Belarus, Kazakhstan sign plan of military cooperation for 2024

Vitebsk region proposed to Iran to create cooperative chains in the pharmaceutical sector.

This information was announced at a meeting between the region's leadership and the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the Republic of Belarus, Alireza Sanei.

"Regarding pharmaceuticals, we would be interested in your expertise here. We are ready to cooperate with your enterprises because a pharmaceutical cluster has been established in the region. We are constantly improving and developing new types of products, including in pharmaceuticals and veterinary medicine. Knowing Iran's experience in this area, we would be interested in cooperating specifically in partnership with Iranian manufacturers," said the Deputy Chairperson of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, Anzhelika Nikitina.

The northern region of Belarus has a sufficient range of products to offer potential Iranian partners. In particular, petrochemical products, which account for almost 50% of industrial production, ranging from fiberglass to oil additives. "We would like to continue working on the supply of these products and expand our expertise in Iran in terms of product range," she added. "Our enterprises actively supply lumber to the Iranian market, but there are also other types of products that we would be interested in supplying: wood-based panels, laminate flooring, and various types of furniture, including for equipping public institutions (schools, kindergartens)."

The region can offer food products, as well as carpets, footwear, and linen products to the Iranian side.

"Previously, we supplied machine tools to your country. Vitebsk region has expertise in machine tool manufacturing and mechanical engineering. Our machine tool building enterprises, such as 'Vistan' and 'Krasny Borets,' are already known in your country," noted Anzhelika Nikitina. "We can resume this work with you."

Vitebsk region also proposed to formalize interregional contacts at the level of provinces and regions.

The Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, Alexander Subbotin, urged, despite the ambassador's visit being of an introductory nature, to "immediately translate everything into a more practical format" and to increase the number of meetings manifold. "We have many areas for cooperation: investment projects, trade. We must cooperate in education, culture, and science," he emphasized.

The relations between the Vitebsk region and Iran hold immense prospects, added the head of the northern region. He assured that they would be open to any proposals and initiatives here.

Since 2022, there has been a multiple increase in trade turnover between the Vitebsk region and Iran, which is due to the need to build new logistics options for export cargo. Among the new types of products that were not previously supplied to Iran are fiberglass fabrics, wood boards, various types of acids, and reagents. The Vitebsk region continues to supply timber to Iran, accounting for 49% of the trade turnover. The region purchases fresh fruits and vegetables, which make up 98% of all purchases from this country, and medical equipment.

"BELTA"