MINSK, 18 July (BelTA) – Minsk Oblast and Tatarstan plan to sign an agreement on cooperation in September. The matter was discussed at a meeting between Minsk Oblast Governor Anatoly Isachenko and Chairman of the State Council of Tatarstan Farid Mukhametshin at the 6th Forum of Regions of Belarus and Russia in St Petersburg, BelTA learned from the Minsk Oblast Executive Committee.
According to Anatoly Isachenko, the forum is a unique platform for dialogue. It helps the peoples of Russia and Belarus to take stock of the progress and consider the prospects for further integration.
The head of Minsk Oblast spoke about the economic and investment potential of the region and expressed confidence that the parties have reserves in many areas. “New contacts and meetings are needed to further increase the trade between our countries, learn more about our mutual opportunities,” he said.
In turn, Farid Mukhametshin stressed: “Belarus is traditionally among top five foreign trading partners of Tatarstan. The mutual trade has been exceeding $1 billion over the recent years.”
The parties discussed the prospects for cooperation between the regions of two countries and agreed to sign an agreement on trade, economic, sci-tech, humanitarian and cultural cooperation in September 2019.
“We need to think about deeper integration in part of setting up joint companies both in Minsk Oblast and Tatarstan in order to make it less dependent on outside conditions,” Anatoly Isachenko said.
Chairperson of the Minsk Oblast Council of Deputies Natalya Yakubitskaya suggested signing an inter-parliamentary agreement at the next Forum of Regions of Russia and Belarus. Farid Mukhametshin supported the initiative and expressed readiness to strengthen parliamentary ties with Belarusian counterparts.
Minsk Oblast Governor Anatoly Isachenko also met with head of administration of the Kalininsky District of St Petersburg Vasily Ponidelko. The parties spoke about the potential of their regions and emphasized the need to intensify cooperation in the social sector. Anatoly Isachenko invited a delegation from St Petersburg to take part in the harvest festival Dazhynki in Borisov.
