Belarus ready to help clean up air in Russian Sochi

Roman Golovchenko noted that Belarus' cooperation with this Russian region develops very dynamically. “The figures are self-explanatory. Let me remind you that last year our bilateral trade saw essentially explosive growth: about 60% up. In January-September 2023 we added another 12% to that high baseline figure. It means that we are actively catching up with what we didn't do in previous years,” the prime minister noted.

Roman Golovchenko stressed that since the Russian governor visited Minsk the teams have been working hard to fulfill the agreements, which had been reached during the visit. This work has been materialized into the signing of new contracts on delivering vehicles, machines, and equipment both to Krasnodar Territory as whole and to the city of Sochi.

“We believe time has come to work harder and finalize negotiations on converting the resort city of Sochi into an environmentally pristine city. Back in Minsk I said that we are already implementing a project to switch two Belarusian cities to using only electric vehicles. This is why Sochi could be Russia's first city with only electric vehicles used for passenger transportation. It would be a breakthrough event in the development of electric transport in Russia and we are ready to take an active part in it. I know that specialists are making the relevant calculations and I think that now is a good time to put together the relevant program of such work,” the Belarusian head of government stressed.

Roman Golovchenko thanked Veniamin Kondratyev for support with making the decision to build a multibrand trade and service center, for the prompt allocation of the land plot for it. He remarked: “It is important. I believe it will be the final chord in preserving the fleet of agricultural machines of Belarusian make on the fertile land of Krasnodar Territory.”

The prime minister also noted that the sides had agreed that it is necessary to reduce the time needed to build the center. “I believe that this reserve can be found in administrative procedures. If we complete them fast, I think we will be able to reduce the construction time,” Roman Golovchenko said.

Roman Golovchenko also remarked that substantial progress had been secured in the sphere of civil engineering: shipments of construction materials for Krasnodar Territory facilities are on the rise. Belarusians are ready to continue stepping up this cooperation.

Roman Golovchenko told Veniamin Kondratyev: “We know about your ambitious New Anapa project. We expect that competences of our construction and design organizations will come in handy in this serious project.”

Agriculture was another sphere mentioned by the Belarusian head of government during the meeting.

Roman Golovchenko said: “Then again cooperation in the sphere of agriculture has been invigorated by your visit. I am talking about seed material, projects to renew dairy complexes, supply combined fodder, equipment for food industry and processing industry, and so on. Speaking about joint projects, I would also like to mention the development of self-propelled machines and harvesters. Our Gomselmash is a leading manufacturer of forage harvesters. In addition to direct sales to farmers the company signed an agreement with a Krasnodar Territory company in early 2023 on setting up a joint venture to make harvesters and reaping machines. The joint venture has already assembled 13 harvesters and about 50 reaping machines. We continue shipping assembly kits.”