PM: Belarus, Russia’s Kemerovo Oblast need to intensify cooperation

Belarus and Russia’s Kemerovo Oblast need to step up trade and economic cooperation, Belarus’ Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko said as he met with Kemerovo Oblast Governor Sergei Tsivilev, BelTA has learned.

“We have just returned from Sverdlovsk Oblast where Belarus participated in the Innoprom exhibition, and we continue our active communication with Russian regions. Kemerovo Oblast - Kuzbass is a very important partner for us. Last year our cooperation resulted in almost $600 million. The bar is very high, this year the pace is lower so far,” said Roman Golovchenko.

He noted that Kemerovo Oblast is one of the largest buyers of BelAZ dump trucks. These days a delegation of the Industry Ministry of Belarus headed by the minister is visiting the Russian region. “I think today we will discuss ways to intensify our trade and economic cooperation and give appropriate instructions,” the prime minister added.

According to the Kemerovo Oblast governor, it is necessary to draw up a more detailed action plan - a cooperation roadmap with Belarus. “But I am here not only in the capacity of the governor, but also in the capacity of the head of the Siberian Agreement. The Siberia development strategy seeks to generate benefits not only for the country in general but also for all its regions in particular. This is a rich region with a huge potential. I think that our cooperation should extend to the entire Siberian Federal District,” Sergei Tsivilev noted.