Vitebsk region and Saxony intend to conclude a cooperation agreement

November 23, Vitebsk / Diana Kurilo - BELTA /. The Vitebsk region and the Free State of Saxony (a federal state of Germany) intend to conclude a cooperation agreement. This was announced today by Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee Alexander Kosinets at a meeting with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Germany to Belarus Christoph Weil, BELTA correspondent reports. Vitebsk and Leipzig also plan to sign a cooperation agreement. Alexander Kosinets believes that concluding such agreements contributes to establishing business and cultural contacts between countries. According to his assessment, trade turnover between Germany and the Vitebsk region can be increased tenfold, and there are all the opportunities for this. Decree No. 10 has created favorable conditions for attracting investors to Belarus and developing private initiative. The investment climate is facilitated by preferences granted when organizing production in small towns and rural areas. Free economic zones offer a wide field of activity for foreign partners. The Vitebsk region, in particular, is interested in close cooperation with German partners in various sectors of the economy: from automotive and radio electronics to tourism. Among the most promising areas of investment activity are the implementation of a project to create a transport and logistics center in Vitebsk, the organization of assembly automotive and agricultural production, the construction of hotels, woodworking and building materials enterprises, pharmaceutical preparations, and the organization of production of drinking and mineral water. The Vitebsk region can increase supplies to Germany of rapeseed oil, casein, dry milk, clothing made of linen fabrics, frozen and canned berries and mushrooms, alcohol, peat, and wood products. During the meeting, Alexander Kosinets proposed that the German Embassy organize a visit of German business circles to the Vitebsk region. "Until a specific businessman sees his benefit, he will not invest funds," the governor added. The foreign trade turnover of the Vitebsk region with Germany in January-September 2010 amounted to almost $88 million, which is 98.4% compared to the same period last year. Of this, exports exceeded $26 million. The largest share in exports to Germany is made up of textile products, glass fabrics, fiberglass, machine tools, and casein. A total of 50 types of products are exported. In the Vitebsk region, 20 business entities with German capital participation are registered. -0-