Meeting with Bryansk Oblast Governor Alexander Bogomaz

Belarus and Bryansk Oblast can enhance cooperation in key areas, Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko said as he met with Bryansk Oblast Governor Alexander Bogomaz on 11 August.

“Bryansk Oblast is the most reliable and a very important partner of Belarus. We can enhance cooperation in key areas. I was informed that in January-May 2016 the trade turnover went up 6%, but this is a very small figure. I think that we can raise the bilateral trade to the level of 2013 which exceeded $900 million,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

The head of state noted that the cooperation with Bryansk Oblast is important for Belarus because production facilities of such Belarusian companies as Gomselmash and Amkodor are located in this Russian region. “I would like these enterprises to be an example of our Belarusian-Russian cooperation in general. Take care of these enterprises. If it is possible to improve their performance, please help them. Tell us if we should do something there, and we will do our best to promote the products of these enterprises in Bryansk Oblast and in Russia in general. Bryansk Oblast is interested in it because these companies are located on the territory of this region and are the taxpayers of Bryansk Oblast,” the Belarusian leader remarked.

According to Aleksandr Lukashenko, cooperation in agricultural affairs can become an important direction in partnership with the Russian region. “We are ready to share everything we have with you because we are neighbors and we are very much interested in the intensive development of Pskov Oblast, Smolensk Oblast, and Bryansk Oblast. It indicates our involvement in the development of agriculture and the industrial sector of the Russian Federation. It also indicates what we can do for Russians,” the head of state said.

The President pointed out that in addition to simply selling its machines, vehicles or other products Belarus is ready to take this cooperation to a whole new level. “I would like your visit to focus on discussing prospects of our cooperation — cooperation at a higher level instead of some simple exchange of commodities. We certainly cannot do without merchandise trade but we should also make products of a very high level in order to sell them together not only in the ex-USSR but at least in Eastern Europe,” the President believes.

It was noted that Belarus and Bryansk Oblast are currently setting up a big construction complex. Bio technologies were named another promising area for bilateral cooperation.

The head of state concluded that Belarus is interested in the comprehensive development of mutually beneficial cooperation with Bryansk Oblast.