Vitebsk region and the Netherlands intend to strengthen economic and cultural ties

A two-day business visit to Vitebsk was paid by the Chargé d'Affaires of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the Republic of Belarus, Henricus Johannes van Oosterhout.

Our regional centre became the first regional city visited by the official representative of this Western European state as head of the diplomatic mission. "Why was Vitebsk given priority?" — journalists inquired.

– Firstly, the priority is the development of cooperation between the regions of the two countries. Secondly, Vitebsk and the Netherlands are connected by the names of the famous sculptor Ossip Zadkine (a monument "The Destroyed City" is installed in Rotterdam, and Zadkine's works dedicated to the Van Gogh brothers are in Zundert. – Author's note), Lazar Lissitzky (the largest collection of the artist outside Russia is located in the Van Abbemuseum in Eindhoven, while there is not a single work in Belarus. – Author's note) and, of course, a love for the art of Marc Chagall, – explained Henricus Johannes van Oosterhout.

On the first day, the official guest visited the Museum and the Marc Chagall Art Center, and the second day began with a business meeting with the Deputy Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee, Vladimir Penin, representatives of the Committee for Economy and the Department of Culture.

The conversation focused on the development of economic cooperation, which, as Vladimir Penin noted, is not yet yielding satisfactory results. Over the past year, trade turnover between the Vitebsk region and the Netherlands has decreased to just over 92 million dollars, with the largest share being the export of oil products, as well as linen fabrics, optical instruments, electrical equipment, and woodworking products.

The main imports from the Netherlands include fruits, vegetables, flowers, vegetable seeds, medicines, cocoa powder and butter, and equipment for meat and poultry processing. Two enterprises with Dutch capital, "Modern-Expo" and "Modern-Trading," operate within the "Vitebsk" free economic zone, producing high-tech trade equipment.

Both sides expressed a desire to expand business ties in all areas of socio-economic development. Summarising the meeting, the Deputy Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee's Economy Committee, Konstantin Chyorny, noted that there is currently limited information in the Netherlands about the investment opportunities in the Vitebsk region. Therefore, through the embassy representatives, foreign companies were invited to participate in the international economic forum scheduled to take place in our regional centre in May.

"We have endeavoured to explain the prospects for developing cooperation in innovative sectors such as electronics, mechanical engineering, agriculture, petrochemicals, and woodworking. All of these are very important for the Vitebsk region," said Konstantin Chyorny.

Cultural projects were also discussed. In particular, at the Museum of the History of the Vitebsk People's Art School, the head of the diplomatic mission was asked to assist in organising an exhibition of works by Lazar Lissitzky, a student of Yury Pen, an associate of Kazimir Malevich, and one of the teachers at the Vitebsk People's Art School, from the collection of the museum in Eindhoven.

Henricus Johannes van Oosterhout also met with the leadership of the Vitebsk City Executive Committee, walked around the city, and, according to him, took many beautiful photographs.