A delegation from the Pskov region paid an official visit to Vitebsk

A delegation from the Pskov region, led by Governor Andrey Turchak, discussed interregional cooperation issues at a meeting in the regional executive committee.

As explained by Gennady Grebnev, First Deputy Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee, who welcomed the guests from Russia, an agreement on trade, economic, scientific, technical, and cultural cooperation between the two neighboring regions was signed in 1997. It is clear that, considering current realities, it needs to be adjusted. A draft of a new document was prepared at the end of last year and is currently under consideration by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Its signing is planned for September in Veliky Novgorod at the forum of regions. The current visit, one might say, is a control visit, during which the readiness for closer business contacts was reconfirmed and specific steps in this direction were discussed.

The annual trade turnover between the Vitebsk and Pskov regions is about $50 million, including exports of $40 million. For the first quarter of 2015, it decreased, with Russians buying less dairy products, footwear, carpets, poultry, and building materials, and linen fabrics. We, in turn, mainly purchase parts and components for the assembly of radio electronic products, polyethylene, footwear components, and men's suits.

Governor of the Pskov region Andrey Turchak emphasized that the region has a need for electronic equipment, and cooperation in housing construction is possible. In connection with Pskov's plan to become the capital of the Hanseatic League, the participation of neighbors in preparing the city for a grand economic and cultural forum would be appropriate. This primarily concerns landscaping.

Both sides noted that cultural ties currently prevail in our relations, while economic ties need to be strengthened. There are opportunities for this. For example, we could offer Russians water treatment and purification systems from UP "Polimerkonstruktsiya". The enterprise "BelVit-

unifarm" is ready to supply veterinary drugs for the treatment of diseases in pigs and cattle. There is also an opportunity to increase supplies of ceramic bricks, dolomite crushed stone, expanded clay and wall blocks made from it, concrete and reinforced concrete products, and elements for residential buildings.

Our specialists can carry out work in industrial, road, and civil construction, as well as the construction of agricultural facilities, including within the framework of municipal and federal programs. An industrial and production zone "Moglino" has been established in the Pskov region, which could establish closer ties with residents of the FEZ "Vitebsk", who produce fire extinguishing agents, power monitors, repair machine tools, and manufacture lighting fixtures, including LED ones.

Representatives of the Pskov region also expressed their wishes. In particular, they spoke about the creation of joint trading facilities that would allow selling Belarusian products in a civilized manner and without intermediaries. Closer ties are desired between enterprises of the consumer cooperation system. One of the largest agricultural projects is being implemented in the Pskov region – the construction of a pig-breeding complex for 1 million heads. The livestock was imported from Denmark, the reproduction site has been equipped, and an artificial insemination station has been put into operation, which can also be used by farms in the Vitebsk region.

– Framework agreements need to be filled with specifics, and ties between economic entities need to be established, – emphasized Andrey Turchak.

He supported his words with a trip to Orsha to the plant "Krasny Borets", where the participation of the enterprise in the technical re-equipment programs of the industrial complex of the Pskov region was discussed.

The Russians invited the leadership of our region to participate in a meeting at the Kurgán Druzhby (Friendship Mound). In turn, Gennady Grebnev, on behalf of the Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee Nikolay Sherstnyov, expressed the desire to see a delegation from Pskov at the "Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk".

Tatyana Pasternak, "Vitebskiye Vesti"