Five agreements on cooperation between cities and regions of Vitebsk Oblast and Russia, and also regional business associations were signed at the international business conference "Innovations – A Way to Successful Integration" that opened in Vitebsk on 17 July, BelTA has learned.

The agreements on partnership were concluded between Novopolotsk and Buzuluk (Orenburg Oblast), Chashniki District and Buzuluk District, the deputy corps of Vitebsk District and Ivanovo District and also the Vitebsk Oblast Union of Entrepreneurs and the Orenburg Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs. Besides, an agreement on cooperation was concluded between the administration of FEZ Vitebsk and the Pakistani agency Davud Consult.

Vitebsk Oblast Vice Governor Oleg Matskevich noted that today Vitebsk Oblast has 22 agreements with different regions of Russia in five federal districts. Apart from that, the administrations of the cities and regions develop partner relations with 76 Russian municipal units. "These are our good neighbors and friends," the vice governor said. At the recent 4th Forum of Regions of Belarus and Russia Vitebsk Oblast concluded two agreements on cooperation with Stavropol Krai and Saratov Oblast. This year the Vitebsk Oblast delegation led by Governor Nikolai Sherstnev visited Volgograd Oblast, Astrakhan Oblast and Tver Oblast.

"In order to improve the economic potential of bilateral cooperation it is necessary to make the best use of such agreements on interregional partnership, involve companies, entrepreneurs, business associations, chambers of commerce and industry and other organizations in the process," Oleg Matskevich said.

Attending the conference are representatives of the authorities and business from five Russian oblasts, businessmen from Lithuania, Slovakia and Pakistan. The program of the two-day forum, apart from a plenary session and a presentation of a business potential of Vitebsk Oblast, will also include a business matchmaking session, workshops on a free economic zone as a promising area to attract foreign investment and the international economic and sci-tech cooperation, visits to companies and organizations of Vitebsk Oblast.

The conference is organized by the Vitebsk Oblast Executive Committee and Vitebsk City Hall, Vitebsk Oblast Center of Marketing, the administration of FEZ Vitebsk and the oblast union of entrepreneurs.

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