9 July, Vitebsk /Diana Kurilo - BELTA/. Chinese business has shown interest in establishing a new production facility at the Republican Production Unitary Enterprise "Vitebsk Fur Combine", the Head of the Economics Department of the Vitebsk City Executive Committee, Elena Zhuravleva, told a BELTA correspondent, summarising the results of the visit of the official and business delegation from Harbin to Vitebsk, which concluded on 8 July. The project envisages the modernisation and relocation of the existing enterprise's production capacities to a new site and its placement in a single complex with a fur farm. The project cost is estimated at $41 million. Contact with the potential investor was established during a business meeting of the business circles of Harbin and Vitebsk, which took place within the framework of the visit. Following the meeting, a protocol of intent was signed, defining the main areas of mutual cooperation. In particular, several investment projects for the construction of a business centre, housing, and a hotel in Vitebsk will be presented to the Chinese side for consideration in the near future. In addition to the fur combine, investors have shown interest in participating in the establishment of pharmaceutical production at OJSC "Belvitunipharm" and an IT park. The foreign trade turnover of the Vitebsk region with the PRC has more than tripled since 2005, with a 1.7-fold increase in goods exports. For January-May 2012, the export volume amounted to $11 million, and imports to $48 million. -0-

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