Vitebsk and Smolensk regions plan to develop direct product supplies
A meeting of the working group on cooperation between Belarus and the Smolensk region was held at the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee. Representatives of ministries and departments, leading enterprises of the country and the region were invited to the meeting. The parties exchanged information on areas of cooperation that can be developed jointly. The discussion covered options for intensifying foreign trade relations, investment interaction, and cooperation. Special attention was paid to mutual supplies of machinery, equipment, and spare parts, the prospects for the development of agricultural production and construction projects, as well as the development of transport and road management. Interaction in the field of education and culture was also in focus.
The Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, Alexander Subbotin, assured that the northern region is open to projects with the Smolensk region. "It is a new time, a time of opportunities, although not easy, but it is precisely now that we can do a lot for our regions and our countries - joint projects that will help us be more effective, more successful, more competitive and allow us to live better," he said. The head of the northern region of Belarus called the official visit of the delegation from the Smolensk region the beginning of a "great, more monolithic friendship that will bear fruit."
The Smolensk region is traditionally one of the main foreign trade partners for the Vitebsk region in Russia. The majority of representative offices of Vitebsk region enterprises are concentrated in the Smolensk region. The foreign trade turnover between Belarus and the Smolensk region in 2023 amounted to $4.4 billion, and in January-February of this year - $732 million. Of this, Belarusian goods exported to the Smolensk region amounted to $1.8 billion over the year and $283 million over two months of 2024.
The trade turnover between the Vitebsk region and the Smolensk region in 2023 was $212 million, and in January-February it was $35 million. Belarus purchases raw materials, components, and goods from the Smolensk region for $200-250 million more than it exports. This is due to the import of oil gases into Belarus, and their share in imports from the Smolensk region is about 85%. In addition to mineral products, Belarusian enterprises purchase polymer raw materials, components, technical fabrics and threads, knitted fabric, and acquire engines, instruments, copper and aluminum wire, chipboard and fiberboard.
Since the beginning of the year, exports of trucks and passenger vehicles, special equipment, meat and dairy products, textile products, machine tools, instruments, metal products, and polymer products to the Smolensk region have increased by an average of 1.3 times.
"In the structure of our exports, trucks, passenger vehicles, special equipment, meat and dairy industry products, textile products, machine tools, various instruments, metal products, and polymer products prevail. At the same time, we see that the scope of cooperation is much wider; we have positions that we have not practically developed, for example, building materials, footwear, and medicines. Given that this is of interest to the Vitebsk region, we have an open niche in pharmaceuticals, veterinary drugs, carpets, and linen fabrics," added the Deputy Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, Anzhelika Nikitina.
Supplies of some products are carried out, but not directly, but through intermediaries or another region, she added, calling for the development of direct supplies. "I would like to discuss in more detail the creation of distribution networks in the Smolensk region, opening our own stores (which was discussed today
She proposed developing cooperation in the light industry, including opening branded stores of enterprises of the Vitebsk region in Smolensk. The Deputy Chairperson drew attention to the broad opportunities for cooperation in the supply of special and agricultural machinery.
Speaking about work in the agro-industrial complex, she noted the importance of experience in working with large multifunctional agricultural holdings. "We have competencies in scientific potential and the development of flax cultivation, seed production, pedigree breeding, land reclamation, and so on," added Anzhelika Nikitina.
The official visit of the delegation from the Smolensk region to Vitebsk takes place on April 23. Earlier today, the guests visited some enterprises in the northern region, honored the memory of those who died during the Great Patriotic War at the memorial complex in honor of Soviet liberator soldiers on Victory Square, and familiarized themselves with the thematic exhibition of Belarusian enterprises deployed at the regional executive committee.