A Belarusian delegation headed by Belarusian Ambassador to Russia Vladimir Semashko held talks with Voronezh Oblast Governor Aleksandr Gusev and Vice Speaker of the Russian State Duma Aleksei Gordeev in Voronezh, Russia on 31 August BelTA has learned.

Belarus will reconstruct the main regional stadium in Voronezh Oblast and will build several educational institutions. The project to reconstruct the Fakel football stadium is estimated at RUB812 million. The construction of Russia's largest educational center for 2,560 places in Voronezh, which will also be built by Belarus, is estimated at RUB3.54 billion. The Belarusian side has already won tenders for these two facilities. Moreover, Belarus, for the first time, won tenders in Russia to build large social facilities: Belarusian enterprises will act as general contractors.

Plans are in place to involve Belarusian partners in the project to build a school and a kindergarten in the village of Semiluki. Today, an educational institution will be inaugurated in Semiluki District. It has been built by Belarusians and also financed with a loan from the Development Bank of the Republic of Belarus. Such a scheme is beneficial to both sides. The Russians receives stable financing and a two-year deferral of payments and also high-quality construction work at an acceptable costs. The loan is tied to a number of conditions: mandatory involvement of Belarusian companies that will receive their profits, and use of Belarusian building materials and equipment.

Ambassador Vladimir Semashko noted that Belarus has a robust construction industry. A new school in Semiluki District testifies to the fact. “This is the first but not the last project,” the ambassador said. He added that Belarus and Voronezh Oblast cooperate in a lot of other areas : machinery and food supplies, waste recycling, and industry.

Belarus produces the entire range of municipal vehicles and urban transport: high-speed streetcars, gas-powered and electric buses. If Voronezh plans to build a metro, Belarus is ready to take part in the construction project and also supply metro cars, Ambassador Vladimir Semashko said.

Belarus also produces a wide range of farm machines, the ambassador added. He invited Voronezh to take a closer look at the product lineup, which goes on par with German and American machinery. “We are ready to display it and conduct necessary tests,” Vladimir Semashko said.

“Russia and Belarus are strategic partners. Voronezh Oblast acts in line with this approach,” Governor Aleksandr Gusev said at the meeting. He expressed confidence that the parties would not only soon restore mutual trade, which slightly decreased due to the pandemic, but would also increase it.

The governor also hailed the work of the Belarusian builders in the region. “We have several more joint projects in the pipeline. I am sure they will be of the same high quality,” Governor Aleksandr Gusev noted.

Written by: belta.by