Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- Kashkadarya and Vitebsk regions, as well as regional enterprises signed three agreements, two memorandums of cooperation and contracts worth about US$3 million, Deputy Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee Anjelika Nikitina.

The visit of the delegation of the Vitebsk region to Uzbekistan took place from 10 to 13 October. “This is a very interesting country for us with access to far Asia,” said the deputy head of the regional executive committee. - During the working trip, agreements were signed on trade and economic cooperation between Vitebsk and Kashkadarya regions at the level of two heads of regions, between Polotsk State University named after Euphrosyne of Polotsk and Karshi Engineering and Economic Institute, as well as an agreement between Vitebsk State University named after P.M. Masherov and Karshi State University. The parties signed two memorandums of cooperation between the free economic zones of the regions, the Meat and Dairy Products Concern and an enterprise for the supply and processing of dairy products.

In addition to agreements and memorandums, following the results of the trip, the parties signed contracts worth about US$3 million. “This is the supply of our food products, woodworking, in terms of the supply of electrical equipment for the oil industry and measuring instruments. It is important to note that, given the logistics, ours and Kashkadarya region, they also have both rail traffic and air traffic. Representatives of the Bremino-Orsha SEZ were with us in the delegation. There are certain agreements on the exchange of goods within the framework of logistics. It is clear that all these goods will be both exports from the territory of Belarus and imports,” Anjelina Nikitina explained.

According to her, Vitebsk region was working on the issue of supplying its products to the Uzbek market. Meat and dairy products, electrical appliances, cable products were of great interest to Kashkadarya region in terms of the exchange of experience of enterprises in the production within this country. The delegation visited one of these enterprises, established a year ago by the holding "Marko" in the territory of the economic zone of Kashkadarya region. Today, shoes are sewn there according to the patterns of the Vitebsk enterprise, more than 200 people work there.

The regions plan to establish cooperation in several areas at once. “Shoe production, light industry, most of all (Kashkadarya region) are interested in our food products. If they create new industries, new competencies, build dairy farms, milk processing enterprises, then they do not have enough competencies in terms of specialists in this industry, - said the deputy chairman of the regional executive committee. - Today we are already working on the exchange of experience of our students. The first graduation of Uzbek students will be in a year, and our veterinary academy will graduate.” Angelica Nikitina added that during the visit, Alexander Subbotin, Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, was awarded the title of Honorary Professor of the Samarkand State University of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Husbandry and Biotechnology.

“So far, our agreements have been secured by agreements on bilateral trade and economic cooperation, memorandums signed between enterprises in the regions. All this will form a more detailed roadmap. My colleague, the deputy khokim of Kashkadarya region, and I decided to meet via video link, weekly to work out all the agreements,” added the deputy head of the Vitebsk regional executive committee.

The return visit of the delegation of Kashkadarya region to Vitebsk is planned for the end of November.

The foreign trade turnover of the Vitebsk region with Uzbekistan in January-August 2022 increased by 2.4 times and amounted to US$17 million, of which US$12.1 million accounted for exports. Almost half of the total exports to Uzbekistan are medicines. Also, cattle meat, milk powder, baby food, tourniquet and acrylic fibers, polyethylene, fiberglass products, plastics, MDF boards, lubricating oil additives and other goods were supplied there. The Vitebsk region imports fruits, vegetables and dried fruits - 49%, cotton yarn and refined copper wire.