Belarus is interested in exporting more products to Russia’s Vologda oblast, it was learned from Vladimir Shulga, chairman of the Belarusian part of the Belarus-Vologda commission for cooperation development, head of the Bellesbumprom concern.

In his words, it is important for Belarus to overcome the foreign trade deficit in the trade with the Vologda oblast. In 2008 the deficit exceeded $300 million. In January-August 2009 it dropped by 2.2 times but continues to linger on due to the crisis decline of economic indicators. According to Vladimir Shulga, the possibility of supplying Lidselmash agricultural machines and Belarusian furniture to the Vologda oblast is being discussed. The possibility of setting up a MAZ assembly enterprise in this Russian region is under discussion as well as the construction of a consignment warehouse for storing and selling Belarusian products.

A session of the Belarus-Vologda commission for cooperation development took place in Grodno on 11 November. It gathered representatives of the Embassy of Belarus in Russia, the government of the Vologda oblast, the Belarusian Industry Ministry, the Architecture and Construction Ministry, the Agriculture and Food Ministry, the Trade Ministry, heads of the Grodno and Vologda oblasts, representatives of Belarusian industrial companies. The session tabled the progress in implementing the program for developing cooperation between the governments of Belarus and the Vologda oblast in 2008-2010.

The session also touched upon matters relating to manufacturing cooperation, supplies of agricultural, municipal, road construction machines, construction materials, cooperation in agribusiness, in supplies of food and industrial goods, in setting up a distribution network.

The participants also discussed the development of regional and municipal cooperation. In particular, a cooperation plan between the Grodno oblast administration and the Vologda oblast administration for 2010-2012 was signed as well as an agreement on cooperation between the Grodno office of the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Vologda Oblast Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The sides signed a protocol of the session of the joint commission for promoting cooperation between Belarus and the Vologda oblast.

The next session of the commission is scheduled to take place in Vologda in next spring

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