B2B: Belarus 2 Bashkortostan. Forum of new contacts and ideas

№ 1, 2024
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The Republic of Bashkortostan is one of the leading and well-developed regions of Russia. The Republic is one of the ten federal subjects that form more than half of Russia's GDP. Today it is a large center of oil production and refining. Bashkortostan also has a highly-developed agro-industrial complex; manufacturing enterprises make a large contribution to the regional economy. The investment attractiveness of the Republic is formed, among other things, by 11 industrial parks and nine industrial technology parks.

Over the past few years, cooperation of Belarus and the Russian region has been actively developing. In 2023 alone, there were over 15 visits of Bashkortostan delegations to Belarus at various levels and 25 visits of Belarusian representatives to Bashkortostan. More than 60 documents, agreements, memorandums, treaties and action plans were signed. And these agreements do not remain on paper. In Bashkortostan, large-scale projects of the Amkodor holding are being implemented, cooperation between the Minsk Automobile Plant and the Ufa Tram and Trolleybus Plant is actively developing, and there are active supplies of coil springs for MTW, MMZ, Gomselmash. ­ Mogilevliftmash receives ropes and cables. Not only is the industrial cooperation being strengthened, branded trade is developing, too.

It is symbolic that the unofficial abbreviations of both republics are the same – RB. This also demonstrates that Belarus and Bashkortostan have much in common, which means there is potential for deepening partnership.

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A large-scale business dialogue between Belarus and Bashkortostan took place in Minsk on February 9. The Palace of the Republic became a platform for holding the "Belarus – Bashkortostan" business forum with the participation of more than 400 domestic and Russian companies' representatives, who discussed prospects for cooperation and bilateral projects. A significant business event was opened by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Belarus Roman Golovchenko and the Head of the Republic of Bashkortostan Radiy Khabirov. The latter was in Minsk on an official visit, accompanied by a representative business delegation.

The forum was moderated by the Chairman of the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Mikhael Miatlikov. In his welcoming speech, he noted that cooperation between Belarus and Bashkortostan is multifaceted and large-scale, and over the past few years it has gained powerful momentum. In particular, the year 2023 was eventful. Ufa hosted the Forum of Regions of Belarus and Russia, and its program included some events organized by the Chambers of Commerce and Industry. In addition, a large Belarusian delegation took an active part in the International Business Week in the capital of Bashkortostan. "Undoubtedly, meetings of business circles are the key to new projects in industrial cooperation, our investment cooperation, of which many examples can be cited," Mikhael Miatlikov noted.

The Chairman of the BelCCI also emphasized the significant interest in the meeting with Bashkir business on the part of Belarusian companies: "Today, there are representatives of more than 350 Belarusian enterprises here in all areas of activity: energy, agriculture, industry, construction, service sector, and others. The interest shown in the forum exceeds our expectations, which means that cooperation will develop even more actively."

Welcoming the participants, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Belarus Roman Golovchenko said that the forum was designed to give a boost to the economies of Bashkortostan and Belarus. In his words, the fact that the Palace of the Republic – one of the signature facilities of Belarusian capital – hosted a business forum, speaks of the importance of cooperation with Bashkortostan and an active business position.

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The Head of Government emphasized that Belarus and Bashkortostan have made significant progress in strengthening interregional and foreign economic cooperation and continue to increase it. The parties experience no difficulties in implementing bilateral projects.

Speaking about bilateral trade turnover, he noted the following: "The goal is set. We need to reach one billion dollars in mutual trade. We need to generate new joint projects every six months or a year. We will expand the traditional trade exchange. The most important thing for us is to reach new milestones in industrial cooperation. This is a priority for our country."

Roman Golovchenko also emphasized that business plays an important role in the development of bilateral relations. "The success of our cooperation largely depends on your activity to generate new out-of-the-box ideas and bold solutions. Everything you do ultimately work towards a greater common goal – strengthening the technological sovereignty and food security of our countries," the Prime Minister emphasized.

In turn, the head of the Republic of Bashkortostan Radiy Khabirov drew attention to the fact that efforts are still being made to develop cooperation with Belarus. "This is our main partner. And we have now moved to the level of deep integration of our enterprises and mutual investments. In order to maintain a high pace of cooperation development, we need to meet regularly, think through, and discuss new projects," he noted.

According to Radiy Khabirov, his region's relations with Belarus have a very responsible nature: "What we agree on with the Belarusian side is immediately included in the roadmap. There are about 100 points on the roadmap, and about 40 percent of them have already been completed, but we are moving on."

The Chairman of the Belneftekhim concern Andrei Rybakov spoke on the successful experience of cooperation between Belarusian enterprises and their colleagues from Bashkortostan in the chemical and petrochemical industries, about prospects and projects to expand business ties in this area. The Prime Minister of the Government of the Republic of Bashkortostan Andrei Nazarov presented the region's opportunities for investment and industrial cooperation.

The business forum opening ceremony ended with the solemn presentation of the awards from the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus and the Head of the Republic of Bashkortostan for personal contribution to strengthening bilateral cooperation.

The business forum continued with presentations by experts from government agencies and business support institutions on the prospects for implementing joint projects in the energy sector, including the use of renewable sources, tools for supporting and promoting bilateral business contacts, building a dialogue with the competent authorities, and the use of exchange mechanisms in bilateral trade.

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After the plenary part, business representatives from Belarus and Bashkortostan had the opportunity to hold personal meetings and intense B2B negotiations.

Thus, the business forum has become another effective platform for the development of business relations between entrepreneurs of Belarus and Bashkortostan. This was noted, among other things, at the highest level – by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Belarus.

"This business forum is an excellent platform to establish new business ties and strengthen the existing ones, agree on new joint projects and conclude the necessary contracts. I am sure that most of you have already arrived with some ideas and suggestions. I can assure you that the Belarusian Government and our authorities will provide all possible support for any sensible initiatives aimed at strengthening our cooperation," Roman Golovchenko stressed.