OREANDA-NEWS. December 07, 2012. Belarus invites Kaliningrad Oblast to set up joint ventures, Prime Minister of Belarus Mikhail Myasnikovich said as he met with Governor of Kaliningrad Oblast Nikolai Tsukanov.

The two parties enjoy long-standing and stable relations, though the bilateral trade has reduced slightly in recent years. Mikhail Myasnikovich said that the current visit would not only boost bilateral trade but help switch over to a higher level of cooperation. Belarus is interested not only in trade in goods but also in joint ventures that will compete in the market. "We are ready to cooperate. There are no closed topics between us, and the government will contribute to the creation of comfortable conditions for implementation of joint projects,” said Mr Mikhail Myasnikovich.

The two sides signed an action plan on cooperation between Belarus and Kaliningrad Oblast in 2013, and an action plan on cooperation between the Brest Oblast Executive Committee and the Government of Kaliningrad Oblast in 2013-2015.

According to Mikhail Myasnikovich, Belarus and Kaliningrad Oblast have identified promising areas for interaction. “The action plan addresses many issues on a fundamentally new level. We are switching from trade and cooperation over to the creation of joint integration associations. We believe that in the next two or three years this will help us to at least double the bilateral trade,” said the Prime Minister.

Belarus is interested in the experience of Kaliningrad Oblast in the assembly of cars and construction of the nuclear power plant as the country runs its own programs in automotive engineering and nuclear power. The Belarusian and Kaliningrad nuclear power plants are almost twins. Belarusian builders are already working on the project in Kaliningrad, remarked Mr Mikhail Myasnikovich.

Belarus also intends to participate in the housing development and other construction projects in Kaliningrad Oblast, thus boosting the export of construction services. Industrial enterprises have also outlined the areas of cooperation, including the supply of automotive components for the production of passenger cars. In addition, there are plans to open a Belarusian health resort in Kaliningrad Oblast.

Belarusian companies could take part in the construction and operation of the Kaliningrad seaport, Governor of Kaliningrad Oblast Nikolai Tsukanov told. "We agreed on the participation of Belarusian companies in the infrastructure projects, in particular road construction, possible involvement of Belarus companies in construction and further operation of the seaport. We hope for support of the Belarusian side in transshipment of cargoes through the ports of Kaliningrad. For that we asked the Belarusian side to clarify the structure and volume of cargo. I hope that very soon we will be able to transship some cargo via the ports of Kaliningrad,” said Mr Nikolai Tsukanov.

According to him, the new port will be more prepared to accommodate Belarusian goods and provide more favorable terms.

For his part, Mr Mikhail Myasnikovich said: "We are diversifying sea transport routes, not focusing on the ports of Lithuania and Latvia only. There are many interesting proposals from companies of the Kaliningrad and Leningrad regions.”

The two sides also discussed cooperation in culture, youth policy. Student teams from Belarus may go to work in Kaliningrad Oblast in summer. The exchange of art groups will be continued.