Grodno Oblast Governor Vladimir Karanik met with the delegation of the Republic of Karelia headed by Deputy Prime Minister of the Government of Karelia Larisa Podsadnik to discuss plans for further cooperation between the regions, BelTA has learned.

“If we analyze our regions, we will see that they are similar in many respects. These are border regions with a very large tourist potential. Nobody doubts the tourism potential of Karelia and Grodno Oblast. We have many areas for cooperation in education. Grodno is a city of three universities aimed at expanding international contacts. We see the same aspirations on the part of Karelian universities,” Vladimir Karanik said.

He added that there is also economic potential. “This is the food industry, which is well-developed both in Grodno Oblast and in Karelia. This is also woodworking, and the range of products we produce differs significantly, so we can expand our trade by counter deliveries, providing our citizens with quality products made in our regions. This is also machine building, logging and forest care equipment,” the governor said.

“There are a lot of points of contact. We have already determined that this visit is the first, but far from being the last one. We have already outlined a program of further cooperation, not only to increase trade between our regions, but to make the relations really partner, friendly and for the benefit of our two peoples,” Vladimir Karanik said.

belta.by