A delegation of the Vologda oblast of Russia led by First Deputy Governor Nikolai Vinogradov is going to visit the Grodno oblast of Belarus on 9-11 November, it was learnt from the press service of the Foreign Ministry of Belarus.

The two sides are expected to coordinate joint actions on further expansion and strengthening of the bilateral cooperation, including the industrial cooperation in engineering and metallurgical companies, implementation of the projects in the agricultural industry, cooperation in the forestry area, interregional cooperation with oblasts and towns of Belarus.

Nikolai Vinogradov is set to meet with Chairman of the Grodno oblast executive committee Vladimir Savchenko and visit the Grodno office of the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, several companies of the Grodno oblast.

On 11 November 2009 Grodno is to host the third session of the joint commission on cooperation development between Belarus and the Vologda oblast of Russia. The Belarusian part of the commission will be headed by Chairman of the Bellesbumprom Concern Vladimir Shulga, the Vologda side – by First Deputy Governor Nikolai Vinogradov. The session will highlight the implementation of the cooperation program for 2009-2010, the results of the cooperation in economy, industry, agriculture and forestry areas. Concrete measures on further cooperation and diversification of trade and economic relations are to be worked out.

The two sides are supposed to sign a protocol and an action plan on cooperation between the Grodno oblast executive committee and the Government of the Vologda oblast.

The Vologda oblast is one of the top priority trade and economic partners of Belarus in the Russian Federation. In 2008 the mutual trade totaled $480.1 million, up 27.9% from 2007 (the 11th place among the Russian regions). The Belarusian export reached $88.2 million (up 4.2%), import - $391.9 million (up 34.8%). Belarus had trade deficit of $303.7 million.

In January-August 2009 Belarus exports to the Vologda oblast included tractors, LCD-panels, fruits, bearing, component parts for trucks and tractors, condensed milk and cream, nuts and processed fruit, wallpaper, butter, road equipment. Belarus mainly imported Vologda ferrous metals, pipes, bearing, wire and ropes from ferrous metals, iron ore.

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