The issues of convergence of the economies of enterprises of Russia and Belarus are a fundamental task for the leadership of the Vitebsk region in the near future

The convergence of the economies of enterprises in Russia and Belarus is a fundamental task for the leadership of the Vitebsk region in the near future.

This was announced at an expanded meeting of the Council of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union of Belarus and Russia, held in Pskov on September 4, by the Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, Alexander Subbotin.

The head of the Vitebsk region noted that issues of regional cooperation are particularly relevant for the border areas of Belarus and Russia, whose residents are the first to assess the effectiveness of interaction in the economy, culture, education, and healthcare. "We have much in common in history, traditions, and way of life, so it is important to preserve and develop cooperation, taking into account the new challenges and conditions in which our border regions live and work," emphasized Alexander Subbotin.

He said that according to the results of the first half of the year, the trade turnover of the Vitebsk region with the regions of Russia amounted to more than Br6 billion. "When it comes to trade indicators, it is necessary to understand that the possibility of their increase is based on the production potential of our parties in the conditions created for doing business both in Belarus and in Russia. As for the Vitebsk region, today we can confidently offer our Russian partners our competencies in the production of power and optical cables, water treatment equipment, excavators, telescopic lifts, metal-cutting machines, and hydraulic presses. All the listed types of products are manufactured at the production sites of the Moscow, Leningrad, Lipetsk, Kaluga, and other regions of the Russian Federation with a localization level of 70% or more, in order to then obtain the status of a finished product that can then freely move between our states," said Alexander Subbotin.

The head of the northern region of Belarus said that a center for the production of a wide range of polymer materials, glass fabrics, and acrylic fiber has been formed in the Vitebsk region, which should become growth points in the production of hundreds of

of petrochemical products, building materials, composite products, new types of textile products. And this will be beneficial for the economies of many regions of Belarus and Russia.

"Vitebsk enterprises need protein, chemical, textile raw materials, rolled metal, polymers, modern equipment. They are interested not only in their acquisition, but also in the creation of a common product, which should have the status of a domestic product for the economies of our states. The issue of convergence of the economies of our enterprises is a fundamental task for the near future," Alexander Subbotin emphasized.

The Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee emphasized that there are many areas for cooperation and now it is necessary to work on their implementation. As an example, he cited cable product manufacturers. In Belarus, it is produced at 17 enterprises, the largest of which is the "Energokomplekt" plant, located in Vitebsk. "A powerful cable cluster is being formed in Pskov. At the same time, despite the presence of cable sheath manufacturers in Tatarstan, we often make all purchases from Turkey or China. It's not about closing ourselves off from the outside world, but about maximizing our own competencies without building barriers for joint production is an objective necessity," noted Alexander Subbotin.

He also touched upon issues of cooperation in the field of science. Vitebsk State University named after P.M. Masherov and Vitebsk State Medical University, together with Pskov State University, proposed a model for a network center for biotechnology and pharmaceuticals. The number of participants in such an association can be expanded, as the training of a new format specialist at a single university, according to the head of the region, is impossible. It is also important to create joint teams of scientists capable of undertaking any applied tasks and scientific research.

Alexander Subbotin noted that using the example of interaction between the Vitebsk and Pskov regions, interregional integration should be strengthened. "The development of mechanisms for sustainable socio-economic interaction of border regions is in demand.

at the level of individual village councils, schools, cultural institutions, local public associations. It is at this level that the foundations for understanding integration processes are laid, the most promising areas of cooperation are formed, where neighboring territories do not compete, but learn to mutually complement each other. We are focusing on specific bilateral agreements with the regions of Russia. That is why we have proposed a project for interaction between agrarian and technical colleges of the Pskov and Vitebsk regions to improve the quality of educational programs and vocational training, acquire practical skills in working with modern equipment and technology produced in our countries. This will also provide an opportunity to obtain several agricultural specialties," said Alexander Subbotin.

He added that if the pilot project is implemented successfully, similar cooperation can be established in other areas between secondary vocational educational institutions, laboratories, design bureaus, technoparks, and business incubators. Interested enterprises and organizations from other regions of Belarus and Russia can also be involved. In the future, such a model of interaction will help develop unified mechanisms for creating import-substituting production facilities with high competitiveness.

BELTA.