Belarus' export to Russian Tomsk Oblast up 40%

Andrei Khudyk, Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of Belarus, Chairman of the Belarusian part of the working group on cooperation between the Republic of Belarus and Russia's Tomsk Oblast, told the media about the prospects of Tomsk Oblast's relations with Belarus after his meeting with the Russian region's delegation in the Grodno Oblast Executive Committee on 14 August, BelTA has learned.

“Cooperation between Belarus and Tomsk Oblast is vibrant. Last year the mutual trade grew up 60%. This year the increase is about 50%. I would like to note that the export of Belarusian goods and services to Tomsk Oblast made up some 47%,” Andrei Khudyk said.

In his words, the parties have fulfilled the plan of cooperation activities outlined three years ago. “We are not going to stand still. We plan to further develop cooperation. I am convinced that this is a new milestone in the history of development of Tomsk Oblast and Belarus,” he emphasized.

According to the minister, the fourth meeting of the joint working group in Grodno will take stock of the progress made over the past three years and outline plans for the future. “The results of interaction are satisfactory. We see that there are points of growth. We will analyze the situation, make conclusions on what restrains the development, take decisions to further deepen our cooperation and build it up in all the sectors, first of all in industry, science, education, culture, and tourism,” Andrei Khudyk said. “I am sincerely glad that the new roadmap features environmental protection measures. They have found a serious response. Tomsk Oblast is interested in waste management, landscaping. Today they closely cooperate with our utility services, buy street cleaning vehicles, show interest in our municipal waste management and water treatment system.”