a multi-brand center to sell Belarusian machinery and equipment. We have set a deadline for opening this center - two months. If this project comes into being, it means that our efforts are bearing fruit. The opening of this center will be the first step. Other projects will be considered. There are many plans, and I am sure that most of them will be implemented,” noted Aleksandr Turchin.
He emphasized that the exchange of visits between the regions will intensify. “It makes absolute sense to focus on economy, but human relations must come first. After all, everything happens much faster when there is mutual understanding and mutual interest. Our meeting has showed that both sides are ready for constructive cooperation. We have scheduled a number of visits; some of them are co-located with various events that are taking place this year. I think that by the end of 2024 we will see the first results that we can be proud of,” said Aleksandr Turchin.
Sociocultural exchange between the two regions is another promising avenue of interaction. It is known that Omsk Oblast is home to many ethnic Belarusians. An interesting fact was mentioned at the meeting: there is a settlement named Vileika in distant Siberia; the town of the same name is located in Minsk Oblast. The Minsk Oblast governor also noted that even the outline maps of the regions have a similar shape.
