Vitebsk region proposed cooperation with Iran in pharmaceuticals
"Speaking of pharmaceuticals, we would be interested in your competencies here. We are ready to cooperate with your enterprises, because a pharmaceutical cluster has been created in the region. We are constantly improving and developing new types of products, including in pharmaceuticals and veterinary medicine. Knowing Iran's experience in this area, we would be interested in cooperating specifically in cooperation with Iranian manufacturers," said Deputy Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee Anzhelika Nikitina.
The northern region of Belarus has enough types of products that it is ready to offer to potential Iranian partners. In particular, petrochemical products, which account for almost 50% of industrial production, ranging from fiberglass to oil additives. "We would like to continue working on the supply of these products and increase our competencies in Iran in terms of assortment," she added. - Our enterprises actively supply lumber to the Iranian market, but there are other types of products that we would be interested in supplying: wood boards, laminate, and various types of furniture, including for equipping state institutions (schools, kindergartens)."
The region can offer food products, as well as carpets, footwear, and linen products to the Iranian side.
"Previously, we supplied machine tools to your country. The Vitebsk region has competencies in machine tool engineering and mechanical engineering. Our machine-building enterprises, such as Vistan and Krasny Borrets, are already known in your country," said Anzhelika Nikitina. "We can resume this work with you."
The Vitebsk region also proposed to formalize interregional contacts at the level of provinces and regions.
Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee Aleksandr Subbotin urged, despite the ambassador's visit being of an introductory nature, to "immediately translate everything into a more practical format" and increase the number of meetings manifold. "We have many topics for cooperation: investment projects, trade. We definitely need to cooperate in the fields of education, culture, and science," he noted.
The relations between the Vitebsk region and Iran have huge prospects, added the head of the northern region. He assured that they would be open to any proposals and initiatives.
Since 2022, there has been a multiple increase in trade turnover between the Vitebsk region and Iran, which is due to the need to build new logistics options for export cargo. Among the new types of products that were not previously supplied to Iran are fiberglass, wood boards, various types of acids and reagents. The Vitebsk region continues to supply timber to Iran, accounting for 49% of the trade turnover. The region purchases fresh fruits and vegetables, which account for 98% of all purchases from this country, and medical equipment.
"BELTA"