Chelyabinsk Region and Belarus Enhance Industrial Cooperation: Highlights from the Business Forum in Minsk

The visit of Alexey Teksler, the Governor of the Chelyabinsk Region, to the Republic of Belarus featured a business forum and focused negotiations between enterprises fr om both regions. Organized by the Minsk Branch of the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the event showcased a strong mutual interest and a commitment to take meaningful steps toward collaboration.

Sergei Nabeshko, Director General of the Minsk Branch of BelCCI, noted the high participation rate of Belarusian companies in his opening remarks: "Between 15 to 40 Belarusian companies have registered to negotiate with each Chelyabinsk enterprise. This is clear evidence of both the demand for and readiness to cooperate at this moment." The Russian delegation included 11 prominent enterprises from the Chelyabinsk Region, while the Belarusian side represented 88 companies, mainly from the industrial sector.

In his address, Governor Teksler highlighted a strategic vision: "Belarusian goods are successfully filling the gap left by products from unfriendly countries. Strengthening industrial cooperation is our shared priority, in line with the directives of our heads of state. The pressure from sanctions only motivates us to work harder and discover new avenues for growth." He also emphasized the potential for enhanced air travel, expressing optimism about increasing the number of direct flights on the Chelyabinsk-Minsk route as a vital factor in strengthening ties.

Denis Bakey, Deputy Head of the Ministry of Industry of Belarus, echoed a unified vision regarding future prospects: "The Chelyabinsk Region is our reliable and long-standing partner. Thanks to our constructive dialogue, trade is consistently increasing, and our interaction is developing dynamically."

The business discussions focused on several key economic sectors:

- Mechanical Engineering (road, special-purpose, construction, and agricultural machinery)

- Metalworking and Equipment (flanges, wheels, discs, and mining equipment)

- Industrial Materials (lubricants and systems)

- High-Precision Equipment (measuring and testing instruments)

- Food Industry (dairy sector) and Chemical Industry

During the visit, the Chelyabinsk delegation toured СЗАО "BelGee" (CJSC), wh ere agreements were reached regarding the supply of stabilizer struts—the first tangible outcome of their cooperation efforts.

This partnership is set to gain new momentum shortly, as the Chelyabinsk delegation plans to return to Belarus for the major international exhibition "INNOPROM. Belarus.”