Belarus and Kuzbass are capable of significantly increasing trade turnover. This was stated by President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko on June 23 at a meeting with the Governor of the Kemerovo Region - Kuzbass of the Russian Federation, Ilya Seredyuk, as reported by a BELTA correspondent.
The President noted that Belarusian machinery is widely used in the Kemerovo Region. At the same time, trade turnover has recently begun to decline. Thus, in 2024, Belarus and the Kemerovo Region traded for $225 million. For comparison, in 2022, trade turnover exceeded $614 million.
"Half a billion stably, I think, we can have trade turnover. And we should not deviate from this. I understand the complexities and difficulties that everyone is talking about today (only the lazy are not talking about it): here in Russia there are rates, and this, and that. You know, you can always refer to something, but if we set ourselves the goal of overcoming all this, of leveling it, we can do it. If we set ourselves the goal of having at least half a billion dollars in trade turnover with Kuzbass," Alexander Lukashenko said.
In the Kemerovo Region, in particular, BELAZ dump trucks are in demand. In a sense, Kuzbass is even a kind of testing ground for Belarusian machinery: the most advanced models are supplied to this region. Belarus is ready to expand supplies of passenger, agricultural, and municipal equipment.
"But there is a problem that we need to solve together. These are the multi-brand centres that have been created in Kuzbass. All machinery is represented there: both MAZ, and MTZ, and Belkommunmash, and agricultural trailed equipment. We are ready to cooperate more widely through you with the region where Kuzbass is located. This is actually half of Siberia. Densely populated Siberia. Let's think together about how to use this centre in such a way that it increases its volumes. We are ready for this," the Belarusian leader emphasised.
The Head of State also noted that Belarus is ready to offer partners certain preferences, for example, selling equipment on lease. "The only thing we need in this regard are guarantees. Guarantees are fair. So that we deliver on lease and receive payment. Because we lost tens of millions of dollars in Russia when we cooperated without guarantees with unknown companies. They went bankrupt, disappeared, and then the Prosecutors General of Russia and Belarus (thanks to the Prosecutor's Office of Russia) searched all over Russia for these people to bring them to justice. This is not acceptable. Therefore, we need guarantees," the President stated.
Alexander Lukashenko separately touched upon the supply of agricultural products. Belarus has always supplied these goods to the Kemerovo region in one volume or another.
"If this suits you, we are ready to cooperate with you in the field of seed production, pedigree livestock breeding, and in other areas, including potato growing (we have a whole institute, and we work well on seeds and new varieties of any crops). In general, the spectrum of relations is vast. If we are able to support your region in any way, we are always ready to do so," the Head of State concluded.