3 March 2008
Border regions of Vitebsk and Smolensk oblast to cooperate in agricultural sphere
The border regions of the Vitebsk oblast and the Smolensk oblast (the Russia Federation) intend to intensify cooperation in agro-industrial complex. Chairman of the Vitebsk Oblast Executive Committee Vladimir Andreichenko and Governor of the Smolensk oblast Sergei Antufiev signed the protocol of intent last week in Smolensk. To implement the joint investment projects aimed at producing the competitive agricultural products, the border regions of Belarus and Russia intend to share the seeds of cereals, pulse plants, flax, perennial grasses, potato and other agricultural products. Moreover, the leadership of the Smolensk oblast has proposed Belarusian agricultural companies to use some agricultural lands in the Demidov, Velizh, Krasnyi and Rudnya regions. These lands are not cultivated now. The implementation of the protocol will allow Belarusian companies to purchase agricultural products in the border regions of the Russian Federation more active, to set up new sale markets, BelTA learnt from Leonid Pleshko, the head of the department of agriculture and foodstuffs of the Vitebsk Oblast Executive Committee. Agricultural companies of the Vitebsk, Liozno and Dubrovno regions will be involved in the joint project.