A round table was held in Murmansk today with the participation of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Belarus Roman Golovchenko and the Governor of the Murmansk region Andrey Chibis with representatives of big business from both sides. During the meeting, the participants discussed the prospects for further economic cooperation.
"We are very pleased to welcome representatives of the delegation of the Republic of Belarus to the Murmansk region. Indeed, we are bound by reliable partnerships, and our cooperation is developing dynamically. I am confident that our meeting today will contribute to strengthening bilateral Russian-Belarusian cooperation, as well as launch new projects and plans, and provide additional growth points for the development and strengthening of multifaceted ties between the Murmansk Region and the Republic of Belarus," the Governor said, opening the meeting Andrey Chibis.
Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko stressed that in the conditions of relentless sanctions pressure, such meetings acquire special value.
"The results of economic cooperation between the Republic of Belarus and Russia are the best confirmation that we are able to overcome any difficulties. Let me remind you that at the end of last year, the volume of trade between our countries reached a record high, and this dynamics continues. A similar trend can be traced in cooperation between the Republic of Belarus and the Murmansk region. By the end of 2022, a record turnover figure of $ 286 million was achieved, with an increase of almost three times to the level of 2021. The trend of multiple growth continued in the first quarter of 2023 – the volume of mutual trade amounted to about $ 77 million and more than three and a half times higher than in January – March 2022. In order to maintain this pace, all of us – both government agencies and business circles - must make every effort to use new solutions. It is important to intensify work not only in the main traditional areas of cooperation, but also to look for and find new growth points. The Government of the Republic of Belarus will provide full support to all new projects," Roman Golovchenko said.
During the round table, representatives of large industrial enterprises of the Republic of Belarus presented new developments in the field of mechanical engineering and the construction complex.
Among the speakers are JSC "BelAZ", JSC "Minsk Automobile Plant", JSC "Belkommunmash", RUE "BELSTROYCENTER" and JSC "Mapid".
Andrey Chibis noted that the Murmansk Region is the flagship of the development of the Arctic, and the investment climate of the region is one of the most advanced and attractive in the country. Thus, in the Murmansk region there are two unique preferential regimes – the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation and the TOP "Capital of the Arctic", as well as reduced taxes, which are established by regional legislation for small and medium-sized businesses.
"We see a long-term partner in the Republic of Belarus and organizations operating on its territory. I am sure that our cooperation will continue. We have already discussed a number of projects that are being implemented as a result of our agreements. And five more agreements will be signed tomorrow," the governor announced.
It should be recalled that today, during the visit of the Belarusian delegation to the Murmansk region, an agreement was signed on the establishment of a branded repair and service center for quarry equipment in Apatity. Tomorrow, among other things, it is planned to sign agreements on the purchase of bus equipment with JSC "MAZ" and trolleybus equipment with JSC "Belkommunmash".
/ Ministry of Information Policy of the Murmansk Region /