A parliamentary delegation from the Republic of Kazakhstan visited Vitebsk on a working visit

The development of cooperation with a focus on agriculture, the creation of conditions for stable progress in the interests of improving people's living standards – these topics became the main ones during the working meeting between the Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee Nikolai Sherstnev and the parliamentary delegation of the Republic of Kazakhstan, held on July 11 in Vitebsk.

Welcoming the parliamentarians, the head of the region noted that friendly relations with Kazakh partners have been established for a long time, are developing effectively, and in recent decades, thanks to the activity of diplomats, among others, there has been no shortage of information about the socio-economic potential of the Vitebsk region.

— It is difficult to start from scratch, but when a good foundation is laid and there is mutual understanding, it is possible to work on strengthening ties and expanding economic cooperation, — Nikolai Sherstnev is confident. — Moreover, from year to year, the trade turnover between the Vitebsk region and Kazakhstan remains stable at up to 47 million dollars, and the capabilities of our economies allow us to achieve more significant indicators. This is eloquently evidenced by the fact that today more than 60% of agricultural products produced in the Vitebsk region are shipped to foreign markets. At the same time, in the structure of trade turnover of enterprises of the Dvina region with Kazakhstan, the main share (over 60%) is occupied by power electric cable, and recently supplies of carpet products have been increasing. In addition, dairy products, meat semi-finished products and canned goods, as well as products of the Postavy Furniture Center are exported. Along with discussing options for interaction in the agricultural sector, the Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee also touched upon a number of sensitive issues. In particular, the topic of overcoming the consequences of crisis phenomena in the world economy, which also negatively affect domestic enterprises, as well as the need to take stricter measures against counterfeit products under the brands of Vitebsk manufacturers in the Kazakh market.

Given that the delegation included representatives of the Committee on Agrarian Affairs of the Mazhilis of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the deputies were interested in the experience and prospects of the agricultural sector of the region and individual producers. As noted by the head of the delegation, Chairman of the parliamentary committee Romin Madinov, today Kazakhstan and Belarus are members of the Eurasian Economic Union, therefore, a significant expansion of economic and cultural ties between our countries is necessary. During their visit to Belarus (in addition to Vitebsk, the delegation visited Minsk and Brest), the parliamentarians intend to study Belarus's experience in the legislative sphere in more detail and share their own developments, which may subsequently result in concrete outcomes, including the regulation of economic relations. The Kazakh deputies are interested in the Belarusian experience in legislative regulation of land relations, the flexible combination of rational use of land resources and strictness in identifying cases of unlawful disposal of them.

— Kazakhstan has the institution of private land ownership, while you do not, but at the same time, Belarus surpasses us in agricultural development, so the issue, apparently, is not in the form of ownership, but in the correct legislative support of a particular activity, — believes Romin Madinov. — That is why we are very interested in studying the Belarusian experience in this area.

In addition, the parliamentarians have a genuine interest in the organization of economic activities in specific areas of the agrarian sector, in particular, dairy farming. It is not by chance that one of the program items included a visit to the agricultural enterprise "Mazolovo" of RUP "Vitebskenergo".

Of course, the topic could not be avoided in the conversation

"Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk", the holding of which coincided with the visit of the Kazakh delegation.

— We were lucky, we visited some festival projects and are very happy about it, — shared his impressions Romin Madinov. — For example, our delegation attended the gala concert of the Union State Day, we really liked the performance, and the idea arose to organize events within the framework of the Eurasian Economic Union at the forum, which will undoubtedly make the cultural event even better.

Sergey Antonov, "Vitebskie Vesti"