Forum of Regions of Russia and Belarus held in Sochi

18 сентября 2015

Sochi hosts forum of regions of Belarus and Russia. Alexander Lukashenko and Vladimir Putin took part in the forum. The key theme of the plenary session was cooperation in the industrial sector, coordination and creation of a single industrial policy. The President of Belarus proposed a number of concrete steps, accentuating the need for unified conditions in the common market of goods and services. The question of entering the WTO in the context of the EAEU was discussed at the forum. The futility of the policy of sanctions and isolation of individual states in the realities of the modern world was emphasized once again. Alexander Lukashenko points out that Belarus is building friendly relationship with Russia, as it does today the Russian Federation.

The outcome of the negotiations at the round table is a package of more than six dozen export contracts.

Belarus concluded 67 agreements on trade-economic, scientific-technical and cultural cooperation with the Kamchatka Krai, Belgorod, Penza, Tyumen and Sakhalin regions. The Tyumen region is one of the leaders on economic relations with our country, judging by the volume of trade, which last year approached the figure of 6 billion.

Despite a slight decrease in the volume of trade caused by the situation on foreign markets, Russia remains the main trade partner of Belarus. About three thousand companies with Russian capital work in our country. Our eastern neighbor remains the main investor in the Belarusian economy. Last year, the republic attracted more than $ 600 million of Russian investment.

Referring to the theme of industrial policy of the Union State, Alexander Lukashenko suggested concrete measures. The first step in this direction is ensuring equal competitive conditions for enterprises in the common market of goods and services. The Head of State stresses that inter-regional cooperation is a key factor in improving sustainability of the national economies of Belarus and Russia.

The heads of both countries attended the joint Belarusian-Russian exhibition of industrial products, which was organized during the forum. Presidents of Belarus and Russia visited the educational center for gifted children SIRIUS. It is expected that in the near future 20 students from Belarus will come here after a competitive selection.