More trade, supplies of machinery, deeper industrial cooperation - these are the plans of Belarus and Samara Region. Today Alexander Lukashenko met with Governor of Samara Region Dmitry Azarov.
One of the top economic priorities for Belarus and Russia is import substitution. This was the key topic during the recent talks between the heads of state in St. Petersburg. Belarus has prepared 15 major projects; all of them have been approved. Our country is interested in the research of Samara scientists and defence industry experts. We, in turn, are ready to share our experience in agriculture, design and construction, as well as to increase food supplies. The goal is to reach one billion dollars in mutual trade.
What cooperation options does Belarus offer to Samara Region?
Belarusian exports to the Samara Region showed good dynamics last year - more than 20%. Domestic enterprises not only fulfill their obligations, but also significantly exceed the volume of supplies of spare parts and components, elevator equipment, furniture, food, medicines, and other goods. In the current conditions it is important to look for new opportunities for cooperation. Industrial cooperation is such a niche. It is followed by high-tech production and new jobs.
Alexander Lukashenko discussed possibility of joint development of forestry machinery production with V. Putin
Alexander Lukashenko, President of the Republic of Belarus:
Today life itself, as I have already said, pushes us towards it and points to the right and maybe the only way: we have to rely on our own. We are ready to substantially increase the volume of supplies of the most modern automobiles, agricultural, road-building, municipal and logging equipment. This is a separate topic we discussed. As it happens, neither we nor Russia can buy imported equipment, and the timber is only available in Russia and Belarus. Well, a little south of Kiev, as I tell Putin, there is no wood. And everyone wants furniture and other things. And it turns out that there is no machinery. It's good that we started replacing imports with our own competences in recent years. We didn't have enough time. We experimented with production of gearboxes for forestry machinery, we have engines in Russia and Belarus. We haven't had time to put it into mass production. I laid it all out for the President, we can't do without it, you know, especially Russia. And this, as I said, is our other oil. And to turn it all into import-substituting production, we'll need at least $200-$250 million. This is an interesting project, we must study it and definitely promote it. Therefore, the government needs to get this project going now. Maybe we will find place in the Samara Region. We would like that very much.Grodno will host the Forum of Belarusian and Russian regions at the end of this week
Delegation from Samara Region headed by the governor will stay in Belarus for several days. The program is very rich: a visit to the Academy of Sciences and the industrial park "Great Stone", to Amkodor, tractor plant and Belkommunmash is planned. Guests will also participate in the IX Forum of Regions of Belarus and Russia, which will be held in Grodno at the end of the week.
