Kazakhstan's Akmola Region seeks closer ties with Grodno Oblast
The head of the administration of one of the most developed agro-industrial regions of Kazakhstan is leading the Akmola delegation to Grodno Oblast. The delegation consisting of more than 30 representatives of the government and business arrived in Grodno to get acquainted with the experience of the region in various areas, and to foster closer cooperation ties.
First, the delegation of Kazakhstan is interested in the development of agriculture. "Today the Akmola and Grodno regions are very similar. We have been developing roughly the same industries as your region," said Kosman Ajtmukhametov. "With regard to agriculture, especially dairy and meat production, you are ahead of us and you are an example for us. We want to learn from your experience," the Kazakhstani official said. Representatives of the delegation are interested in acquiring a number of technologies used on the farms of Grodno Oblast.
According to the Akmola Region Akim, the Kazakhstani delegation is also interested in the local housing and agro-town construction programs as Kazakhstan has just started on similar programs. At a meeting with Governor of Grodno Oblast Vladimir Kravtsov, Kosman Ajtmukhametov said that Kazakhstan has launched a massive program to build budget accommodation. Under the program Kazakhstan is set to build about 2 million square meters of housing by 2020.
Akmola Region is actively investing in the establishment of enterprises for the production of goods with high added value and the minerals production. The tourism sector has been also growing. All of this can be the areas for cooperation with Belarus, said Kosman Ajtmukhametov.
Grodno Oblast Governor Vladimir Kravtsov, for his part, told the guests about the main areas of the development of the region. Grodno Oblast has a strong construction industry. Here the Grodno and Akmola regions have a lot of areas for cooperation in terms of investment, trade in goods and services.
After the meeting, the parties signed a memorandum of cooperation in agriculture. The framework document will be filled with specific content in the future, BelTA reports.
On 24 February, the delegation of the Akmola Region is set to visit the local agriculture, construction and utility companies and also the Grodnoinvest Free economic Zone. Kazakhstan's delegation is accompanied by Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Kazakhstan to Belarus Yergali Bulegenov. Representatives of the Akmola oblast will go to Minsk on a business visit on 25 February.
