Vitebsk region and the United Kingdom have great potential for cooperation
Vitebsk region and the United Kingdom have great potential for cooperation. This was stated to journalists by the Ambassador of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to Belarus, Jacqueline Perkins, after a meeting with the leadership of the regional executive committee, as reported by a BELTA correspondent.
The visit to Vitebsk was the Ambassador's first official visit outside Minsk. The diplomat chose Vitebsk region due to its location - the region borders both the European Union and Russia. "There is great potential for cooperation between the United Kingdom and Vitebsk region. The main areas are economy and trade. But it is very important to develop ties not only at the economic and political levels, but also cultural relations," said Jacqueline Perkins.
First Deputy Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee, Oleg Matskevich, noted that the trade turnover between the Belarusian region and the United Kingdom needs to be increased. He also invited the Ambassador and British companies to take part in the international economic forum "Innovations. Investments. Prospects," which is held annually in Vitebsk.
Andrei Dukhounikov, Director of the Vitebsk Centre for Contemporary Art and the Museum of the History of the Vitebsk People's Art School, said that he was contacted by the renowned architect Tsivai Raphael So, the author of the wooden Belarusian church in London. "He proposed creating a platform for cooperation between European architects, Vitebsk artists, and our museum. There is an idea for a project that could be implemented in 2020-2021 in the city - a 10-day plein air symposium. There is support from the Belarusian
Last year, the foreign trade turnover of Vitebsk region enterprises with the United Kingdom amounted to $7.1 million. In 2019, the main exports were lubricant additives, linen fabrics, and fiberglass. Seven organisations with British capital operate in the northern region.