Vitebsk region has joined the preparation of new projects under the Latvia-Lithuania-Belarus program for 2016-2020
This was stated at the third meeting of twin cities and partners of Belarus and Latvia, organized by the Belarusian Association of Twin Cities in conjunction with the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee and the Orsha District Executive Committee, which took place in Orsha.
The event was attended by Oleg Matskevich, Deputy Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee, Boris Batura, Chairman of the Board of the Belarusian Association of Twin Cities, H.E. Mr. Mihails Popkovs, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Latvia to the Republic of Belarus, Marina Dolgopolova, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Belarus to Latvia, the leadership of the Orsha District Executive Committee, and representatives of the regions of the oblast.
“Latvia is among the top ten countries whose enterprises are the main trading partners of the Vitebsk region,” noted Oleg Matskevich at the official opening of the meeting. “Two out of three similar Belarusian-Latvian meetings have been held in the Vitebsk region. This indicates the existence of stable long-term ties between the regions of the two countries and a mutual desire to maintain them in the future.”
The annual foreign trade turnover between the Vitebsk region and Latvian regions is about 120 million dollars. About 50 organizations with Latvian capital in the fields of trade, woodworking, and provision of motor transport services are registered in the Vitebsk region. New projects have been launched for the production of packaging materials, construction mixtures, and biogas production.
Oleg Matskevich noted the importance of the fact that 27 cooperation agreements have been concluded between the regions of the two states (more are only with the subjects of the Russian Federation). A solid foundation has been laid for the joint implementation of projects financed by European cooperation funds in the social sphere, ecology, and energy.
Border crossings are constantly being improved. Projects in the field of tourism, healthcare, and education are being implemented with the participation of Latvian border regions (Daugavpils, Rezekne, Kraslava, Preili, Ludza).
"It is important that the largest projects "Latvia – Lithuania – Belarus" ("Bella Dvina-1" and "Bella Dvina-2") were implemented jointly by organizations from the Vitebsk region and Latvia. A total of 29 projects were announced in the program, and activities within their framework are ongoing. This includes the work of tour operators at international exhibitions in Minsk, Riga, and Vilnius, holding competitions, and improving museum complexes, hospitals, and border crossings.
In addition, Oleg Matskevich said that preparations have begun with Latvian partners for new projects under the Latvia-Lithuania-Belarus program for 2016-2020 for the further development of tourism infrastructure, construction of sports grounds and camping sites near architectural monuments, establishment of entrepreneurship support centers, implementation of energy-saving technologies, and disaster response.
Chairman of the Board of the Belarusian Public Association "Twin Cities", member of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus Boris Batura emphasized that the desire for interaction, multiplied by goodwill and good neighborliness, undoubtedly becomes an effective mechanism for solving a wide range of practical issues related to the quality of life of the population.
Mikhail Popkovs and Marina Dolgopolova, in turn, expressed hope that the current event will give a new impetus to mutually beneficial cooperation, primarily between regions, municipalities, and entrepreneurs.
Guests of Orshanshchina visited a number of leading enterprises and organizations in the district, laid flowers at the Kurgan of Immortality, and got acquainted with the exposition of the exhibition-fair.
«Orsha Traditions».During the meeting, agreements on friendship and cooperation were signed between districts of the Vitebsk region and the Republic of Latvia: Chashniki district – Viļaka municipality, Dubrovno district – Dagda municipality, Glubokoye district – Viļani municipality.
Olga Lebedeva, "Vitebskiye Vesti"