Regional cooperation should become a priority in the development of relations between the Czech Republic and Belarus - Czech MFA

July 21, Vitebsk / Diana Kurilo - BELTA /. Regional cooperation should be a priority in the development of relations between the Czech Republic and Belarus, stated Tomas Pojar, First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, today at a meeting with Vladimir Novatsky, First Deputy Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, BELTA correspondent reports. "Regional ties are concrete ties," emphasized Tomas Pojar. They contribute to the growth of business activity and the development of cultural relations. According to the First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Czech businessmen are interested in joint projects in industry. The privatization of Belarusian enterprises can also attract the attention of private Czech capital. A delegation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic is on a working visit to the Vitebsk region on July 21. During the meeting, opportunities for regional cooperation and attracting Czech investments to the region's economy were discussed. The Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee is interested in restoring the volume of sales of wood products, linen fabrics, glass fabrics, and optical instruments to the Czech market. The regional authorities proposed organizing an exchange of information with the trade service of the embassy on export-import opportunities and needs of the region's enterprises, as well as organizing a visit of representatives of Czech business circles to familiarize themselves with the industrial potential of the Dvina region. The volume of mutual trade between the Vitebsk region and the Czech Republic for January-May of the current year increased by 60% compared to the same period last year and amounted to over $5 million. The volume of exports is $417 thousand, and imports are $4.8 million. About 60% of imports from the Czech Republic are equipment for the modernization of OJSC "Naftan". For more than 10 years, the enterprise with Czech capital "Fortex-Water Technologies", specializing in the production of iron removal stations, water purification, and water treatment, has been operating in the region. -0-