In Minsk, the Vologda Region Opens an Exhibition Pavilion: A New Platform for Expanding Interregional Business Cooperation

On August 26, the Vologda Region’s exhibition pavilion was officially opened at the Minsk branch of the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The event marked a new stage in interregional cooperation: the pavilion is intended to serve as a strategic meeting point for establishing direct and effective ties between businesses in the Vologda Region and Belarus.

From the very beginning, it became clear that the “direct dialogue” format was in high demand. The Belarusian side demonstrated a concrete interest in cooperation across a wide range of sectors. Partners’ requests covered an impressive spectrum–from advanced processing and cooperation in the timber industry to joint projects in the creative industries.

At the opening ceremony, representatives of the business communities of both countries outlined the key areas for partnership. The participants were welcomed by Sergey Nabeshko, Director General of the Minsk branch of the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Sergey Kasyanov, Deputy Chairman of Bellesbumprom, the Belarusian industrial and trade concern for the forestry, woodworking, and pulp and paper industries; and Yury Zolotaryov, Trade Representative of the Russian Federation in the Republic of Belarus. The speakers agreed that the economic potential of the two regions is highly complementary and that a permanent platform in Minsk would make it possible to turn the countries’ opportunities into concrete projects.

Anna Toropilova, Director of the Business Development Agency of the Vologda Region’s My Business Autonomous Nonprofit Organization, presented the region’s investment, economic, and tourism potential to the guests and participants. She offered a comprehensive overview of the region as an attractive location for cooperation, outlined the advantages of the Vologda economy in detail, and presented support mechanisms available to residents, investors, and partners.

The pavilion’s exhibition covers the following sectors: forestry, manufacturing, agriculture and food production, gastronomy, and the creative industries. More than 30 leading manufacturers from the Vologda Region are showcasing their products, technologies, and business solutions.

The physical exhibition was complemented by a presentation of the Made in the Vologda Region online platform, delivered by Natalia Skorokhodova, Head of the Export Support Center. The platform is designed as a modern resource to make it easier to find partners and speed up communication between companies.

As part of the program, guests were also invited to taste products from Vologda manufacturers, allowing them to assess the potential of the region’s agricultural and food sectors, as well as its gastronomic offerings.

Another important part of the program was a presentation of the Vologda Region’s tourism potential. The highlight was a meeting between the official Russian Father Frost from Veliky Ustyug and his Belarusian counterpart.

Holding the meeting at the end of August was a perfect illustration of the well-known saying, “Make your sled in summer.” This memorable detail not only added a festive atmosphere to the formal business forum but also showcased the region’s unique tourism asset. The status of Father Frost’s official homeland opens up broad opportunities for the Vologda Region in the fields of event-based and family tourism, creating an additional “soft” foundation for interregional cooperation and joint tourist routes.

As the organizers emphasized, the pavilion’s opening is only the first step. The platform will subsequently move into a phase of systematic operation. It will host sector-specific presentations and support joint business projects. The shift from individual visits to a permanent presence marks a confident step toward expanding the horizons of economic and cultural partnership between the two regions.