Belarus and the Kaluga Region should focus on achieving $1bn in trade turnover – as stated by President of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko at a meeting with Governor of the Kaluga Region of the Russian Federation Vladislav Shapsha today, sb.by reports
The Belarusian leader warmly and respectfully welcomed the delegation from the Russian region, noting also that Minsk is not an alien city for Vladislav Shapsha: during the Great Patriotic War, his relatives fought here.
“I know that the efforts you are making to protect historical memory and the truth about the Great Patriotic War are related to your inner feelings. Your grandfather fought during the Great Patriotic War, defending our great Motherland. Therefore, consider that you have come to your own land, it has never been alien to you," Aleksandr Lukashenko remarked.
The President noted that relations between Belarus and the Kaluga Region are developing well, “Some time ago, we planned that our trade turnover would reach $1bn, but we are falling short – we need to look for directions [of growth]. As for the relations with our close Kaluga Region, which is situated nearby and has great opportunities, one billion [Dollars] is a normal level. We will be guided by this.”
According to Aleksandr Lukashenko, the Russian partners have studied the possibilities of Belarus well, and this allows the parties to move forward in their trade and economic co-operation. As noted by the Head of State, it is not only and not so much about ordinary trade, ‘although it is also very important to us’, “We have already learned how to work in the Kaluga Region. We are ready to design and build social facilities (you are building a lot of them in the region) – doing this on a turnkey basis. I always insist on this, so that the face of Belarus can be seen. After all, Russia is huge, and we want you to know that there is a country so close and dear to you that can materialise all this. It's not about fraternal feelings only, but also about the big economy.”
The Belarusian leader emphasised the need to develop co-operative ties between the economies of Belarus and the Kaluga Region. In particular, this concerns the supply of all kinds of Belarusian machinery and co-operation in the field of agriculture. “I am not offering you agricultural products, because you have enough of them, and you even provide food to a half of Russia,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said. “But if you are interested in something and need it, especially in agriculture, for example, dairy complexes, agro-towns and, in general, the experience of creating the structure of agricultural production and people’s life in villages – look whether it will be okay for you, or can be used as an example.”
The Head of State noted that fugitives often criticise him for ‘creating ‘beacons’ in Belarus, as in Soviet times’, “Well, why not create what you want to be in Belarus? Well, that's their business, they can criticise if they wish, but we need to do our job. Therefore, if you benefit from these ‘beacons’, we are ready to create turnkey complexes on large areas of agricultural land.”
[to be updated]
