On October 21, Smolensk / Diana Kurilo - BELTA /. The cooperation between the Smolensk and Vitebsk regions is mutually beneficial and benefits the residents of these regions, stated the Governor of the Smolensk region, Sergey Antufiev, today at the ceremony of signing the plan of measures for trade, economic, scientific, technical, and humanitarian-cultural cooperation between the Smolensk region of Russia and the Vitebsk region of Belarus for 2011-2012, according to a BELTA correspondent. "For the people of Smolensk, it is obvious that cooperation and close ties between our regions are mutually beneficial. We, along with our Belarusian brothers, do not have different approaches to assessing how Belarusian-Russian relations should develop: we will live as two fraternal peoples and strive for a common goal - the well-being of our peoples," said the head of the Smolensk region. The Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, Alexander Kosinets, added that the economic interests of the two regions extend to various sectors: industry, energy, agriculture, construction, science, and culture. "There is no sphere where there are no common interests and no prospects for cooperation," he noted. The plan includes over a hundred measures, a significant part of which concerns the development of trade and economic relations. In particular, it provides for the organization and holding of a joint working meeting between LLC Trading House "Igrushki" and its constituent separate structural unit, the retail chain "Dochki-synochki" (Smolensk), with OJSC "Vitebsk Fruit and Vegetable Processing Plant" in order to study the conditions for mutually beneficial cooperation, as well as to resolve issues and problems related to the supply and sale of fruit and vegetable preserves for children. The administrations of the two regions intend to stimulate the business activity of economic entities engaged in trade and production activities by organizing joint exhibitions and fairs. Another area of business interest will be the construction industry. The plan provides for the organization of participation of construction organizations of the Vitebsk region as contracting organizations for the construction of housing and socio-cultural facilities in the territory of the Smolensk region. Vitebsk farmers intend to continue to provide assistance in sowing, plowing, fodder procurement, and harvesting in the border areas of the Smolensk region, which is also confirmed by the joint plan. -0-

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