Sergeyenko: Regional media need to be proactive

Orsha, Vitebsk, Polotsk, Novopolotsk, Chashniki are included in the route of the Chinese delegation, which is getting acquainted with the Dvina region these days.

A packed program will allow guests to assess the capabilities and achievements of the northern region of Belarus in various areas — from economy to culture. In addition, today, as part of the visit, an agreement on cooperation for the project of creation and operation of the Vitebsk Region Industrial Park in China was signed between the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee and the Chinese company Beijing Zhaongbai Business Management Co. Ltd. This became a logical continuation of the Memorandum of Cooperation, which the parties concluded in November of this year in Shanghai, where the delegation of our region presented its export and investment potential.

The agreement specifies concrete measures, thanks to which international contacts should soon reach a completely different level. Thus, the document prescribes to determine in the near future a city in the PRC where the headquarters of the Vitebsk Region Industrial Park will be located, and the date and format of the official opening ceremony. The head of the Chinese delegation, Mr. Lei Ma, explained that the location has already been chosen: one of the cities located near Shanghai has been proposed for the implementation of the project. Its annual GDP is about 200 billion dollars. So, enterprises of the Vitebsk region will have good opportunities for product presentation and development of mutually beneficial relations.

The Belarusian side will have to prepare a list of products that can be offered for export to China or purchased there. A special marketing team is planned to be formed on-site from representatives of the PRC, which will promote goods from the Dvina region in their country through the Vitebsk Region Industrial Park. In addition, within its framework, it was decided to create a Large Procurement Center to assist enterprises in fulfilling large customer orders, providing services in financial support, logistics, industrial design, and so on.

Although the signed document refers to the expansion of interaction in various spheres, the primary focus is on economic development. That is why the three-day program of the guests' stay in the Dvina region included visits to many of our enterprises. Among them are Orsha Linen Mill, Vitba Confectionery Factory, Polotsk Dairy Plant, Naftan OJSC, and a number of other manufacturers whose products may be in demand in the PRC market.

Chairman of the regional executive committee Alexander Subbotin emphasized that the host party had made every effort to accommodate the interests of the Chinese company and to familiarize the delegation with the potential of the northern region of Belarus as much as possible.

— An analysis of the results of our interaction in 2023 showed broad opportunities not only in intensifying export-import operations but also in the implementation of the Chinese investors' own projects in various sectors, — said Alexander Subbotin.

He explained that today our enterprises purchase technologies and equipment from China in the fields of radio electronics, pharmaceuticals, and machine building, as well as polymer, chemical, and leather raw materials, and metals — all of this was discussed during the November meeting in Shanghai.

— There are many proposals, but it is quite difficult to choose the most effective ones, — noted the chairman of the regional executive committee. — In addition to supply, quality guarantees, compliance with technical regulations, and after-sales service are necessary.

The expansion of cooperation will undoubtedly open up new opportunities in this area.

The head of the region separately focused on the prospects for interaction between the universities of the Dvina region and the technopark, which the Vitebsk delegation visited during their trip to Shanghai. Joint projects in the field of culture were also discussed.

"Vitebskiye Vesti"