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The second meeting of the working group on cooperation between the Penza Oblast and the Republic of Belarus took place.
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Belarus to the Russian Federation Dmitry Krutoy noted that the group was created on behalf of the President of the Republic of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko only two years ago, but significant results have been achieved in such a short period of time.
"We managed to successfully take advantage of the geopolitical situation and sanctions, turning it in our favor, we almost doubled the pace of joint work," Dmitry Krutoy stressed. – Largely due to the fact that the governor of the Penza Oblast personally deals with this issue. He also visited our country, met with the President and the Prime Minister. Belarus leaders have repeatedly stressed that working with the regions should be a priority; it is in the regional agenda that we draw new directions for development."
Oleg Melnichenko noted that there is a significant potential to increase trade between the Penza Oblast and Belarus regions. Over the past five years, it has grown by 1.7 times, exceeding 5 billion rubles by the end of 2022. In January-August 2023, the trade turnover amounted to 3.7 billion rubles, already exceeding last year's figures by more than 200 million.
"We see potential in the sphere of trade and industrial cooperation," the governor stated. "These are the production and procurement of elevators and agricultural machinery, metalworking and woodworking, import substitution, and tourism."
"This year Penza farmers have repeated the record harvest of last year for grain and legumes, this is also the merit of our Belarusian colleagues who supply us with agricultural machinery, equipment and components," Oleg Melnichenko added.  The Penza industry is also growing.  Mechanical engineering and instrumentation contribute to the growth of production. Penza manufacturers have started cooperation on import substitution in these industries with Belarusian partners."
In June 2023, at the X Forum of the Regions of Russia and Belarus, an action plan for the implementation of the agreement between the regional government and the Government of the Republic of Belarus for 2023-2025 was signed.
"This allows us to accurately set tasks and perform them as promptly as possible, to work out those areas that are currently most in demand and require special attention," Chairman of the Brest Regional Executive Committee Yuri Shuleyko emphasized to the participants of the working group.
Cooperation in the scientific, cultural and educational spheres will also be continued. The Governor invited Belarusian high school students to take part next year in the patriotic camp "Guardsman" taking place in Penza, which gathers children from the Volga Federal District and new territories of the Russian Federation.