Region

Mogilev oblast, Penza region to identify cooperation areas

A delegation of the Penza region headed by the First Deputy Chairman of the Government Ivan Kuptsov is in the Mogilev oblast on a three-day official visit. On July 1, the Russian delegation is touring Bobruisk and the town of Kirovsk. The delegation is expected to visit Bobruiskagromash, Bobruisk tractor parts and aggregates plant, the joint venture Syabar, and several processing companies and social facilities of the town of Bobruisk. They plan to visit the agricultural company Rassvet in the Kirovsk region, where they will get familiar with farm production and processing technologies. On July 2, the Russian delegation plans to meet with representatives of the Mogilev oblast executive committee and the Mogilev town council to discuss interregional cooperation. The Russian guests are scheduled to visit a subdivision of the Minsk Automobile Plant Mogilevtransmash, the Dnepr-firm, and a permanent fair ‘Pridneprovye’ of Mogilev-based producers and to take part in the celebrations of Mogilev’s Town Day and Independence Day of the Republic of Belarus. According to the information provided by the international relations department of the oblast executive committee, the Penza region accounts for less 1% in trade of the Mogilev oblast with Russian regions. Last year trade between the regions totaled $5.2 million, up 31.6% from 2006. Exports were up 33.2% to $3.7 million, imports 3.6 times to $1.5 million. In January-April 2008, trade between the Mogilev oblast and the Penza region was down 45% from the same period 2007 to $1 million. Exports fell by 37% to $930,700, imports by almost 70% to $160,700. A fall in the exports was due to the slowdown in supplies of trailers and semi-trailers to the Russian region, which accounted for some 70% of exports. At the same time, the Mogilev region increased supplies of lifts (up 93.5%), and electrical products (up 2.5 times). The Penza region imports from the Mogilev oblast plastics, ferrous metals and products, and agricultural machinery. The Penza region supplies the Mogilev oblast with industrial ovens, pasta, bakery, confectionery products and textile.