OREANDA-NEWS. March 31, 2009. Belarus and the Nizhny Novgorod oblast of Russia plan to preserve the trade growth development in 2009, First Vice Premier of Belarus Vladimir Semashko said at a session of the Council for business cooperation of Belarus and the Nizhny Novgorod oblast in Minsk, reported the Official website www.government.by.

Mechanical engineering companies of Belarus and the Nizhny Novgorod oblast may restore their normal operation pace in the second half of 2009, believes Vladimir Semashko. In his words, the operation of the Belarusian industry is heavily reliant on Russian industrial giants like Gorky Automobile Plant.

 Supplies of Belarusian products to Russian GAZ Group have decreased now. In January-March 2009 Minsk Engine Plant shipped 1,300 engines to the Nizhny Novgorod oblast while the number of engines delivered in January-March 2008 stood at 5,800. The governments of the two countries are busy taking measures to overcome the present situation. In 2010 the sides intend to overcome the negative influence of the world crisis and to increase the trade turnover.

Vladimir Semashko also noted that Belarus manufactures 95% of all existing kinds of agricultural machines. “We can offer the machinery to you at competitive prices, with a decent quality and a corresponding service,” he told representatives of the Russian region.

Nizhny Novgorod Governor Valery Shantsev remarked that the sides will have to increase the trade turnover to US1 billion in the future. In 2008 the figure amounted to US 653 million (16% up on 2007) while the growth reached 40% in the previous two years.

It is also necessary to discuss the problem of overdue mutual payments, remarked Valery Shantsev. At present Nizhny Novgorod mechanical engineering companies are forced to reduce their staff and salaries. Gorky Automobile Plant used to make 12,000 automobiles monthly while in January 2009 the output totalled 2,000 vehicles, in February — 1,400, in March — 4,000. In April the company plans to make 5,000 automobiles with a view to raising the total output up to 8,000-8,500 vehicles by June. However, it is not feasible to reach the previous output figure. This is why the oblast is correcting its plans and programmes.

In 2008 Belarus’ trade with the Nizhny Novgorod totalled US 652.8 million (the 7th position among Russian Federation regions), 15% up on 2007. Belarus’ export amounted to US 359.8 million (15% up), import — US 293 million (16% up). The foreign trade surplus made US 66.8 million. The increase in Belarusian export is attributed to supplies of engines, cheese and cottage cheese, tyres, refrigerators and freezers. In 2008 Belarus mainly imported such products from the Nizhny Novgorod oblast as trucks, ferrous metal goods, buses, polymer materials, newsprint, equipment parts for automobiles and tractors, oil and petroleum products.

In January 2009 Belarus’ trade with this Russian region amounted to US 14.5 million, 65% down on the same period of last year. Export totalled US 9.7 million (65% down), import — US 4.8 million (65% down).