Vitebsk region and the Northern District of Moscow are preparing a program for the development of cooperation

The Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee and the prefecture of the Northern Administrative Okrug (SAO) of Moscow are preparing a program of joint events to develop cooperation, the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee's Economy Committee informed a BELTA correspondent.

The program of joint events is designed for 2013-2015. It provides for projects to improve cooperation between departments, committees and administrations, district executive committees and district administrations. Similarly, a plan of measures for trade and economic, scientific and technical, and humanitarian and cultural cooperation between the Vitebsk and Smolensk regions is planned for signing.

The Vitebsk region cooperates economically with all federal districts of the Russian Federation and with 78 regions. The top three in terms of export volume include the Moscow region, Moscow, and the Smolensk region.

As noted by the committee, mutual cooperation between the regions allows the region's enterprises to develop their distribution network in Russia. For example, more than 30 retail outlets have been opened by the joint venture "Belvest," and the enterprises "Vitebskiye Kovry," "Vityaz," "Fortex," "Alyans-plast," and "Marko" have extensive dealer networks. The enterprises "Soyuz-kabel" and "Energokomplekt," which produce cable products, are part of Russian holdings. Enterprises of the distribution network of the Glubokoye Dairy and Canned Goods Plant operate in Moscow. In addition, economic entities of the Russian Federation are the main investors in the region's enterprises: 87% of all investments received are Russian.

In January 2013, enterprises of the Vitebsk region exported products worth $153.8 million, with 51% of exports going to the Russian Federation. The export growth rate to Russia in January of the current year compared to January 2012 was 121.3%. In the total volume of exports to the Russian Federation, dairy and meat products account for 28%, polyethylene products, textiles, and building materials each account for 10%.