MINSK, September 27 (Itar-Tass) — Belarus is ready to participate in the implementation of programs with the Astrakhan Region, including those relating to the development of hydrocarbon deposits, President Alexander Lukashenko stated at a meeting governor of the Astrakhan Region of Russia Alexander Zhilkin on Thursday.
“Belarusian companies could participate in the development of hydrocarbon fields in your region,” the president said. In addition, the Belarusian builders are willing to share their experience in the design and construction of housing, construction of major infrastructure, social and industrial facilities. “We are also ready to share the experience of growing beef and dairy cattle, construction of vegetable stores, milk processing plants, the dairy market complexes,” the Belarusian president said.
He expressed satisfaction with the steady growth of the bilateral trade volume, noting that trade with the Astrakhan Region over the past three years has increased three-fold. The president also believes that the bilateral trade potential has not been fully used. “Simple commodity relations – it’s already yesterday. Today it is necessary to bring the bilateral cooperation to a qualitatively new level and jointly implement mutually beneficial projects,” Alexander Lukashenko said.
He also believes that with it is necessary to make greater use of the potential of the Customs Union and the Common Economic Space in the bilateral cooperation.
Governor of the Astrakhan Region for his part said that major investment projects are dynamically implemented in the Caspian region. “We have well blended into the processes taking place in the Caspian region, including in the sphere of the development of port facilities,” Alexander Zhilkin said. He proposed to the Belarusian side to view the Astrakhan Region not only as a market for the sale of goods, but also as a foothold for the delivery of Belarusian products to the Caspian bordering countries.