Representatives of the Vitebsk region discussed the development of direct product supplies with the leadership of the Smolensk region.
A meeting of the working group on cooperation between Belarus and the Smolensk region was held at the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee. Representatives of ministries and departments, leading enterprises of the country and the region were invited to the meeting. The parties exchanged information on areas of cooperation that can be jointly developed. The discussion covered options for intensifying foreign trade relations, investment interaction, and cooperation. Specific attention was paid to mutual supplies of machinery, equipment, and spare parts, prospects for the development of agricultural production and construction projects, as well as the development of transport and road management. Cooperation in education and culture was also a focus.
Alexander Subbotin, Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, assured that the northern region is open to projects with the Smolensk region. "It is a new era, an era of opportunities, albeit a challenging one, but it is precisely now that we can do a great deal for our regions and our countries – joint projects that will help us be more effective, more successful, more competitive, and allow us to live better," he said. The head of the northern region of Belarus described the official visit of the Smolensk region delegation as the beginning of a "great, more monolithic friendship that will bear fruit."
The Smolensk region is traditionally one of the main foreign trade partners for the Vitebsk region in Russia. The Smolensk region hosts the majority of representative offices of Vitebsk region enterprises. The foreign trade turnover between Belarus and the Smolensk region in 2023 amounted to $4.4 billion, and $732 million in January-February of this year. Of this, Belarusian goods exported to the Smolensk region for the year totalled $1.8 billion, and $283 million over the two months of 2024.
The trade turnover between the Vitebsk region and the Smolensk region in 2023 was $212 million, and in January-February it stood at $35 million. Belarus purchases raw materials, components, and goods from the Smolensk region for $200-250 million more than it exports. This is due to the import of petroleum gases into Belarus, which account for about 85% of imports from the Smolensk region. In addition to mineral products, Belarusian enterprises purchase polymer raw materials, components, technical fabrics and threads, knitted fabric, and acquire engines, instruments, copper and aluminum wire, particleboard and fibreboard.
Since the beginning of the year, exports to the Smolensk region of cargo and passenger
machinery, special-purpose vehicles, meat and dairy products, textiles, machine tools, instruments, metal products, and polymer products has increased by an average of 1.3 times.
Vitebsk and Smolensk regions plan to develop direct product supplies
25/04/20240 views
"In the structure of our exports, trucks and passenger special-purpose vehicles, meat and dairy industry products, textiles, machine tools, various instruments, metal products, and polymer products predominate. At the same time, we see that the scope of cooperation is much broader; we have certain product categories that we are practically not developing, for example, construction materials, footwear, and medicines. Considering that this is of interest to the Vitebsk region, we have an open niche in pharmaceuticals, veterinary drugs, carpets, and linen fabrics," added Anzhelika Nikitina, Deputy Chairperson of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee.
Deliveries of some products are being made, but not directly, but through intermediaries or another region, she added, urging the development of direct supplies. "We would like to discuss in more detail the creation of commodity distribution networks in the Smolensk region, opening our own stores (which was discussed today during our visit to the Orsha Linen Mill), so that our products are cheaper and more competitive in both our and your market. We are also ready to cooperate in establishing commodity distribution networks in the Vitebsk region and Belarus as a whole. We are ready to cooperate in opening retail outlets in the Vitebsk region," said Anzhelika Nikitina.
She proposed developing cooperation in the light industry, including opening branded stores of Vitebsk region enterprises in Smolensk. The Deputy Chairperson drew attention to the broad opportunities for cooperation in the supply of special-purpose and agricultural machinery.
Speaking about work in the agro-industrial complex, she noted the importance of experience in working with large multifunctional agricultural holdings. "We have expertise in scientific potential and the development of flax cultivation, seed production, pedigree breeding, land reclamation, and so on," added Anzhelika Nikitina.
The official visit of the Smolensk region delegation to Vitebsk takes place on April 23. Earlier today, the guests visited some enterprises in the northern region, paid tribute to the fallen during the Great Patriotic War at the memorial complex dedicated to Soviet soldiers-liberators on Victory Square, and familiarised themselves with a thematic exhibition of Belarusian enterprises displayed at the Regional Executive Committee.
Source: vitebsk-region