Belarus-Russia Union State to finance programs on defense, space, digital automobile parts in 2024

Progress in executing this year's budget of the Union State of Belarus and Russia, the formation of the next year's budget, preparation of new programs, projects, and events of the Union State of Belarus and Russia were discussed at a session of the Economic Policy, Industry, and Trade Commission of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union State of Belarus and Russia in the Russian city of Samara on 14 November, the assembly's press service told BelTA.

According to the source, the draft Union State budget for the year 2024 provides for financing five approved programs. These programs focus on improving military infrastructure installations, which are supposed to be used by the Belarus-Russia regional military force, on developing the border security of the Union State of Belarus and Russia, on developing promising basic processes for manufacturing functional materials, structures, components, and modules for high-performance photonics products in the Union State (Component-F), on developing intellectual, high-tech digital and electronic components and systems for special-purpose and dual-purpose automobiles (Intelauto), on developing basic elements of orbital and ground-based means for the sake of creating multi-satellite constellations of compact spacecraft for observing the Earth's surface and near-Earth space (Complex-SG).

Apart from that, according to information provided to MPs, joint proposals on working out three more Union State programs are being reconciled. Those focus on a technological platform for identifying new molecular targets: membrane proteins and their complexes (Union-Biomembranes), on developing onboard solutions and equipment, composite materials and structures for increasing the lifespan and perfecting the design of promising compact spacecraft (Resource-SG), on creating a new generation of solar energy systems (Solar Energy Industry).

The draft Union State budget for the year 2024 also provides for financing 37 measures and events, including four new ones: the Russian-Belarusian forum “Union State: inclusive education. Centers and technoparks”; the solemn event “One Great Victory for all”, which will be dedicated to the celebration of the 80th anniversary of Belarus' liberation from the Nazi invaders; events dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty on Establishing Union State of Belarus and Russia; a track and field athletics competition for teams of the Union State of Belarus and Russia.

Representatives of state customers of the programs informed members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union State of Belarus and Russia about progress in reconciling the programs and events. The MPs advised the state customers to step up the work and finish the development and reconciliation of joint proposals as fast as possible.

Taking part in the session were Chairman of the Economic Policy, Industry, and Trade Commission of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union State of Belarus and Russia Sergei Mitin, the commission's Deputy Chairman Leonid Brich, representatives of the Standing Committee of the Union State of Belarus and Russia, the Russian Economic Development Ministry, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ministries and government agencies, which act as state customers of the programs, projects, and events of the Union State of Belarus and Russia, representatives of the Samara Oblast government.