Meeting with Governor of Russia’s Kurgan Oblast Aleksei Kokorin

Belarus is ready to cooperate with Russia’s Kurgan Oblast in all avenues, Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko said as he met with Russia’s Kurgan Oblast Governor Aleksei Kokorin on 13 October.

Speaking about the trade turnover with Kurgan Oblast, Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that it is rather small in comparison with the volume of mutual trade with other Russian regions. In 2015, it slightly exceeded $20 million. “We need to do a lot to increase it to a decent level. We have all conditions and opportunities for it,” the President said. “Therefore, we hope that your visit will give a strong impetus to the development of bilateral cooperation. We need to use the existing economic potential to raise the trade turnover. Belarus is ready to cooperate with your region in all avenues.”

In particular, there are good prospects in agriculture where Belarus has achieved a lot. “We are ready to cooperate with you in this field. I think we can use the best practices of each other to upgrade machinery and tractors, support villages, and promote agricultural science. But the main thing is that together we can make discoveries and yield excellent results,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

The participants of the meeting agreed that the products of Minsk Tractor Works (MTZ trademark) sell well in Kurgan Oblast. Plans have been made to open service centers in this Russian region.

According to the President, the interaction of construction organizations can be another promising avenue of cooperation. “If you need help and have free orders, we can provide assistance in the construction industry. Of course, it would be great (as far as the urban construction is concerned) for Belarusians to build the whole residential section. As for industrial enterprises and farms, we would also like to build them. We are ready to fulfill any orders ourselves or jointly with your builders,” the head of state said.

Belarus is also ready to enhance industrial cooperation with Kurgan Oblast, set up joint ventures in Belarus and in the Russian region. “We will definitely appreciate your proposals. I think that we can respond to them during your visit. If it is needed to clarify the details, we will definitely do it,” Aleksandr Lukashenko emphasized.

There are also good prospects in the joint production of elevators. The cooperation of Minsk Automobile Plant (MAZ trademark) and Vargashi Plant of Firefighting and Special Equipment is increasingly vibrant.

Aleksei Kokorin, in turn, supported the proposals of the Belarusian President and added that Kurgan Oblast is eager to enhance cooperation with Belarus in various avenues. In his words, it is especially important to step up interaction in agriculture, manufacturing, and pharmaceutics.

At the end of the meeting the sides agreed to bolster all-round cooperation and avoid competition. Belarus and Kurgan Oblast are expected to prepare a cooperation roadmap in the near future.