Kosinetz aims to increase the trade turnover between the Vitebsk region and Moscow to $1 billion in the near future

By the end of 2012, the trade turnover of the Vitebsk region with Moscow amounted to only $264 million. To achieve a trade turnover of $1 billion, the parties need to shift from an emphasis on organizing fairs to establishing strong trade ties.

Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee Alexander Kosinets aims to increase the trade turnover of the Vitebsk region with Moscow to $1 billion in the near future. He announced these plans to journalists following the negotiations between the delegation of the Vitebsk region and the Minister of the Government of Moscow, Head of the Department of Foreign Economic and International Relations Sergey Cheremin, which took place today in the Russian capital, according to a BELTA correspondent.

Alexander Kosinets noted that by the end of 2012, the trade turnover of the Vitebsk region with Moscow amounted to only $264 million. In his opinion, to achieve a trade turnover of $1 billion, the parties need to shift from an emphasis on organizing fairs to establishing strong trade ties. The Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee noted that the Vitebsk region can supply Moscow not only with food products, but also with machine-building products, petroleum products, carpets and linen products, footwear, and timber. "We see huge opportunities for cooperation in the light industry, there are serious projects in the field of energy, which involve the use of local types of fuel for combined heat and electricity generation," he said. "It is also necessary to expand the creation of joint ventures."

The Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee emphasized that the development of the commodity distribution network plays an important role in the development of trade and economic cooperation. According to him, the parties intend to return to the issue of creating the "Moscow-Vitebsk" trade and logistics center in the northern district of the Russian capital. Such an idea was considered back in 2003. "It is necessary to seek connections with the direct consumer of goods, excluding the long intermediary chain," Alexander Kosinets noted.

The parties agreed to hold Moscow Days in Vitebsk in the near future. In addition, a delegation of the government of the Russian capital will visit the Vitebsk region in the near future.

In addition to trade and economic cooperation, the negotiations also discussed interaction in the humanitarian sphere, including in healthcare, education, culture, tourism, and sports.

BELTA