OREANDA-NEWS. April 09, 2009. The Russian side delays making decisions regarding free access of Belarusian goods, said Prime Minister of Belarus Sergei Sidorsky as he met with Leningrad Oblast Governor Valery Serdiukov, reported the Official website government.by.

According to the Belarusian head of Government, the session of the Supreme State Council took a number of decisions, in particular, on the free access of goods to the markets of the two countries. “Unfortunately, these decisions are being blocked by the Russian side,” Sergei Sidorsky said. He informed that he had several telephone negotiations with Russian Premier Vladimir Putin during which the sides reached mutual understanding.

“The work on the equal access terms and reciprocal concessions was to be completed in February. Today is April already, and the decision has not been taken yet,” Sergei Sidorsky stated. Such decisions should be taken faster. “May be, the developers of these documents have time, but the Government does not,” the Belarusian Premier underlined.

According to him, Belarus does not ask for any preferences, but rather for an equitable competition on the Belarus-Russia market. “Our Russian partners raise some claims that do not affect our trade though,” he said.

Belarus and Russia are not rivals on the majority of products. According to the Premier, in January-February 2009, Belarus’ exports to Russia amounted to US800 million, while imports from this country to US 2.1 billion. “Even if we subtract the cost of oil and gas, we will still have payment deficit. We bought more parts for our plants than exported machines that we produced,” Sergei Sidorsky said. In Q1, the same trends are in place.

Belarus intends to balance out the trade turnover with the Leningrad oblast, Prime Minister of Belarus Sergei Sidorsky informed following a meeting with Governor of the Leningrad oblast Valery Serdiukov.

According to the Prime Minister, the trade between Belarus and the Russian region is not in favour of Belarus: the deficit exceeds US 200 million. “We need to implement more joint projects and to boost trade in order to balance it out,” Sergei Sidorsky said.

During the visit to Amkodor, the Russian side was proposed several big projects. The sides also discussed the deliveries of farm machines to the Leningrad oblast.

The government of Belarus and the Leningrad oblast signed a programme of trade, economic, sci-tech and humanitarian cooperation for 2009-2011. Apart from economic issues, the programme also focuses on youth policy. “We need to make sure that those who are attending universities now are ready, not theoretically but practically, for the work at industrial companies,” Sergei Sidorsky said. The programme also pays attention to cultural cooperation. Thus, the joint programme is a well-balanced out document, Sergei Sidorsky said.

The programme takes into account all nuances of the global crisis, Governor of the Leningrad oblast Valery Serdiukov said. It has been confirmed that the products, which are not made in the Russian Federation but which are manufactured in Belarus, will be sold to consumers of the Leningrad oblast. For example, the Russian region is interested in Belarusian-made forestry equipment, road equipment, buses and trucks. Speaking about the imports of paper, phosphoric fertilizers and other goods from the Leningrad oblast to Belarus, the work will be continued, the Governor said.

The governor also informed that the sides considered the allotment of a land plot for Belarus for the construction of an experimental residential area near St. Petersburg. If the project proves effective, this avenue of cooperation will be explored further. The sides also considered the allotment of a land parcel for the construction of a Belarusian trade and logistic centre not far from St. Petersburg.

The draft of the programme was discussed during a session of the joint commission for cooperation development between Belarus and the Leningrad oblast in Minsk on April 9. The session was chaired by Belarusian Vice Premier Andrei Kobyakov and Leningrad Oblast Vice Governor Sergei Yakhniuk. The session was held within the framework of a visit of Leningrad Oblast Governor Valery Serdiukov to Belarus.

According to Andrei Kobyakov, in 2008, the Belarusian export to the Leningrad oblast increased by more than 20%; Leningrad oblast’s import increased by 77%. This year, the sides have to balance the trade and increase it, the official added.

During the session, the sides summed up the work on the programme of cooperation between Belarus and the Leningrad oblast in 2006-2008.

According to Leningrad Oblast Vice Governor Sergei Yakhniuk, the Russian side fulfilled all the provisions of the programme. The sides have achieved a considerable success in agriculture. For instance, the Leningrad oblast supplies pedigree cattle to Belarus. Also, the Leningrad oblast exports fertilisers and chemical products to this country.

During the session, the sides discussed the cooperation in agriculture, supplies of foodstuffs, Belarusian trucks, buses, tractors, road and construction, municipal equipment to the Leningrad oblast. Belarus and the Leningrad oblast intend to set up a trade and logistics centre and a multifunctional trade and business centre in the Leningrad oblast, cooperate in construction branch.