21 May, Minsk /BELTA/. Prime Minister of Belarus Mikhail Myasnikovich has instructed heads of ministries and departments to more actively develop trade, economic and investment cooperation with the regions of the Russian Federation. This was reported to BELTA by the press service of the government.
Over the past week, the Prime Minister heard reports from ministers and heads of Belarusian parts of joint commissions on trade and economic cooperation with Russian regions on their work. In particular, Minister of Industry Dmitry Katerinich informed about the development of cooperation between Belarus and the Yaroslavl region and the Republic of Mordovia, Minister of Agriculture and Food Leonid Zayats – with the Oryol and Amur regions, Anatoly Sivak – with the Kaliningrad and Smolensk regions. Minister of Architecture and Construction Anatoly Nichkasov reported on the development of partnership with the Novosibirsk region and the Republic of Bashkortostan, Minister of Trade Valentin Chekanov – with the Lipetsk region, Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Vladimir Tsalko – with Kemerovo. Deputy Prime Minister Mikhail Rusy reported on the progress of cooperation between Belarus and the Samara region.
Following the meetings, Mikhail Myasnikovich instructed the heads of government bodies to take measures to increase exports to Russian regions and ensure the development and approval of relevant plans for the implementation of assigned tasks by subordinate organizations and enterprises.
The Prime Minister also pointed out the need to use export support schemes in working with Russian regions: export leasing, export crediting and insurance, compensation of part of interest rates to non-resident banks for loans issued for the purchase of Belarusian goods, tied crediting at the state level through the conclusion of bilateral intergovernmental agreements.
The task has been set to more effectively work on opening representative offices of Belarusian manufacturers in the Russian Federation, and to move beyond direct sales of Belarusian products to organizing joint ventures and production facilities.
It has also been instructed to more actively organize regional fairs and to trade more in finished industrial, construction, and food products.
Ministers assigned to Russian regions should pay special attention to promoting infrastructure and investment projects.-0-