Vitebsk enterprises can participate in Russian federal programs
21/10/20110 views
21 October, Smolensk /Diana Kurilo - BELTA/. Vitebsk enterprises "Polimerkonstruktsiya" and "Forteks-vodnye tekhnologii" can compete in the market and become participants in Russian environmental programmes. This viewpoint was expressed to a BELTA correspondent by the Head of Administration of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, Aleksei Matyushko, before the signing in Smolensk of an action plan for the implementation of the agreement between the Administration of the Smolensk Region (Russian Federation) and the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee (Republic of Belarus) on trade, economic, scientific, technical and cultural cooperation for the coming year.
The main priority in economic cooperation today is the development not only of export-import operations, but also the implementation of joint projects and industrial cooperation between the parties, he stressed. Attention should be paid to intensifying mutual supplies of goods with a high degree of processing, and not only to the export from the Vitebsk region of rapeseed, flax fibre, mushrooms, berries, peat, meat, milk, vegetables and potatoes.
Federal programmes are in operation in the Smolensk region, and the development of its own regional programmes is also planned, in which enterprises from the Vitebsk region could participate. The Smolensk side is most interested in the experience of implementing programmes for the development of the agro-industrial complex for the production of flax, milk, meat, rapeseed, vegetables, fruits, housing and communal services, as well as environmental and nature protection projects.
In Vitebsk, enterprises ChUP "Polimerkonstruktsiya" and SOOO "Forteks-vodnye tekhnologii" are successfully operating, producing a wide range of treatment plants, water treatment and iron removal stations, using the most modern technologies. According to Aleksei Matyushko, these and similar manufacturers are ready to become participants in Russian environmental programmes by offering modern competitive conditions. Co-financing from the Smolensk side is necessary for the development of the product range and timely participation in tenders.
Another area of joint activity could be the creation of transport and logistics centres on the border with Latvia and Lithuania, or near major transport hubs such as Orsha and Vitebsk, which have airports, railway communications and motorways. The state association "Vitebsk Concern "Meat and Dairy Products" is implementing an investment project based on OJSC "Moloko" for the production of fermented demineralised whey. Financial companies are being sought for loan allocation. The project is export-oriented, allows for the processing of dairy production waste, is self-repaying in foreign currency and may be of interest to Smolensk partners.
Vitebsk region also intends to propose the implementation of projects in agricultural production and processing. For example, based on the Gorodok Poultry Farm, a project is proposed for the organisation of production of chilled or frozen egg products, which will significantly extend the product's shelf life. By analogy with the "Detskoselsky" concern (Leningrad region), agricultural cooperatives and flax processing plants could be transferred to Smolensk companies for the development of beef and dairy cattle breeding, the construction of pig farms, poultry farms and incubators. In this case, Russian partners benefit from preferential taxation in rural areas, availability of raw materials, trained personnel, and preserved production support infrastructure.
According to Alexey Matyushko, Russian partners propose to organise production activities in the Smolensk region, noting the possibility of attracting resources from the federal programmes "Flax", "Grain", "Agricultural Machinery", and are also interested in the Belarusian experience of creating agro-towns.
Foreign trade turnover for January-August 2011 between Vitebsk and Smolensk regions amounted to $151.2 million (growth rate – 126%), including exports – $100.9 million (growth rate – 118%), imports – $50.4 million (growth rate – 145%). Over 10 years, trade turnover between Smolensk and Vitebsk regions has increased sixfold.
Smolensk region is among the top three Russian regions in terms of trade turnover and exports, being one of the main trading partners of the region, second only to Moscow and the Moscow region. The share of food products in the total exports of the region's enterprises to the Smolensk region is 32%. Meat and dairy products are in highest demand.-0-
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