Lukashenko considers it possible to increase trade with Russia’s Leningrad Region to $2bn

The President of Belarus, Aleksandr Lukashenko, has met today with the Governor of Russia’s Leningrad Region, Alexander Drozdenko. This is the sixth meeting of the Belarusian leader with the head of the Russian region and the governor’s second visit to Belarus.

photo: www.president.gov.by

Welcoming the guest, the President noted, “Efficiently is the constant peculiarity of our meetings. Everything we agree on is being implemented, no matter how difficult it is for us. This is the most important thing we strive for. We once dreamed of $1bn of trade turnover. This year, all our specialists are confident that we will overcome this milestone. I think we need to talk about maybe $2bn today. There should be flows. We will find such options. Moreover, there will be a serious opportunity to expand this trade turnover.”

“There have always been problems with the transportation of goods. We have finally started rebuilding railways, which in Soviet times were able to transport about one and a half to two times more cargo. We will restore these roads this year, and there will be no problems with the transfer of goods in the northern direction. Moreover, we have launched the construction of our own ports in your region, including in Murmansk. And we can’t get there without the Leningrad Region. Therefore, I think we can reach a $2bn bar in the next five years for sure. Our main goal is to move forward together, building up industrial and scientific potential. The most important thing is to strengthen technological sovereignty,” the President added.

Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed that the northern direction has become crucial for Belarus in the reorientation of its main export flows.

“We plan to do a lot in this direction, and we will definitely implement it with your assistance and support. On the other hand, we have always had a lively dialogue with the Leningrad Region, there are many new interesting projects and ideas, and traditional areas of co-operation have grown into a number of promising areas in just a year,” the Belarusian leader summed up.