Belarus, Russia, Kazakhstan to draft light industry cooperation program

The delegation of the Industrial Policy Department of the Eurasian Economic Commission met with Grodno Oblast Deputy Governor Yuri Shuleiko and head of the FEZ Grodnoinvest Sergei Tkachenko in Grodno on 27 March. They discussed participation of Grodno Oblast, in particular, the regional light industry, in integration processes of the three countries. The participants of the meeting also discussed ways to deepen cooperation in the Customs Union, to encourage Grodno-based companies to get involved in it more actively, to set up joint ventures in the light industry and implement new projects, BelTA reports.

Galina Martinkevich noted that for the integration to be a success it is important to come up with concrete proposals and engage Belarusian regions. Experts need to assess the technological level of light industry companies and their ability to produce competitive products. "Most importantly, we should elaborate a cooperation plan based on the suggestions and the integration potential of the three countries. The major document here is Recommendation No. 1 on the development of industrial cooperation of the light industries of the three countries. This document provides recommendations on how to stimulate the industry by means of customs duties, taxes and other instruments," she said.

One of the areas of the integration is to establish a common platform to promote light industry products on the EU markets. "Coordination of the national industrial policies of the three countries is crucial. Belarus, Russia and Kazakhstan need to come up with common mechanisms to promote sensitive commodities on the markets of third countries. First of all, we need to draft a list of sensitive products and agree on the common promotion strategy that will also involve transport and logistics centers," Galina Martinkevich said.

The national light industry associations of Russia and Kazakhstan have an agreement on cooperation and information exchange. The light industry association of Belarus might join this agreement in April.

At the meeting with Grodno Oblast authorities, the officials discussed production and sale of light industry products, building materials and farm machines, provision of construction services. Top on the agenda was also control over the sale of good-quality products on the market, establishment of the logistics infrastructure, certification and marking of light industry products, reduction of undocumented import of light industry products and protection of the market from poor-quality products imported from third countries.