Lukashenko: Belarus keen to increase trade turnover with Russia’s Arkhangelsk Region
The President of Belarus, Aleksandr Lukashenko, has met today with Governor of Russia’s Arkhangelsk Region Alexander Tsybulsky. The Russian delegation arrived in Belarus on a working visit yesterday, using the first direct flight from Arkhangelsk to Minsk, which will be operated on a regular basis from April 25th.
The President of Belarus did not fail to note this fact when welcoming his guest, “This is your first time in Minsk and the first direct flight. It’s a landmark event. It’s a good start for both businessmen and people – especially from remote corners of Russia – to come to Belarus, get acquainted with the country and receive the appropriate sanatorium-resort treatment. A lot of Russians visit us, and we are competing to be ranked first or second in terms of Russians’ visits to foreign countries, though Belarus has never been a foreign state for Russia.”
According to the President, we have something to offer each other in the area of tourism.
“The Arkhangelsk Region is a long-standing and very reliable partner of Belarus. We have not yet reached sky-high figures in the bilateral trade, but I believe we have everything ahead. Since 2020, there has been a systematic increase in mutual trade volumes,” Aleksandr Lukashenko noted.
According to the President, five years ago it was about achieving the maximum exchange of goods at that time worth $46m.
“Meanwhile, already in 2023, we have set a corresponding record in trade turnover: $85m. It’s great that the positive dynamics continue in early 2024. Trade turnover has almost tripled to reach $27m. At the same time, imports from your region grew at a faster pace: by approximately 4.5 times to achieve almost $22m. Exports are slightly more modest: above 7 percent. We are determined to work hard, so I think we will catch up in the near future.”
