Vitebsk and Smolensk regions plan to develop direct product supplies
Development of direct product supplies discussed by representatives of the Vitebsk region with the leadership of the Smolensk region.
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, prospects for the development of agricultural production and construction projects, as well as the development of transport and road management. Interaction in the fields of education and culture was also in focus.
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 $732 million for January-February of this year. Of this, Belarusian goods exported to the Smolensk region amounted to $1.8 billion over the year and $283 million for two months of 2024.
The trade turnover between the Vitebsk region and the Smolensk region in 2023 was $212 million, and for January-February it amounted to $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 to Smolcargo and passenger vehicles, special equipment, meat and dairy products, textiles, machine tools, instruments, metal products, and polymer products to the Vitebsk region has increased by an average of 1.3 times.
"In the structure of our exports, cargo and passenger special equipment, products of the meat and dairy industry, textiles, machine tools, various instruments, metal products, and polymer products prevail. At the same time, we see that the spectrum of cooperation is much wider; we have positions that we are practically not developing, for example, construction materials, footwear, and medicines. Considering 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.
Deliveries of some products are carried out, but not directly, but through intermediaries or another region, she added, urging to develop direct supplies. "We would like to discuss in more detail the creation of distribution networks in the Smolensk region, opening our own stores (which was discussed today during the visit to the Orsha Linen Mill) so that our products are cheaper and more competitive in both our and your market. We are also ready to cooperate in establishing distribution networks in the Vitebsk region and Belarus as a whole. We are ready to cooperate in opening retail outlets in the Vitebsk region," said Anzhelika Nikitina.
She proposed developing cooperation in the light industry, including opening branded stores of Vitebsk region enterprises in Smolensk. The Deputy Chairman 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 Smolensk region delegation to Vitebsk takes place on April 23. Earlier today, the guests visited some enterprises in the northern region, honored the memory of those killed during the Great Patriotic War at the memorial complex in honor of Soviet soldiers-liberators on Victory Square, and familiarized themselves with the thematic exhibition of Belarusian enterprises deployed in the region.executive committee.
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, prospects for the development of agricultural production and construction projects, as well as the development of transport and road management. Interaction in the fields of education and culture was also in focus.
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 $732 million for January-February of this year. Of this, Belarusian goods exported to the Smolensk region amounted to $1.8 billion over the year and $283 million for two months of 2024.
The trade turnover between the Vitebsk region and the Smolensk region in 2023 was $212 million, and for January-February it amounted to $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 to Smolcargo and passenger vehicles, special equipment, meat and dairy products, textiles, machine tools, instruments, metal products, and polymer products to the Vitebsk region has increased by an average of 1.3 times.
"In the structure of our exports, cargo and passenger special equipment, products of the meat and dairy industry, textiles, machine tools, various instruments, metal products, and polymer products prevail. At the same time, we see that the spectrum of cooperation is much wider; we have positions that we are practically not developing, for example, construction materials, footwear, and medicines. Considering 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.
Deliveries of some products are carried out, but not directly, but through intermediaries or another region, she added, urging to develop direct supplies. "We would like to discuss in more detail the creation of distribution networks in the Smolensk region, opening our own stores (which was discussed today during the visit to the Orsha Linen Mill) so that our products are cheaper and more competitive in both our and your market. We are also ready to cooperate in establishing distribution networks in the Vitebsk region and Belarus as a whole. We are ready to cooperate in opening retail outlets in the Vitebsk region," said Anzhelika Nikitina.
She proposed developing cooperation in the light industry, including opening branded stores of Vitebsk region enterprises in Smolensk. The Deputy Chairman 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 Smolensk region delegation to Vitebsk takes place on April 23. Earlier today, the guests visited some enterprises in the northern region, honored the memory of those killed during the Great Patriotic War at the memorial complex in honor of Soviet soldiers-liberators on Victory Square, and familiarized themselves with the thematic exhibition of Belarusian enterprises deployed in the region.executive committee.
Source: vitebsk-region.gov.by