Belarus, Russia urged to set up joint ventures

       Belarus and Russia should expand trade and economic ties, convert them to modern forms, including the establishment of joint ventures. Belarus and Russia should also implement major joint projects. The opinion was voiced by Ms Valentina Matviyenko, the speaker of the upper chamber of the Russian parliament, as she met with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Belarus to Russia Mr Igor Petrishenko in Moscow.
      Valentina Matviyenko remarked that the last year’s Belarus-Russia trade will increase by more than 10% from 2011 to about $44 billion. “Belarus has reached the sixth position on the list of Russia’s top trade partners,” she said.
       Valentina Matviyenko underlined that Belarus is the key partner for Russia in the post-Soviet space, including in various integration associations. “Undoubtedly, the Customs Union has proved its effectiveness and its development is a key task for us,” she said. “It is important to stay on schedule in creating the Eurasian Economic Union”. Valentina Matviyenko said that the Council of the Federation (the upper chamber of the Russian parliament) had started holding presentations of the future Eurasian Economic Union. More than ten presentations have been held in various countries.