Belarus eager to sell agricultural machines, passenger vehicles to Russia's Tomsk Oblast

Piotr Parkhomchik said: “In 2022 trade between Belarus and Tomsk Oblast rose by 47%. In H1 2023 we registered positive growth dynamics of nearly 30%. We would like not to stop at these results. We are ready to tackle any issues.”

Belarus is a reliable and responsible partner and successfully works with the Russian Federation despite all the challenges. “A number of significant investment projects have been reconciled with Russia. A very serious program is being prepared with the Russian Industry and Trade Ministry to create machine tools and equipment for the processing industry. If you have enterprises, which are interested in becoming part of this roadmap, we can offer manufacturing cooperation options, manufacturing of individual parts and components,” the deputy prime minister noted.

He also drew attention to prospects of cooperation in forestry industry. “Our president has given strict instructions not to export round wood. Everything we extract gets processed and end products are exported to various countries across the globe. Unfriendly countries reject our products but we have found buyers and have diversified export. Apart from that, we've learned how to make equipment that the forestry industry uses. Our enterprise Amkodor has mastered the production of the entire lineup of the necessary machines and vehicles. These machines have passed all the tests. We increased import substitution as much as possible in the last few years. At present virtually 90% of the components in these machines are made domestically,” Piotr Parkhomchik stressed.

The official went on saying: “I think you will also be interested in the matter of the processing industry. In particular, passenger transport and municipal vehicles. We move forward, make new trolleybuses with a good autonomous range. They enjoy increased demand. Trams are also an interesting topic for cooperation. I'd like to mention agribusiness as well. Belarus' food security is ensured using domestic machines and vehicles – tractors, harvesters, seeders, tillers, and so on. We are ready to make decisions on deliveries on a tight schedule.”

Piotr Parkhomchik also mentioned science as an important component in mutual relations with Tomsk Oblast. “We are ready to discuss all the necessary matters in order to step up our cooperation in science,” he added.

Cooperation in sport is also important. The 2nd CIS Games ended the other day. “Belarus hosted the games very successfully. To some degree it was a response to our unfriendly countries: we can organize large-scale events without them,” Piotr Parkhomchik said.