Vitebsk and Smolensk oblasts sign cooperation agreement and protocol on agro-industrial complex development

The Vitebsk Oblast Executive Committee and the Smolensk Oblast Administration have signed an agreement on trade and economic, scientific-technical and cultural cooperation and also a protocol of intent in the sphere of agro-industrial complex development, BelTA learnt in the Belarusian Embassy in the Russian Federation. To implement the joint investment projects aimed at producing the competitive agricultural products, the border regions of Belarus and Russia intend to share the seeds of cereals, pulse plants, flax, perennial grasses, potato and other agricultural products. Moreover, the leadership of the Smolensk oblast has proposed Belarusian agricultural companies to use some agricultural lands in the Demidov, Velizh, Krasnyi and Rudnya regions. These lands are not cultivated now. The implementation of the protocol will allow Belarusian companies to purchase agricultural products in the border regions of the Russian Federation more active, to set up new sale markets. Agricultural companies of the Vitebsk, Liozno and Dubrovno regions will be involved in the joint project. At present there are more than 60 joint ventures on the territory of the Smolensk oblast. In 2007, the trade between the Smolensk and Vitebsk oblasts hit RUB2, 5 billion, or 30% up. Chairman of the Vitebsk Oblast Executive Committee Vladimir Andreichenko, Governor of the Smolensk oblast Sergei Antufiev, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Belarus to the Russian Federation Vasiliy Dolgolev, Deputy State Secretary of the Union State Vasiliy Khrol, Chairman of the Smolensk Oblast Duma Anatoly Mishnev, officials, representatives of companies of both the regions took part in a ceremony of documents’ signing.